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ordon Brothers' Al Williams and Michael Burden navigated a complex situation when Nexus Capital failed to close on the Big Lots acquisition during the retailer's bankruptcy. Instead of liquidating, they structured an unprecedented deal with Variety Wholesalers to take hundreds of stores, preserving the Big Lots brand and saving thousands of jobs.

    Williams and Burden joined Gordon Brothers in 2023 after building a retail real estate business that focused on helping occupiers optimize their portfolios and reduce occupancy costs. They left their previous company due to a shift in culture prioritizing deals over relationships. At Gordon Brothers, they've returned to their core values of delivering real value to clients through smart, strategic, and execution-driven services.

    Their platform combines real-time data, operational expertise, and access to capital, setting them apart from competitors. They translate market intelligence into strategy and action, executing on behalf of their clients. Their team includes many with retailer-side experience, ensuring practical and aligned strategies.

    In just 18 months, they've worked with over 30 national retailers, opened more than 500 stores, and restructured or renewed over 1,000 leases, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in savings. They're now providing lease administration to clients as part of a fully integrated solution.

    Their partnership with LEGO is another high-profile example of their work. They helped the brand build a strategy for sustainable expansion, fill its pipeline, and reduce expenses. Williams and Burden consider themselves disruptors, bringing together strategy, data, and execution to give clients confidence in uncertain situations.

    Burden highlights that they sit at the intersection of insight and execution, helping shape outcomes rather than just tracking trends. With access to the broader Gordon Brothers platform, they often see what's coming before others do, making them a valuable partner for businesses facing challenges throughout their lifecycle.