Longevity in retail is earned, not engineered.

Chris Ressa and David Habas, Managing Partner at HK Enterprises, unpack what it actually takes to build and operate a service retail business over decades, cycles, and constant change.

Habas brings nearly 30 years of franchising experience and a rare dual lens as both an operator and someone who came up through commercial real estate. That perspective shows up throughout the discussion, from how Supercuts’ footprint and service model have evolved, to why tracking customer counts still matters more than chasing top-line growth alone. He shares real AUV benchmarks, candid insights on post-COVID demand shifts, and why price increases only work when paired with consistency and execution.

The conversation scales when Habas walks through a pivotal Boston relocation, moving from an iconic, high-rent location to a smaller, smarter space around the corner and growing the business in the process. The takeaway is simple and sharp: great operators don’t fight change, they design around it.

For retailers, franchisees, and landlords alike, this episode reinforces a core truth of open-air retail: durable brands are built by people who think long-term, understand real estate, and know how to adapt without losing the customer.

What You’ll Hear

1. Why longevity in franchising comes from following the system, not trying to outsmart it
2. How the salon industry has evolved post-COVID and what “butts in the chair” really tells you
3. Real AUV benchmarks and what separates top-performing locations from the rest of the system
4. The tradeoffs between organic growth, acquisitions, and relocations when space is limited
5. A first-hand look at relocating an iconic Boston store and growing sales while lowering rent
6. How strong landlord relationships create flexibility during moments of disruption
7. Why service retail still wins on consistency, efficiency, and customer trust
8. Lessons from building a multi-decade business with a long-tenured leadership team

Chapters

00:00 – Building a Franchise Before Franchising Was Cool

David Habas shares his path into franchising and how HK Enterprises grew into one of the largest Supercuts franchise operators over multiple decades and markets.

04:45 – How the Salon Industry Has Actually Changed

From oversized footprints to tighter, more efficient stores, Habas breaks down how customer needs, services, and layouts have evolved.

07:20 – Post-COVID Reality: Traffic, Frequency, and Revenue

A candid look at customer behavior shifts, why frequency matters more than headlines, and how the business is tracking recovery.

10:30 – AUVs, Scale, and What Performance Really Looks Like

Habas...

Retail real estate is not won in boardrooms. It is won in the field. Chris Ressa sits down with Tine Helton, Regional Property Manager at DLC, to talk about the work that actually keeps open-air retail centers running across Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. From tenant relationships to infrastructure issues, Tine walks through what it means to own the day-to-day when performance, responsiveness, and consistency are the difference between a good center and a great one.

Tine’s path into property management started on the leasing side, where she learned how a deal turns into a real, operating business. That curiosity led her into operations, professional certifications through IREM, and a leadership role focused on getting better at the craft, not just holding the title. The conversation digs into why education, ethics, and peer networks still matter in a business that moves fast and demands real accountability.

At DLC, Tine shares what stood out most: a culture that backs its people and expects them to take ownership of outcomes. The result is a practical look at how strong operators build better properties, stronger tenant partnerships, and long-term performance in open-air retail.

What You’ll Hear

1. Why the best property managers operate like owners, not order-takers
2. How leasing knowledge becomes an operational advantage once the deal is signed
3. What IREM certifications actually change in day-to-day decision-making and leadership
4. How to turn education and peer networks into real career leverage
5. What strong culture looks like when performance and accountability matter
6. How Midwest open-air centers stay competitive through consistency, speed, and follow-through

Chapters

00:00 – The Operator’s Seat

Chris introduces Tine Helton and sets the stage for a conversation about what it really takes to run retail centers, not just lease them.

01:00 – From Leasing to Leadership

Tine explains how her early work supporting leasing teams shaped the way she thinks about operations, tenants, and long-term performance.

02:45 – Choosing the Harder Path

A look at why she moved into property management and embraced the challenge of being accountable for everything that happens after the deal is done.

04:00 – The IREM Advantage

Tine breaks down how certifications, ethics, and peer networks through IREM sharpened her decision-making and accelerated her career.

07:30 – Turning Education into Opportunity

How investing in professional development led directly to promotions, leadership roles, and industry recognition.

12:45 – Joining DLC and Thinking Like an Owner

What stood out about DLC’s culture and why ownership, accountability, and support matter in daily operations.

15:40 – Growth Without a Ceiling

Tine shares why continuous learning, new disciplines, and community involvement keep her pushing forward.

17:45 – Defining a Successful Year

What success looks like when it is measured by team performance, process improvement, and being a leader others can count on.

2026 might be the year retail real estate finally turns momentum into pricing power. Chris Ressa and Karly Iacono open with a confident call: next year will outperform an already-strong 2025, and the data is starting to line up behind it.

Holiday sales climbed roughly 4 percent year-over-year, outpacing inflation and reinforcing a simple truth: consumers keep spending, even when sentiment wobbles. The conversation breaks down the “K-shaped” economy, where higher-income shoppers drive discretionary growth while value-focused and necessity-based retail remains resilient across every income bracket.

The hosts point to sharper inventory discipline and steadier supply chains as quiet margin drivers, giving retailers more control over pricing and fewer forced discounts. On the real estate side, fewer major bankruptcies and limited space givebacks are tightening supply, setting the stage for a more landlord-driven market. The result: upward pressure on rents, stronger net operating income, and potential value gains as interest rates ease.

They also look ahead to demand catalysts, from global sporting events and America’s 250th anniversary to a new wave of store openings coming out of late-2025 leasing. While risks remain, from AI-driven job shifts to geopolitical uncertainty, the core bet is clear: tighter supply, resilient consumers, and disciplined operators could make 2026 a defining year for retail real estate.

What You’ll Hear

1. The data points behind the call that 2026 tops a strong 2025
2. Why consumer spending keeps winning over sentiment
3. How the K-shaped economy is reshaping value, necessity, and discretionary retail
4. Tighter supply, fewer bankruptcies, and what that means for landlord leverage
5. Inventory discipline and supply chains as quiet drivers of pricing power
6. NOI, rents, and value: how the real estate math is shifting
7. Traffic catalysts ahead, from global events to a new wave of store openings
8. The key risks still in play, from AI disruption to geopolitical shocks

Chapters

00:00 — The Bold Call for 2026

Chris and Karly open with a confident prediction that 2026 will outperform a strong 2025 for retail real estate and explain why they’re leading with the conclusion.

01:20 — Holiday Sales vs. Consumer Sentiment

A breakdown of holiday spending growth and why real consumer behavior matters more than surveys and headlines.

03:55 — The K-Shaped Economy in Retail

How higher-income and value-focused consumers are shaping different lanes of retail performance across categories.

05:55 — Inventory, Pricing, and Margin Control

Why better inventory discipline and steadier supply chains are giving retailers more leverage on pricing.

08:20 — Tariffs, Supply Chains, and Stability

What’s changed since early 2025 and why supply volatility feels less like a headline risk for 2026.

09:45 — Bankruptcies, Space, and Expansion Pressure

How fewer large retail failures are tightening available space and reshaping store rollout strategies.

12:10 — The Landlord’s Market and Rent...