Each year, Midwest Real Estate News inducts new members in its Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. This year, we are also running profiles of these new members online. Here is a look at the thriving career of Bill Barnes, principal with NAI DESCO in St. Louis.
A CRE professional of 17 years, NAI DESCO Principal Bill Barnes joined the company in 2011, after spending time with Vatterott Properties and Coldwell Banker Commercial.
Specializing in retail buyer/tenant representation, landlord representation, property disposition and investment sales, Barnes has been involved in more than 500 transactions totaling more than $450 million in volume and has extensive experience helping clients navigate the complexities of municipal approval, permitting, planning and zoning and entitlements.
He’s been responsible for the market rollouts of national and regional retailers including Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Tacos4Life, Sprint, Caliber Collision and Goldfish Swim School to name a few.
To his success, Barnes attributes two simple qualities—persistency and hard work.
“I am a firm believer that hard work breeds luck,” he said. “I also believe putting the client first is what builds long term relationships, and I have been fortunate to have many clients become close friends.”
Embracing technology that aids with market planning strategy and site selection for clients has also been instrumental in his success and has led to many awards within NAI DESCO.
Barnes’ most rewarding part of his business is working with a wide variety of clients and learning what makes them successful. The process isn’t always easy, however gratifying to be a part of new store openings.
Still, Barnes prioritizes spending time with his wife and four young children, even coaching his sons’ hockey, soccer and baseball teams. He also enjoys fly fishing, duck hunting and traveling as much as possible.
He is a CCIM candidate and a member of both the ICSC and the St. Louis Association of Realtors.
