2027 edition · Research reviewed November 8, 2026
Robert Sloan of TSCG is our 2027 editorial #1 retail tenant broker for a Memphis-area retailer comparing sites across the Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas portions of the region. Jonathan Aur of Jones Aur and Carson Claybrook of Commercial Advisors are the selected alternatives. All nine individual criteria are considered, with particular emphasis on the broker’s own territory and responsibilities. The recommendation identifies a strong interview starting point. It does not certify every client relationship as current or promise an available site, favorable lease or successful opening.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in Memphis, TN–MS–AR
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 — Robert Sloan
For 2027, Robert Sloan is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers for retail tenant representation in Memphis, TN–MS–AR.
Best fit: Retail tenants comparing the Memphis three-state territory
Our editorial #1 retail tenant broker for a regional Memphis search because his current primary biography expressly identifies personal retail work throughout the Tennessee, northern Mississippi and eastern Arkansas territory being evaluated.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Robert Sloan | Retail tenants comparing the Memphis three-state territory | His primary biography expressly matches the geographic brief. |
| Jonathan Aur | Retail concepts discussing repeatable growth | His current team biography identifies master-broker relationships. |
| Carson Claybrook | Retail tenants weighing operational site requirements | His current tenant practice and earlier corporate site work support the comparison. |
#1 — Robert Sloan: personal territory matches the brief
TSCG identifies Sloan as an EVP and partner whose retail practice covers western Tennessee, northern Mississippi and eastern Arkansas. TSCG: Robert Sloan current role and three-state retail focus That direct geographic statement is the decisive fit for a search spanning the Memphis metro. Ask him to identify recent examples appropriate to the client’s concept and the individual who will handle each stage. The reviewed profile supports the territory and role, but a list of career clients does not prove current exclusivity or permission to disclose their plans.
Distinguish personal advice from firm resources
TSCG’s tenant-service description offers site selection, negotiation and construction support. TSCG: tenant services and Memphis specialist These are resources to discuss with Sloan, not proof that he personally performs every function. Request a clear division of responsibility and an example of the decision material he would present. A useful broker can explain how additional specialists affect the recommendation and when their involvement becomes necessary. The client should know who is accountable for correcting incomplete or conflicting information in a property survey.
Jonathan Aur: an alternative for a developing concept
Jones Aur identifies Jonathan Aur’s master-broker relationships with named restaurant and coffee concepts. Jones Aur: current team, Jonathan Aur tenant and landlord practice That creates a relevant comparison for an operator discussing repeatable growth rather than a single isolated lease. Ask him to explain how the client’s concept would change the search strategy and how rejected sites would be documented. The existence of a relationship does not establish a completed transaction in the current year, successful economics or a current assignment covering every state in this guide.
Carson Claybrook: retail advice with operating-side experience
Claybrook’s employer describes current tenant advisory and earlier McDonald’s site-selection work, and lists Tennessee and Mississippi licenses. Commercial Advisors: Carson Claybrook current retail role and territory We include him for a retailer that wants to discuss how operational requirements shape a location decision. His former corporate role is career experience, not a claim that he currently represents McDonald’s. The licensing statement is employer-published and does not establish Arkansas coverage. Confirm the relevant territory and current credentials for the actual engagement.
A personal analytical demonstration matters
Give finalists a short, realistic requirement and ask each to explain which information would be necessary before recommending a site. The exercise should reveal whether assumptions are identified, uncertainty is communicated and alternatives receive fair consideration. A mapping system or national network can help the work, but neither establishes an individual’s judgment. We did not find a uniform public test of these brokers’ analytical accuracy, personal negotiating results or service responsiveness, so those criteria remain qualitative and partly unverified.
Why Sloan leads the three-state tenant comparison
His explicitly stated personal territory aligns most closely with the regional assignment. Aur offers a concept-growth perspective and Claybrook an operating-side retail comparison. Ask each finalist to disclose current owner-side relationships affecting the search and explain how recommendations will remain tied to the client’s requirements. The final engagement should specify the decision process, reporting cadence and personnel. Our #1 reflects the evidence available at research time, while the appointment depends on the proposed work and relevant references.