Kings
Kings of King Street
Relationships Matter
Jeff Yurfest, a former Peace Corps volunteer and over 20-year brokerage veteran in TSCG’s Charleston office, knows one thing for sure: relationships get deals done. They build trust, strengthen community ties, and are at the heart of long-term success.
Challenge
No Client is Too Small
Originally from Baltimore, Jeff spent time in Paraguay with the Peace Corps before settling in Charleston at the turn of the century—a tough town to break into, especially as an outsider. But Jeff, fluent in Spanish, found his way by frequenting local Mexican restaurants off the beaten path around Charleston’s vibrant King Street. His language skills helped him connect with proprietors, and soon, as a new retail real estate broker, conversations turned to real estate. Relationships matter.
Jeff started by helping with a few lease renegotiations, relocations, and expansions. Before long, he was not only building rapport with local restauranteurs but also earning the trust of landlords. As word spread about his growing expertise, regional and national tenants started calling Jeff, curious about his connections downtown. Relationships matter.
Strategic Actions
Eye and Ears Open (good listening skills)
Genuine Connection (truly wanted to help)
Hustle (making things happen)
Vision (recognizing today’s struggling entrepreneur can transform into big business)
Results
As a Reputation Grows, Relationships Still Matter
As Jeff’s reputation grew, so did King Street’s national profile. Out-of-town brokers began reaching out to Jeff and his partner, Tyler Freeman. With rising interest came rising rents, but Jeff and Tyler’s local knowledge helped expand King Street to new blocks, bringing even more opportunity to the area.
Today, Charleston’s historic King Street district is a thriving hub for food, fashion, art, and antiques, drawing over seven million visitors annually. TSCG has been bringing tenants to this coveted area for decades, but today vacancies are scarce, and demand from out-of-town tenants continues to rise.
Jeff and Tyler continue to find opportunities for tenants because, at the end of the day, relationships truly matter. In the past two years, they’ve secured deals with:
- Simply Jay
- Rag & Bone
- Alice and Olivia
- Jenny King
- Studs
- Veronica Beard
- Hill House
In Conclusion
In the real estate community, Jeff and Tyler are jokingly referred to as the “Kings of King Street.” But they take their work seriously. For Jeff, it all began over two decades ago with a passion for authentic food and a knack for connecting with restaurateurs. He knows better than most—relationships matter.