How Matthews™ Executed a Multi-Market Expansion Strategy for a Southern California Equipment Dealer
Matthews™ has represented a leading Southern California high-lift equipment dealer across multiple dealership and service-center requirements as the company expands throughout the region. The Matthews™ agents began the engagement with a holistic review of existing facilities, operational needs, zoning requirements, drive-time considerations, and long-term growth objectives. This analysis established precise site-selection criteria and enabled the agents to pursue both on- and off-market opportunities across supply-constrained infill markets. The strategy has resulted in a flagship San Diego location and a $7.825 million acquisition in North Hollywood supporting the client’s expansion into Los Angeles. Challenge The client’s specialized operations created requirements extending well beyond conventional industrial real estate, particularly for its San Diego flagship. The Matthews™ agents needed to identify an infill site exceeding 2.5 acres that could accommodate approximately 40 to 50 truck deliveries per day, provide efficient freeway access and multiple points of ingress and egress, and avoid flight paths and overhead power lines associated with high-lift operations. Appropriate zoning, a conditional use permit, substantial yard functionality, and a path to ownership further constrained an already limited property pool. The agents needed to balance these operational requirements with long-term location performance and the client’s continued Southern California growth. Strategy The Matthews™ agents sourced an off-market San Diego property meeting the client’s critical requirements and structured a long-term lease with a fixed-rate option to purchase, navigating approximately seven months of diligence and municipal requirements to complete the transaction. For the Los Angeles expansion, the agents leveraged local broker relationships, market intelligence, and the proprietary Matthews™ database to identify 11640 Hart Street in North Hollywood. The 34,663-square-foot facility offered M2 zoning, a secured fenced yard, three grade-level loading doors, 24- to 38-foot clear heights, and convenient access to State Route 170, providing the underlying fundamentals required for the client’s specialized use. Despite the need for substantial improvements and building modifications, the agents recognized the property’s long-term operational potential within a high-barrier-to-entry industrial market. Result The San Diego transaction provided the client with a strategically positioned flagship facility, long-term site control, and the confidence to invest significant capital into creating a high-image dealership and service center. Building on that success, the Matthews™ agents facilitated the $7.825 million acquisition of the North Hollywood property, coordinating with the parties and third-party vendors to remove contingencies early and close the transaction in under 60 days. The Los Angeles facility is undergoing improvements ahead of its planned early-2027 launch, establishing another strategic location within the client’s growing Southern California footprint. The agents continue to support future expansion by combining detailed operational analysis, targeted site selection, and creative transaction execution.
Chris Nelson
First Vice President & Senior Director
