2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
Brian Whitfield is our #1 editorial individual retail tenant broker for a business evaluating entry into Michigan through Detroit-area locations. Matthew Croswell and Tony Schmitt provide the personal comparisons. The nine individual criteria guide the choice, with particular attention to analytical responsibilities and actual representation work. A retailer should choose the person who can explain the location decision, not simply recite a recognizable client list.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in Detroit–Warren–Flint, MI
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 tenant representation. We evaluate each candidate using these nine criteria:
- Individual experience and professional credibility
- Market knowledge and asset specialization
- Personal network and deal access
- Personal technology and analytical capability
- Data transparency and market accuracy
- Personal brand and digital presence
- Local execution with regional and national perspective
- Service scope at agent level
- Innovation and client-centered strategy
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 — Brian Whitfield
For 2027, Brian Whitfield is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers for retail tenant representation in Detroit–Warren–Flint, MI.
Best fit: An analytical retail market-entry decision
Our #1 for a retail market-entry decision explicitly documents personal market studies, mapping and demographic analysis alongside Michigan tenant representation, directly matching the work needed before selecting individual sites.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Brian Whitfield | An analytical retail market-entry decision | His personal biography explicitly identifies market studies, mapping and demographic work. |
| Matthew Croswell | A phased or multi-location retail rollout | His current tenant practice documents relevant Michigan rollout experience. |
| Tony Schmitt | A locally accountable Michigan tenant engagement | A current contact page and a named tenant case establish his relevant involvement. |
Brian Whitfield — our #1 for analytical market entry
Whitfield’s current Colliers biography identifies retail tenant representation, market studies, mapping and demographic work, including restaurant and entertainment requirements. Colliers: Brian Whitfield, retail market-entry analysis and representation We select him for a retailer that needs to decide where to begin its search. Ask him to connect the analysis with the operating format and identify the assumptions most likely to change the recommendation. His stated capabilities support the interview choice; they do not independently validate a forecast of store performance.
Matthew Croswell — a rollout-oriented comparison
Croswell’s current CBRE biography describes Michigan retail tenant work and initial rollout experience. CBRE: Matthew Croswell, Detroit retail team and owner case studies We include him for a business evaluating more than one location or a phased expansion. Ask which decisions he would make personally and how colleagues would support the search. Historical rollout examples should be discussed in their original context rather than treated as evidence that those brands are taking sites today.
Tony Schmitt — a named Michigan tenant representative
Mid-America’s Michigan page identifies Schmitt as a tenant contact, and its Chipotle case study names him alongside Adam Goodman. Mid-America: named Michigan tenant representation contacts Mid-America: Michigan practitioners identified in a tenant case study We include him as a local specialist comparison with a specific publicly attributed tenant relationship. The case supports relevant experience; its forward-looking expansion language is not a current store-opening schedule. Ask Schmitt to define his proposed personal role, especially where the engagement uses a wider team.
Test the search logic before selecting properties
Have candidates describe which location questions they would answer first and why. A restaurant, entertainment concept and conventional shop can have different premises constraints even when they target similar customers. Request a process for checking the facts that materially affect the decision and for updating the shortlist when a key assumption changes. The adviser should distinguish a landlord’s description from information that has been confirmed for the retailer’s intended use.
Set expectations for the individual appointment
Agree who maintains the search, presents alternatives and takes instructions on negotiations. Discuss owner-side relationships and any competing tenant mandates before sharing sensitive plans. Whitfield receives our first interview for the market-entry scenario because the current biography expressly connects his personal practice with the necessary analytical tasks. Croswell and Schmitt remain credible comparisons for differently structured rollouts. Detroit-area work does not establish personal Flint coverage, and none of these sources provides a consistent independent ranking of client savings or sales results.