Whether we’re spending more time together or responsibly keeping our physical distance, the importance of family is more apparent to all of us right now. That vital connection always has been key to St. Louis Commercial Real Estate (STLCRE). From leasing and construction to management and improvements, the locally owned and operated company forms a partnership with tenants to help them navigate the entire real estate process.
STLCRE was founded in 2006 by Douglas Holtzman, and the company is truly a family operation. Along with his wife, Sabina, Douglas works alongside his son, Corbin, and daughter, Macy. “We’re all extremely proud of being locally and family-owned,” says Corbin, who serves as vice president. “We come from generations of this industry, and our clients can get to know our business by getting to know us as a family.” The company has its own construction team, brokers everything in-house, and employs designers, managers and landscapers. “We provide our customers with a full-service experience from their first tour to the moment we hand them the keys to their finished space,” he notes.
In 2016, Corbin and Macy decided to take on a new challenge together: Coma Coffee Roasters. The opportunity to open a cafe in University Tower in Richmond Heights came directly from STLCRE. “It was a chance to provide an amenity for tenants and attract new ones,” Macy says. “It shows how turnkey our buildouts are and showcases the environment we strive to create. Coma serves as an extension of people’s offices, a place they can get a cup of coffee or tea and return to work refreshed.” The name is a special nod to their sibling connection. “It’s a combination of the first two letters of our names,” Corbin explains. Along with the coffee shop, Coma sources and roasts high-quality coffees from around the world to make them accessible to the St. Louis community.
While working with family can pose unique challenges, the Holtzmans find it brings out the best in all of them. “We’re all invested monetarily, physically and emotionally,” Macy notes. “We know that each of us is in it 110%, and at the end of the day, we aren’t going anywhere.” That sense of connection extends to the entire community. As native St. Louisans, the brother-sister team is excited to have its roots here, even as the brand expands distribution nationally. “The local community is awesome, whether it’s supporting us on social media or just showing up,” Corbin says. “When Macy opened Coma for curbside pickup, there was an hour wait for much of the day.”
With help from STLCRE, Coma has been doing its part to return that support during the COVID-19 crisis. It donated more than 1,500 cans of cold brew to health care workers at St. Louis Children’s, SSM Health Saint Louis University, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s and SSM Health St. Mary’s hospitals. “We’re extremely blessed to be able to pay it forward to people who are risking their lives to save our city,’’ Macy says. “We would not have been able to make this donation without our community’s continued support.” Coma also is helping other local businesses. For every bag of its Virtual Hug coffee sold, $2 is donated to The Gateway Resilience Fund.
St. Louis Commercial Real Estate specializes in brokerage, property and facility management, as well as tenant improvement of industrial, retail, office and residential properties. Pictured on the cover: Corbin and Macy Holtzman, the brother-sister team behind Coma Coffee Roasters. For more information, contact STLCRE at 314.863.3700 and Coma at 314.250.1042 or visit stlcre.com and comacoffee.com.
Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo by Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton Photography
Pictured at top: Corbin and Macy Holtzman
Photo: Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton Photography
