RETAIL & RESTAURANT
WE KNOW WHAT YOU NEED...
meet the team
Why do we begin with 'meet the team' When everyone else in the Real Estate industry starts with a flashy home page? Because this is what matters most. Should we choose to work with each other towards your Real Estate goals of either Leasing Properties or Securing the best Retail Space for your business, we want you to think of us as your Partners…and choosing the right partner begins and ends with our team.
Abdul Arnous
Abdul is a dedicated real estate professional with a keen focus on fashion retailers, emerging dining concepts, and innovative trends shaping the retail landscape. With a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and ongoing studies toward a Master's in Real Estate Development, Abdul blends academic knowledge with hands-on experience to deliver real results. In addition to retail and brand advisory work, Abdul is actively involved in commercial leasing, investment sales, owner-user acquisitions, landlord representation, and expansion strategy. He advises clients on acquisitions, dispositions, lease negotiations, and asset positioning while supporting both growing brands and property owners in maximizing long-term value. For Abdul, real estate isn't just a profession, it's a lifestyle. He brings energy and purpose to every project, showing the difference between having a job and living a career. His work reflects a deep commitment to helping brands grow, whether it's guiding a boutique into its first storefront, supporting a restaurant's expansion, or advising landlords on tenant improvements. Abdul's expertise spans both local and international markets. He partners with global brands looking to break into the U.S., acting as their boots-on-the-ground advisor, from market entry strategy to site selection and lease execution. Whether it's a concept from Dubai, Toronto, or Paris, Abdul helps bridge the gap between vision and U.S. reality. His ability to stay ahead of trends and tailor strategies to each brand ensures success, whether launching in New York, scaling across the Mid-Atlantic, or redefining a local presence. If you're ready to break new ground and bring your brand to life, Abdul is the partner you want in your corner, bringing expertise, creativity, and hustle every step of the way. Let's connect and discuss how to move your vision forward!
Lee Engle
As a fourth generation Washingtonian, Lee's roots in the community are deep and well forged. After graduating from the University of Maryland with Honors, Lee's entrepreneurial drive led him to several unique careers including the opening and operating of a family style restaurant and a specialty furniture store. Intrigued by the real estate challenges associated with his retail businesses, Lee eventually was led into a career in commercial real estate with a strong focus on helping retailers and entrepreneurs with their own retail challenges. Today Lee spends most of his time focused on DC and the suburban communities of Maryland and Northern Virginia. Lee's time is now split equally between helping retailers with their real estate strategies including roll outs and area analysis, as well as assisting landlords with their needs in securing the best possible tenants for their properties.
At Engle Retail, we take everything personally! We don't just "tee up" assignments to hand off to junior staff—we stay fully engaged from start to finish. We operate with honesty, integrity, and a clear principle: the needs of our clients always come before transactional fees. We are passionate retail specialists who focus 100% of our time on retail real estate. Our clients benefit from a macro-to-micro approach—thoughtful, strategic, and tailored from the first research step to the final deal execution. Our process is calculated and intentional. We dig deep in the research phase, implement strategic initiatives with purpose, and stay locked in until we reach our shared goals. With a level of experience few can match, Engle Retail offers a powerful mix of market knowledge, advanced analytical tools, and real-time insight into how today's consumers think—what they want, where they shop, and how they move. Whether the assignment is tenant- or landlord-driven, we believe success comes from working both sides of the table. That dual perspective is what makes our work sharper, faster, and more effective—every time.
Our Portfolio
RETAIL & RESTAURANT TENANTS
Whether you are in search of a single great retail storefront, or a Tenant in need of a full strategic store roll-out strategy... we know what you need.
LANDLORDS AND DEVELOPERS
Regardless of size, if you are a Landlord needing to fill a single vacancy, or a developer requiring an entire merchandising and lease-up strategy… we know what you need.
Notable Landlord History and Portfolio Include:
Washington Property Group
Developed a retail program to not only enhance their existing buildings, but to strategically plan for ground floor retail in all future projects.
Aksoylu Properties
Developed leasing program for the company's first three (ground up) retail projects.
Powell Family Trust
Created over $12M in value with zero economic contribution from the family in the re-tenanting and repositioning of 1626 14th St NW, Washington, DC.