2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
The broker who will perform the work matters as much as the firm on a retail proposal. This Dallas–Fort Worth guide compares four current practitioners with tenant-side evidence, ranging from regional specialists to a national platform. We applied all nine individual-broker criteria. The selections identify assignment fit and useful interview questions; they do not turn historical client lists into promises about future store performance.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX
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 — Michelle Caplan — Weitzman
For 2027, Michelle Caplan — Weitzman is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers for retail tenant representation in Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX.
Best fit: Retail concepts within a project context
Our #1 editorial recommendation is based on dFW tenant and project practice.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Michelle Caplan — Weitzman | Retail concepts within a project context | DFW tenant and project practice. |
| Brandon Brawner — The Retail Connection | A sequence of retail locations | Named DFW tenant expansion work. |
| Brittney Austin — SHOP Companies | Specialty concepts and consumer fit | Specialty retail scope and DFW tenant roster. |
| Robert Aycock — CBRE | Retail site-selection alternatives | Current DFW tenant practice. |
Michelle Caplan — Weitzman
Weitzman identifies Caplan as an Executive Vice President in DFW with retail tenant and project representation. Weitzman: Michelle Caplan We select her for a retailer whose premises decision benefits from a discussion of both the concept and the project context. Ask how she would screen alternatives and what information would be needed before recommending a location.
Brandon Brawner — The Retail Connection
Brawner’s current Dallas profile describes tenant work and DFW expansion responsibility for Dunkin’. The Retail Connection: Brandon Brawner We include him for a retailer planning a sequence of locations. Ask how he would organize priorities, evaluate the next proposed area and identify questions requiring a different specialist. The source’s expansion ambitions are not treated as completed or guaranteed future openings.
Brittney Austin — SHOP Companies
Austin’s profile focuses on specialty retail, luxury services and boutique-fitness expansion; SHOP’s roster ties her to specific DFW tenant assignments. SHOP Companies: Brittney Austin; SHOP Companies: tenant services and territories We select her for a concept seeking that kind of location and merchandising discussion. Ask how she would test the target-customer assumptions before narrowing the search.
Robert Aycock — CBRE
Aycock’s current profile identifies DFW site selection and tenant representation for TJX brands. CBRE: Robert Aycock We include him as a national-platform comparison for a retailer evaluating location alternatives. Confirm the proposed team and the extent of his personal involvement for the scale and timetable of your requirement.
Make the interview an examination of the brief
Explain the operating concept, customer, delivery needs, physical requirements and opening date. Ask what each broker would investigate first and which findings could change the search. Request a sample comparison that makes assumptions visible. The process should separate marketing information from building characteristics requiring technical verification, and show who will resolve each open question.
Agree on personal accountability
Identify the person responsible for maintaining the site analysis, arranging inspections, managing the timetable and negotiating commercial points. Clarify conflicts, compensation and how the client receives updates. Credibility, specialization, networks, analytical capability, transparency, public information, geographic perspective, service scope and client focus informed these selections. Independently comparable savings or sales outcomes are unavailable, so references and a specific appointment remain essential to evaluating execution.