Hughes Marino

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of Pannikin Coffee & Tea

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a community-focused café that roasts our own coffee, bakes in-house, and serves thoughtfully sourced coffee and tea.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hughes Marino to accomplish?

• Represent us exclusively as a tenant to renegotiate our existing lease and expansion with a strategy that protected our interests and eliminated landlord-biased conflicts of interest.
• Secure materially better financial and operational lease terms, including rent reductions, tenant improvement allowances, and flexibility aligned with our long-term growth plans.
• Provide expert commercial real estate guidance across site selection, negotiation, and legal review to minimize risk and maximize value.

SOLUTION

How did you find Hughes Marino?

Referral

Why did you select Hughes Marino over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Hughes Marino were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Hughes Marino provided comprehensive tenant representation and strategic advisory services related to our commercial real estate needs. The scope of work included evaluating our space requirements, advising on market conditions, and representing our interests throughout the site selection and negotiation process.

Key deliverables included:

Strategic guidance on commercial real estate options aligned with our business goals

Market research and analysis, including comparable properties and lease terms
Site selection support and evaluation of potential locations
Lease negotiation and financial analysis to secure favorable terms
Ongoing advocacy, communication, and coordination through execution

Throughout the engagement, Hughes Marino acted as a dedicated advocate on our behalf, offering clear, data-driven recommendations and managing a complex process with professionalism and transparency. Their expertise helped streamline decision-making and ensured our interests were protected at every stage.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Hughes Marino delivered clear, data-driven guidance that helped us make confident real estate decisions. The project resulted in improved lease terms, cost savings compared to market benchmarks, and a smoother negotiation process. Their expertise reduced risk, improved timeline efficiency, and ensured alignment with our long-term business goals.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Hughes Marino’s project management was highly organized, proactive, and transparent throughout the process. They consistently delivered items on time (often ahead of schedule) and kept us informed at every stage with clear timelines, regular updates, and thoughtful guidance. Their team was extremely responsive to our needs, quick to address questions or changes, and always acted in our best interest. We felt well-supported and confident knowing they were managing details, advocating for us, and anticipating issues before they arose.

What was your primary form of communication with Hughes Marino?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Hughes Marino truly operates as an extension of our team. Their tenant-only focus, transparency, and genuine care for the client experience set them apart. We felt fully supported throughout the process, and their expertise gave us confidence at every decision point. They balance professionalism with a very human, relationship-first approach. They were proactive, detail-oriented, and genuinely invested in helping us make the right decisions. We’d highly recommend them.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Hughes Marino could have done differently?

We were very happy with the process and the outcome. Nothing stands out as something they should have done differently—any small challenges were navigated smoothly and collaboratively.