2027 edition · Research reviewed November 8, 2026
Colliers is our 2027 editorial #1 retail landlord leasing firm for a Columbus-area shopping-center or mixed-use retail campaign. Its Columbus Retail Team provides a current Gahanna offering and separately describes historical owner-side assignments in the region. The Gilbert Group and CBRE are relevant alternatives. All nine firm criteria inform the order, with the owner’s representation side and the difference between marketing activity and completed transactions kept explicit.
How we rank commercial real estate brokerage firms in Columbus, OH
Our 2027 ranking uses the same nine-part methodology as our 2026 guides. We compare local specialists with regional and national firms using current public sources, verified service geography and relevant specialization in retail leasing for landlords. We evaluate each candidate using these nine criteria:
- Experience and reputation
- Market knowledge and specialization
- Network and connections
- Technological capabilities
- Data transparency and accuracy
- Online presence and digital marketing
- Local and global reach
- Service range
- Innovation and customer focus
Using these criteria, we identify one #1 editorial recommendation for the assignment described below and compare other qualified options. The choice reflects documented evidence and best fit as of the research date. Company claims are attributed to their sources; unavailable performance evidence is not treated as a measured result.
OUR #1 RECOMMENDATION
#1 — Colliers
For 2027, Colliers is our #1 editorial recommendation among commercial real estate brokerage firms for retail leasing for landlords in Columbus, OH.
Best fit: Shopping-center and mixed-use retail owner campaigns
Our editorial #1 retail landlord firm for a regional shopping-center or mixed-use campaign because its recent Creekside Plaza offering is supported by separately dated owner-side assignments in Gahanna and Dublin.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Colliers | Shopping-center and mixed-use retail owner campaigns | A recent Gahanna offering and separately dated landlord examples establish regional agency work. |
| The Gilbert Group | Retail leasing with a focused local firm | Its owner-service offering and local featured properties identify a retail leasing practice. |
| CBRE | Owner marketing with a named Columbus retail specialist | Streng’s current service profile and a historical Hudson Street brochure establish the relevant role. |
#1 — Colliers: current marketing with an identifiable local team
The Creekside Plaza retail listing at 81–121 Mill Street in Gahanna identifies Andrew White, Samantha Starkoff and Gilli Zofan. The page links a brochure labeled September 2026. Colliers: Creekside Plaza retail leasing team in Gahanna That makes the leasing team and submarket identifiable for a mixed-use retail owner. We use the listing as evidence of marketing responsibility, not confirmation of a vacant suite, completed city improvements or future tenant demand. Request the latest instructions and competitive-property analysis before appointing the team.
Historical agency evidence helps define the practice
The team’s own news page attributes the 2024 Bubbles Tea & Juice assignment at Creekside Plaza to landlord representation. It also identifies an owner-side 2023 assignment for Playa Bowls at Perimeter Center in Dublin. Columbus Retail Team: services and dated agency examples These dated company accounts strengthen the regional landlord comparison. They are not presented as newly completed 2027 leases or as independent proof of superior terms. Ask for permission to speak with owners whose property circumstances match the new brief.
The Gilbert Group: retail leasing tied to a specialist platform
Gilbert’s landlord service page describes property marketing, financial lease analysis and prospect management, with featured offerings in Columbus, Worthington and Reynoldsburg. The Gilbert Group: landlord services and featured retail offerings It is a strong alternative when an owner wants a retail-focused firm. Ask the proposed team to explain which tenant requirements genuinely fit the property and which assumptions need to change before outreach. Additional management or development work should be priced and appointed separately rather than assumed included in a leasing fee.
CBRE: a named retail specialist and documented marketing
Streng’s current profile expressly includes landlord marketing and tenant identification. A CBRE brochure carrying a 2024 copyright names Streng and Tyler Thebes on the retail offering at 675 East Hudson Street in Columbus. CBRE: Luke Streng current retail services CBRE: historical 2024 Hudson Street retail marketing brochure This supports an owner-side interview while preserving the brochure’s historical context. It does not establish current availability or confirm every advertised property condition. Ask CBRE for a comparable current assignment and a proposed local staffing plan.
Choose a campaign that helps the owner make decisions
A useful leasing plan should explain which objections are likely to stop prospects and which owner decisions could resolve them. Give finalists the same verified plans, restrictions and delivery assumptions. Ask how inquiries are qualified, what tour feedback is recorded and when strategy changes would be recommended. Separate the number of contacts from meaningful progress toward a lease. Clear approval limits help the broker distinguish a negotiable issue from a condition the owner cannot change.
The basis for Colliers’ first-place position
The combination of a recent Gahanna listing and dated owner-side examples in Gahanna and Dublin is the decisive evidence for this regional retail brief. Gilbert offers a specialist platform, while CBRE supplies a named local retail practitioner. Confirm competing listings and capacity with all three. Public evidence does not establish comparable downtime, achieved rent or tenant credit outcomes, so the ranking is an editorial assessment of the documented service rather than a numerical performance table.