Eighteen years in the restaurant business has given Senior Vice President Kelly Hampton first-hand knowledge of the challenges associated with opening successful restaurant and retail establishments. That’s one reason he decided to make the move 12 years ago to commercial real estate.  “I’ve been there and I know how hard it is to get a new establishment going,” says Kelly, a fifth-generation Dallasite.  “What I bring to the table is in-depth, local market knowledge with a skill set fine-tuned by more than a decade of experience.”  Kelly has used that skill set to pinpoint successful locations for clients such as MRG’s Tavern Steakhouse, Atlanta Bread Company, Chase Bank and AT&T Wireless.

Kelly’s passion for representing retailers is acknowledged by his long-term, repeat business relationships with clients including Wells Fargo, Luxottica, Jenny Craig and Einstein Brothers Bagels. His attention to detail, particularly in respect to complex transactions, has earned Kelly multi-market disposition assignments for several retailers, including Safeway, Blockbuster, Winn Dixie and Wendy’s.  These projects totalled two million square feet of retail properties.

Kelly joined Venture in 2007 after a 12-year stint in the Dallas office of CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc.  There, he was a leading tenant rep broker and the first recipient of a national company award for community service for his Dallas volunteer work.