1. Empire Realty Group, LLC
Specialized Services to the
Restaurant & Retail Industry
Offering Fully Integrated Services
That Align your Business Plans To
Your Real Estate & Operations
Needs.
Delivering The Total Concept
Retailers and restaurant operators today need to be experts in sourcing
and directing a myriad of players across functions to make the real
estate, marketing, construction and operations end of their business
work. That's something Empire Realty Group, LLC can remedy for its
retail and restaurant clients who want to expand their business but face
difficulty in doing so due to either a lack of resources, personnel,
expertise, experience and/or time to get to that next level.
Retailers and restaurants know that profitability doesn't just come from
having good products and services. Having a great concept and growing
a business has become more challenging today. Location and customer
experience impact revenues while non-product costs like rents, CAM,
repairs, maintenance, build out and renovations can make or break profit
targets.
Our “One Stop Shop, Single Point Of Contact”
approach is designed to get results….fast.
Our Services
Real Estate:
- Store Development Strategy
- Market Analysis
- Site Selection & Evaluation
- Lease & Purchase Negotiations
- Single, Franchisor, & Franchisee Rollout
Marketing:
- Concept Development
- Brand Projection & Growth
Construction:
- Store Design
- Permits & Entitlements,
- Build, Renovate, Fit Out
Operations:
- Consulting
- Vendor Sourcing
- Franchise Assistance
Need Help Opening More Stores?

2. 2
MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND F MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND
Lets Talk About Helping You Increase Business
Empire Realty Group, LLC enables
companies to overcome obstacles to
growth through its experience and
innovative approaches to planning
and executing how many stores the
client should open, where the clients
next store should be, why it should
be there, what will it look like, how
long will it take to open, what it will
need to open it, and how much it will
cost because up to now, it hasn’t been
a core component of your business.
Empire Realty Group, LLC is a
leading retail tenant advisory
services, retail real estate
development and management
company that provides restaurant
operators and retailers with a
comprehensive array of services that
covers the entire real estate,
marketing, construction and
operations start up lifecycle. Empire
serves entrepreneurial, local,
regional, and national corporate
clients throughout California with
the primary goal of helping them
project their brand, grow profits and
sustainably increase returns on
investment.
Our client oriented philosophy to
these services has helped develop
successful and flexible real estate
solutions. The economic and
logistical value provided through our
unique, proven and innovative
approach to commercial real estate
transactions has established our
company as one of the leading firms
representing restaurant and retail
tenants with their respective real
estate requirements.
Empire, led by Linnard Lane, was
formed in 1995 by leading tenant
representation real estate brokers and
retail property development
executives in Los Angeles and San
Francisco who decided to form a
different kind of company, one
aimed at delivering a better scope of
services to the retail industry
covering California.
Since its inception, Empire has
helped leading restaurant and retail
companies such as Starbucks Coffee,
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Payless
ShoeSource, Jamba Juice, Peets
Coffee, TGI Friday’s, Applebee’s and
others locate, build, and open new
stores across California. Our
impressive growth, expertise, and
market clout has resulted in the
opening of over 138 new locations, all
without compromising the core
values that are the fundamental
ingredient of our excellent track
record.
Can You Help Me Expand? Where
Do I Start?
Previously, when a retailer or
restaurant operator wanted to
expand or establish themselves, they
had to source out the different
services separately with consultants
or providers they hardly knew in
areas they were unfamiliar with and
struggled with finding the time to
coordinate and direct all these service
providers while running an
otherwise successful business. In
other words, its like going to several
different repair shops you’ve never
used to service your car in a city
you’ve never been to while you live
in a different state.
We expanded our business to reach
retail and restaurant operators like
you who want to grow their business
but haven’t yet done so due to either
a lack of resources, personnel,
expertise, systems, experience
and/or the ability to devote the time
necessary to get to that next level. We
know from working with successful
companies like Starbucks and
Chipotle, how much time and
attention to detail is required to open
the right stores, in the right areas, at
the right costs, and when. Large
companies enjoy the luxury of
employing in-house teams with
resources and experience to project
their brands growth that younger or
smaller operators don’t have. That’s
where Empire comes in to deliver
you a competitive advantage.
One-Stop Shop, Single Point Of
Contact
Empire alleviates that hassle, by
offering a one-stop shop, single point
of contact platform for retailers and
restaurants looking to expand their
business.

3. 3
MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND F MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND“Our goal is to find profitable retail
opportunities that best represents
our clients brand, negotiate the best
possible terms and protect our
client's interests”
Empire essentially acts as the
clients outsourced real estate,
marketing, and construction
department that delivers a
comprehensive range of services
focused on increasing their Clients'
profitability through real estate,
marketing and construction
decisions. Entrepreneurial retailers
may currently rely on a trusted
broker, a food service vendor, or a
contractor for advice but to us, that’s
just a piecemeal approach to growth.
Unless you have the time, resources
and experience to tie that
information together and process it
into real results, you’re likely to
achieve an outcome that’s more
costly, time consuming, and inhibits
profitable growth in the long run.
As the single point of contact,
Empire possesses the ability, tools,
and overall vision to coordinate and
increase a retailers profitability by
coordinating and scaling its clients
business needs as a whole, just like
its larger competition, thereby
avoiding hidden or overlooked
risks, reducing overall costs, and
promoting healthy and sustained
business growth. Up to now, this
type of comprehensive service
offering hasn’t been available to
businesses with 10 stores or less.
Smart Growth
When Empire takes on a new Client-
typically a company that is looking to
expand into a trade area or across a
series of trade areas in California,
either by growing its existing base or
penetrating a new market for the first
time - Empire will come in, collaborate
with the client to better understand its
business, then develop a strategic plan
utilizing its market knowledge,
resources, and the most advanced
mapping and marketing tools available
in the industry. Once the strategy is
defined and the client agrees, Empire
then implements it on the company’s
behalf by identifying profitable retail
opportunities, securing locations that
capture the target customer, and
negotiating the best possible lease
terms to protect our clients interests.
We possess the expertise to help
tenants secure locations where real
estate positioning impacts the
revenues of the company.
Once a location is secured, Empire’s
extensive infrastructure is then
engaged to ensure that your brand is
properly projected, the business terms
of your lease have been aggressively
negotiated, the plans, permits, signs,
and construction come to fruition, the
look, feel and layout of the store meets
the budget and your expectations, and
the store opens on time.
From there, Empire focuses on the
client's entire facility infrastructure,
making sure its properly articulated
and executed while working on
expense management and reduction
throughout the term. Empire is
involved in all aspects of the
transactional side, whether the Client
opts to lease or purchase a new
location, renew locations, resize them
or relocate them entirely.
Statewide Experience & Knowledge
Our vast knowledge and experience in
local markets on a statewide basis
allows us to apply economies of scale
in virtually every market in California,
saving time, driving profitability and
reducing risk for our clients. As far as
we’re concerned, a dollar of extra cost
is a dollar of lost profits, knowing
where, when, and whom to ask the
right questions and managing the right
answers prevents unexpected delays
and costs before they become a
problem.
Over the years, Empire has gained
value in developing and maintaining a
network of collaborative relationships
with local brokers, Landlords, finance
and banking professionals, regulators,
architectural and engineering firms,
consultants, contractors, and related
organizations all over California.
“Empire’s mission is to
empower retailers to do
what they do best,
operate their business.
Our team will handle
everything else on the
real estate, marketing,
and construction side.”

4. 4
MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND F MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND
state is our specialty.
“Our primary goal is to support our
retailers to do what they do best,
operate their business without
geographical limitations. Our team
will handle everything else on the
real estate, marketing, and
construction side.”
Construction Management
So, Would You Like Some
Permits To Go Along With That
New Store or Restaurant?
One of the reasons clients come to us
is that they found the process of
obtaining permits to open their first
business so time consuming, costly,
bureaucratic, and aggravating, that it
almost cost them their business
before they even opened.
They’ve told us that with the related
time delays, cost overruns, and
frustration, they wouldn’t do it again
or they’d hire someone else to do it.
“As the single point of contact, Empire
possesses the ability and overall market
vision to increase a retailers profitability
by scaling its clients business as a whole
promoting healthy and sustained business
growth.”
Brand Projection
We understand the intricate tapestry
and characteristics of different trade
areas across California. Just as not
every Client is the same, neither are
its customers. Understanding where
our Clients customers reside, how
they shop, and advising how to
reach them is our business.
We supplement our hands-on
knowledge with access to the latest
demographic and psychographic
studies, surveys, and market
mapping information. Helping our
Clients build customer loyalty and
project their brand in different
markets is an art, not just a skill.
Maintaining good relationships with
governing agencies, knowing which
architectural and engineering
consultants, general contractors, and
sign companies to choose, what your
build outs should cost in a given
area, and then assembling the right
team to build them anywhere in the
That’s where Empire Realty Group
comes in, we create and deliver
value by expediting the permit
process, saving you not only time
and money but also the hassle of
trying to figure out which permits
you’ll need and navigating the
myriad of different agency protocols.
So you’re thinking of opening a café
or restaurant in California? Here are
five (5) departments you’ll need to
work with in order to obtain the
required administrative approvals
and necessary building permits prior
to construction:
1. Planning & Zoning
2. Health Dept.
3. Building & Safety
4. Fire Dept.
5. State Dept. of Alcoholic &
Beverage Control
1. Planning & Zoning -This department is usually the first stop for any new cafe or restaurant owner. The department
checks your current zoning and confirms all of the allowed uses of your site. They review the exterior design of your
building including awnings and proposed signage. They also identify the number of parking spaces required and any
conditional use permits that may be required. Same applies if you’re a retail use.
2. Health - This department reviews your proposed kitchen equipment, standard operating procedures and even your
menu. In addition, the Health Department may ask for you to obtain additional clearances from other local agencies. For
example, in Los Angeles, if you have any type of oil or grease in your restaurant than you will be required to submit
plans to the Industrial Waste Division of Public Works. This division will review your sewer grease protection and insure
that the proper grease trap or grease interceptors are in place.
3. Building & Safety -This department reviews your construction documents for handicap accessibility (ADA) and checks
all proposed architectural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing improvements to insure that they meet current building
code. They also review your project to see if it meets the new "green code".
4. Fire -The Fire Department's main function is to insure life safety. They review access points into the site and also insure
safe escape paths are available in case of a fire or earthquake. The department is also responsible for approving all fire
sprinkler and/or alarm system installations or improvements.

5. 5
MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND F MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND
5. State Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control - The State is only involved
if you plan on serving and/or selling any type of alcoholic beverage.
Administrative or Conditional Use Permit approvals may also be required on the
City or County level, most commonly known as a "CUP". The State reviews your
proposed hours of operation, the local crime rate and even the concentration of
already issued alcohol permits in the neighborhood. They also perform
background checks on all principals and ask to review business financials.
If any of this confuses you, I suggest you reach out to us for a feasibility analysis
report prior to securing a lease. Our research will allow you or us to better
negotiate your lease since the submittal requirements, processing time and
associated costs will all be outlined for you. Empire Realty Group, LLC works
with all of the above mentioned departments on a regular basis across the state
and can assist with expediting the overall review time and get your store,
restaurant or café open faster.
The Design and Construction Process
Now the Fun Part Begins
Throughout years of experience, Empire Realty Group’s team members have
participated in organizations that challenged and expanded their depth of
knowledge in the planning, processes, organization, solutions and execution
necessary for today’s projects.
With this, Empire has gained value in developing and maintaining collaborative
relationships with state and local regulators, architectural firms, engineers,
consultants, contractors, and related organizations all over California, so much so
we are proud to say its senior executives have led the completion of over 56
ground up shopping center developments and numerous chain store tenant
improvement assignments. Once charged with the assignment to build your store,
we have the experience to help you get it open on time and on budget.
Program Management Phase
Once our Client completes negotiations of their lease letter of intent with the
Landlord, we go to work and prepare a detailed Site Survey to include:
• Performing an initial site inspection and assessment of the existing facilities
• Conducting code review, predevelopment site research, and environmental
assessments
• Identifying agency contacts (all impacting jurisdictions and governing
authorities)
• Confirming water, sewer, storm water, telephone/cable, electrical and gas
utility services and fees
• Performing an economic feasibility analysis and preliminary project timeline
The Site Survey will also identify any unusual circumstances or permit procedures
that will impact the store’s design development and construction phases, your
physical and operational requirements, project budget, and store delivery
timelines. Most restaurants and retailers often overlook this phase yet it’s
probably the most critical. Identifying risks before you commit to substantial
time, money, and lease obligations will enable the job to go much smoother. Our
philosophy is simple, “80% of the work is done before construction ever begins.”
That’s why we enjoy the reputation we have for on time and on budget delivery.
Ground Up or Interior
Improvements
We’ll coordinate the job
from plan check and
permits, to construction
bidding, build out and
fixture installation, even
your sign installation.

6. 6
MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND F MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND
Design Development Phase
Empire will work with the client to determine the optimal store layout based on
space, merchandising, and cost considerations and establish creditable project cost
budgets (hard and soft cost budgets through conceptual estimating). Empire will
also select the design and consultant teams including the architects, engineers,
interior designers and all other specialty consultants and direct these professionals
throughout the design process to ensure that all store design elements are properly
incorporated and efficient communication and coordination is maintained between
the design team, Empire, and the client for budget adherence.
Pre-Construction Phase
Each store is unique and should be approached differently; whether it involves
selecting a general contractor and managing the bid process, or acting on behalf of
the client in a construction manager role. Empire will manage and secure all plans,
permits and authorizations for construction including obtaining any conditional use
permits and other zoning approvals, signage rights, meet with city/county officials
and make presentations at public hearings to Planning Commissions, Design
Review Boards, City Councils and neighborhood groups if necessary. Empire will
manage the entire plan process from concept, through the design development set
(initial estimates) to permit drawings and construction set for establishing the initial
and final guaranteed maximum pricing. Empire will also assist the client in
obtaining cost estimates, establishing a budget and maintaining the budget through
project closeout. We believe cost control starts on the first day of design and ends
when the client uses the facilities. Empire will manage the budget and schedules
for the stores construction in addition to coordinating all construction activities
through completion.
Construction Phase
Empire, through its trusted network, will source the best general and
subcontractors to fit the jobs requirements and clients criteria. During the
Construction Phase we’ll assist the client by conducting the bid process and
negotiation of all bids from contractors for the stores construction and coordinate
vendors for critical construction steps. Empire will also supervise the performance
of all construction work, support the client with the installation of any furniture,
fixtures and equipment, and oversee the general contractors field construction
operations from ground breaking to certificate of occupancy issuance through
periodic site meetings and inspections. Lastly, Empire will coordinate, process,
manage, and supervise the general contractor and architects duties with respect to:
• Verifying all necessary bonds and insurance are in place before work starts
• Information, Shop Drawings, Samples and Submittals to insure plan compliance
• Change Order Management to the project’s scope, schedule and related costs
• Testing, Inspection and Special Services
• Progress Monitoring and Reporting
• Process progress and final pay requests, invoices and lien releases
• Performing Punch List inspection completion and obtaining all Building final
Inspections and Certificates of Occupancy
Project Close Out Phase
• Initial Start Up of equipment,
• Providing final project review recapping layout
• Delivering Operations and Maintenance Manuals, Warranties and Closeout
Documentation to the Client.

7. MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND FRANCHISOR DEVELOPMENT
The business of opening restaurants is different than the business of running restaurants and that’s where many
operators face the greatest risk, expense, and challenge; getting to the opening date. We have substantial market and
operational knowledge to help you execute your multi unit goals or franchise expansion obligations. Many of the
corporate restaurant and retailers we’ve worked with also have franchise components to their businesses. In fact, the
most successful franchisors operate their own stores in addition to selling franchises as a means of keeping their
concept and brand value relevant, extending brand recognition and profits, and monitoring the integrity of
operations and the customer experience. As you know, franchisee and multi-unit area developer franchise
agreements usually require the franchisee to open a pre-determined number of stores within a fixed time period,
failure to meet your obligations can have serious consequences. We have the capabilities and resources to offer
independent operators, franchisees and franchisors a solid value proposition by leveraging our services, personnel
and experience to help you execute your business model obligations and hit your targets.
Now that your first store is a hit, Want to Open
Another?
Need help with executing your commitments as a
Franchisee or Franchisor?
Need to source new or better suppliers?
Need help with building or scaling up your
operations infrastructure?
Because of our knowledge and provider resources, typically we can accomplish your expansion needs at a cost
far less and in a shorter period of time than if you were to do it yourself. After 16 years of retail development
experience in California, Empire removes the learning curve and stress of store development, the consequence
of your taking time away from an otherwise existing profitable business, and reduces the associated cost risks
to you and your business as a whole. Consider us your outsourced Real Estate, Marketing and Construction
department without having to carry the overhead of one.
Franchise & Multi Unit Operator Business Support
We work with Multi Unit Operators and Franchisees to:
• Develop a strategic plan for unit expansion clearly highlighting the requirements, obligations, and value proposition
for the operator and/or both the franchisor and the franchisee.
• Develop a detailed budget and implementation plan and then recruit and lead the team that will be responsible for
program execution. If need be, we will coordinate our efforts with the Franchisor’s franchise department.
• Lead development of an end-to-end business process that is very operator/franchisee-friendly and is designed to
reduce the time it takes to meet your store count obligations.
We work with Franchisors to:
• Analyze markets to identify franchise growth opportunities; find qualified and compatible franchising candidates,
and skillfully lead prospects through the new franchisee process, including negotiation, due diligence and launch, all
with the support of a team we will help recruit, if needed.
• Assist with recruiting personnel to oversee the franchise sales process including the handling of franchise leads,
interviewing franchise candidates, evaluating franchise applications, and advise on awarding franchise contracts.
• Assist franchisees as they prepare to commence operations, and work with operations personnel to implement
appropriate pre-opening training and support programs.
• Assist with franchise model development and deployment, the recruitment and recommendation of candidates with
skill sets to manage the on-going operation of the franchise channel.

8. 8
MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND F MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE ANDMULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND FRANCHISOR DEVELOPMENT
(Continued)
• Assist with sourcing suppliers in areas from packaging, non-proprietary food products, and vendors producing
proprietary recipe based food products under strict confidentiality agreements to maintain product integrity,
managed commodity pricing and consistency of the customer experience.
• Assist with managing and recruiting personnel to oversee and implement their marketing and social media presence.
We also offer extended consulting services either through in-house personnel or trusted third party providers in areas
such as:
1. Employee Sourcing & Team Development
2. Liquor Licensing
3. Equipment Leasing and Acquisition
4. Social Media Programs and Campaigns
Operations Consulting
Keeping the customer experience relevant and your business competitive by recognizing and adjusting to changing
trends is an essential key to ongoing success. Factors such as choosing the right business systems for running your
operation, updating signage and store design, evaluating your product mix, even sourcing different suppliers could mean
the difference in gaining 1.5% - 2.5% to the bottom line. We can help you do that. For example,
Are Your Business Systems Helping or Hurting You?
For example, with changes in laws and technological advances, are you sure you have the right equipment? The point-of-
sale system (POS) isn’t just for ringing up sales any longer. More and more, restaurants and retailers are using POS
systems to control everything from inventory to scheduling. But with so many options on the market, the challenge
operators face is determining exactly what they need in a POS system. We can help you navigate the process of which
system is right for you and the future growth of your operations.
Are You In Compliance?
Staying in compliance with government ordinances, imposed bank fees, and credit card security requirements all impact
your bottom line. For example, do you know if you’re PCI Compliant? Since the five major credit card brands joined
forces in 2004 to create the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI), merchants have been scrambling to
make their systems PCI compliant or risk punitive sanctions by the credit card issuers.
Three Benefits of Using Empire Realty Group
“Empire can increase speed to market, assist the client to create a strong ROI and decrease headaches”
Owning a restaurant seems like a dream come true to many, but it is easy to underestimate the amount of work involved.
Some might think that becoming part of a franchise is simple, but navigating the company requirements with the realities
of the leased space can be difficult. We believe 80% of a restaurant’s success is determined before you even open the
doors. Empire can help streamline the process and ensure success.
Efficiency
Finding the right location, knowledge of your market and competition, negotiating a lease, working with governing
agencies to get your building, health, and alcohol permits, dealing with architects and contractors, getting equipment
delivered, choosing furnishings and the myriad of other details that go into the development of a restaurant can be time-
consuming.
Franchisees need to hire staff and coordinate permits and construction, market the restaurant, deal with loans and order
inventory, all in a tight time frame. Empire and its team of specialist have the experience, contacts and a process in place
to keep the pieces moving.
While an operator is busy hiring staff, perfecting recipes and getting the attention of customers, Empire is obtaining any
necessary permits, overseeing construction and ensuring the restaurant meets all codes, such as being ADA compliant.

9. 9
MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND F MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE ANDMULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND FRANCHISOR DEVELOPMENT
Cost
Start-up costs vary greatly, depending on the location and franchise. A safe estimate, according to a recent Forbes article,
is at least $400,000 and maybe more to purchase the franchise, lease a space, purchase equipment and hire at least a
minimal staff. Those costs can quickly balloon, however.
Empire has cost-savings measures in place that can help. For example, because Empire routinely works with reputable
and experienced, architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and equipment vendors, it can ensure the best price
possible when taking bids. During the construction phase, Empire employs a well developed set of control measures to
monitor the stores budget and build out progress through delivery. In addition, Empire can help a franchisee focus on
essentials, keeping costs down while ensuring that customer requirements are met.
In addition to savings, Empire can help an operator earn more. Because Empire handles the oversight of the permitting
and build out process, it can ensure that deadlines are met and speed up the process of opening a restaurant. The faster a
restaurant opens, of course, the sooner the operator can start taking in revenue.
The costs of opening a restaurant also extends to site location, negotiating the best lease terms, and the commonly
overlooked practice of performing a site survey to uncover the “hidden costs” of leasing a particular location before they
become surprises and lead to delays. Managing these costs properly can many times yield cost savings or lead to cost
avoidance improving your ROI.
Location: No two locations or trade areas are exactly alike and picking the right site is more art form than science.
Empire has the knowledge, relationships, and tools to advise you why one location may be better than another for your
concept. We believe real estate serves as the platform to help you deliver the best customer experience and increase your
top line sales.
Lease Negotiations: The principals of Empire have successfully negotiated hundred’s of restaurant and retail
leases, its one of our specialties. We know what a favorable lease looks like and why. We add value for our clients by
knowing how to structure a deal and what concessions and contributions to ask for. More importantly, how to negotiate
and obtain the best business terms possible from your Landlord at the letter of intent stage before you begin to incur
costly legal fees. We go way beyond just dollars and cents.
The Hidden Costs of Store Development: Once the site is selected, Empire conducts a site survey to help discover
any potential costs that could ruin your budget or worse, make the location unfeasible, such as unusually high or cost
prohibitive utility connection fees, legacy and/or non-code compliant building repairs that the city will require you to
cure, or time consuming zoning issues just to name a few. Identifying risks and creating solutions before you commit to
substantial time, money, and lease obligations will enable the job to go much smoother.
Experience
Opening a restaurant can be a daunting task, especially when dealing with a franchise that has very specific requirements
for where it should be located, how a store looks, and how it operates. At Empire, we understand our chief mission is to
help our clients extend their brand appeal in the environment that best suits their needs, and then help them implement
and execute their strategy.
• Each restaurant, even those that are part of a franchise, is unique. Empire listens and responds to the specific needs of
the client. We ask our operators who they want to serve, what type of neighborhood they want to locate in, and what
kind of price point the operator wants to hit and how the operator wants the restaurant to be perceived. We have
years of experience identifying and translating the life, energy, economics, and human dynamics of an area through
the real estate that best delivers the optimal environment our retailers and restaurant concepts are seeking.
• Success to us is about doing a lot of little things right, not just about doing a few big things well. We’ve been fortunate
to have been involved with some very talented and experienced architects and designers, food service professionals,
and operators over the years, and still do. Through “in the field” market applications, we’ve learned valuable lessons
of what works, what doesn’t, and why that still hold true today. We’ve worked with many corporate and franchise
operations. We take the time to become familiar with the clients prototype and brand standards so we can make the
build out process run smoothly.

10. 1
0
MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND F MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND
(Continued)
Experience
• Empire and its team members also know how to help an operator make the most of a restaurant space. Every square
foot of a restaurant or retail operation has a cost associated with it—either with the build-out, or rent, or the
maintenance of it. For example, we look at whether one piece of equipment could replace several others or you could
have POS stations in different places to save servers steps. We advise our clients to frequently examine their overall
sales per square foot and operating metrics. Examine benchmarks for sales per square foot averages and per seat on a
category and time of day basis. It’s worth consulting with Empire before you build out a restaurant but you can also
do this down the line if you’re already open.
• We know how important it is for our clients to tell their brand story in every location they have: who are you; what
do you stand for. We work with our operators to help make sure every thing in your restaurant tells the brand
promise, its personality, its positioning and the story. Every single item—even the quality of a fork—tells customers
something about your brand and why they’re there. Don’t believe this matters? Just walk into any Starbucks,
Chipotle, or Whole Foods, you can bet those customers are there for a reason.
• Restaurants are a unique type of establishment, with specific codes that need to be met. Navigating the relationship
between franchisor and franchisee can be tricky, and using a firm like Empire who knows how to listen to both sides
and find solutions is essential.
h
Empire has the capabilities and resources to offer independent operators, franchisees and franchisors a solid value
proposition by leveraging our services, personnel and experience to help you execute your business model obligations and
hit your targets. Our fees are based on the assignment and the Clients needs. Although we recommend a comprehensive
structure, we realize not all Clients require all of our services. Call us for a consultation, once we understand your needs,
we’ll scale the services that align with your budget. We want to be your strategic growth partner.
h
MULTI-UNIT, FRANCHISEE AND FRANCHISOR DEVELOPMENT

11. Empire’s Experience
Linnard Lane, Empire’s Managing Member, has over 30 years of extensive transactional and business experience
in retail property development, site selection & acquisitions, market strategy & financial analysis, project feasibility,
leasing, permits & entitlements, and construction management producing over 543,000 sq. ft. of lease transactions valued
at more than $136 Million and the acquisition and development of over 130 shopping center and free standing retail
properties.
Linnard began his career in retail development in 1981 for one of California’s largest retail real estate
development companies, La Mancha Development Company based in Los Angeles. By 1984, as its Director of Real Estate
for Southern California, he was personally involved in the acquisition, development, and leasing of over 74 shopping
centers throughout the Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura County trade areas. In addition he
supervised the leasing of over 223,000 sq. ft. of lease transactions and managed the company’s 54 shopping center
portfolio covering 140 stores and directed all property management and lease administration department staff.
By mid 1985, after conducting local and statewide market analysis and trade area studies to identify new growth
opportunities outside of Southern California, Linnard spearheaded the opening of and became La Mancha’s Northern
California Division Manager directing all of its development activities including marketing, construction, leasing, and
acquisitions producing over 45 new shopping centers covering approximately 288,000 sq. ft. and leases with Blockbuster
and Hollywood Video, Little Caesars and Dominos Pizza, Barnes and Noble, 3Day Blinds, Payless Shoes, 7-11, Office
Max, Kragen Auto among others. He also developed additional relationships with various local and county governmental
agency members as well as a network of 3rd party leasing and Investment brokerage houses, general contractors,
architects, escrow and title companies which he still maintains today.
In 1995, Linnard founded Empire along with one of the states largest and most successful retail tenant
representation brokerages with offices in San Francisco, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Diego creating a boutique real
estate firm which has now grown into a full service commercial real estate company specializing in retail real estate
development, leasing, property management and advisory services. Empire’s mission was and still is to facilitate the
expansion of established national and regional lifestyle and urban infill retail and food service clients in the California
marketplace.
Since Empire’s beginnings, Linnard has managed and participated in all phases of the store and shopping center
development cycle for over 155,000 square feet of stores for Starbucks Coffee, FedEx Office, AT&T, Petco, TGI Fridays,
Applebee’s, Addison Ave. Federal Credit Union, Wachovia Bank, Peets Coffee, Chipotle, Jamba Juice, Payless Shoe, and
Taco Bell. He was also retained by the city of San Leandro and Union City redevelopment agencies to advise on
downtown core developments and received the Design of Excellence award from the city of San Leandro for best
adaptive reuse and the Cultural Heritage award from the Stockton City Council for its redevelopment project near the
University of the Pacific. Linnard has also devised, participated in, and implemented aggressive multi-store roll out
market penetration programs, and deployed innovative techniques to open multiple stores in high barrier to entry
markets for Starbucks Coffee, Chipotle, and Noah’s Bagels. Empire developed a reputation, which it still enjoys today, as
being the “go-to” company that restaurants and retailers rely upon for obtaining permits and on time/on budget store
delivery anywhere in California.
Professional Affiliations:
Linnard's Professional affiliations have included International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC); has been an
expert witness in the commercial real estate field for arbitration and mediation proceedings in California; and has been a
guest lecturer at the University of Southern California, Lusk Graduate School for Real Estate Studies, John Shea Series.
Education:
Linnard received his B.S. degree in Psychology, Real Estate, and Business from Arizona State University in 1980.
In addition, Linnard completed studies in the professional continuing education program at University of California, Los
Angeles (UCLA) in Advanced Real Estate Finance and Restaurant Industry – Operations and Management.

12. For more information, please contact:
Linnard Lane
Managing Member
Empire Realty Group, LLC
12100 Wilshire Blvd. 8th Fl.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 806-9380, (510) 588-4041 efax,
empirereal@sbcglobal.net