About RockStep
Revitalizing Retail
The RockStep Way
RockStep Capital is a privately held full-service real estate investment firm headquartered in Houston, Texas, focused on the shopping center sector in secondary and tertiary markets.
We believe in small-town values, building long-lasting partner relationships and improving the communities in which we invest. We target cash-flowing investments to acquire and reposition, focusing on assets with minimal risk while providing solid, reliable returns to investors.
“Acquiring properties that offer distinctive value advantages within the community is a significant part of RockStep Capital’s goal to revitalize the communities in which our properties are located.”
Andy Weiner, President
Since 1997, RockStep Capital has built or acquired over 9.7 million square feet of shopping centers in 11 states. RockStep Capital targets secondary and tertiary markets with dynamic demand drivers and growing demographics.
Drawing from an authentic heritage and a retailer’s perspective, RockStep has the expertise and desire to create modern, community-centric destinations for the next generation.
Like a rock step in dance, we design our company to be nimble and switch directions as the industry’s music changes rapidly. Our agility allows us to employ innovative and creative strategies for retail space in our portfolio properties to drive success for the asset, community and our investors.
RockStep Mission
RockStep Capital’s mission is to grow and acquire strategically and organically through investments in value retail properties and assets in secondary and tertiary markets. RockStep’s vertical integration of services, coupled with our innovative approach to retail property repositioning and revitalization, accelerates returns for investors.
RockStep Capital focuses on distressed retail properties in communities that maintain highly desirable amenities. Using a comprehensive research criterion, we seek “irreplaceable drivers” of economic and demographic growth:
- Division I, II and III Universities
- Fortune 1000 Businesses
- Top 250 Ranked Hospital Networks
- Tourism
- Military Bases
- Low or Non-Existent State Income Tax
Quality of Life
Malls are critical to the quality of life of communities, and RockStep Capital’s mission is to keep traditional retail a vibrant and ever-evolving real estate sector.
We are looking to boost the retail and entertainment industry through the innovative redevelopment of commercial real estate. While redefining a unique consumer experience with the ever-changing retail landscape, it is imperative that RockStep Capital continues to shift the paradigm and think outside the box to meet the demands of today’s informed and sophisticated consumers.
RockStep Capital is determined to stay at the forefront of the increasing demand for unique customer experiences and desirable shopping environments by adding new uses and amenities and reconfiguring them to align with today’s “live, work, play” lifestyle for mixed-use properties.
The History of RockStep Capital
Long before the doors at RockStep opened, its story was being shaped by the world of retail. RockStep founder and CEO Andy Weiner grew up surrounded by the joys and nuances of retail. His grandfather launched his own value-price family clothing store, where Andy worked from a young age and helped grow the business to 159 stores.
Ultimately, this retail path led Andy to launch RockStep in 1997, focusing on the investment, development, management, and leasing of shopping centers. Having evolved the portfolio, RockStep grew its offering and shifted its focus to include the acquisition and transformation of regional malls and community shopping centers.
Isadore Weiner, Andy Weiner’s grandfather, opens Weiner’s, a value clothing retailer near downtown Houston.
Andy holds his unofficial first job folding clothes and rearranging brassieres.
Andy joins Weiner’s full time to eventually manage all the stores and the company’s real estate, HR, IT, finance and distribution departments.
Weiner’s Stores peaks at 159 stores.
RockStep Capital opens its corporate doors in Houston, Texas.
RockStep opens its first power center: a 475,000-square-foot Walmart-anchored center in Spring, Texas. This was followed by three additional centers totaling over 1 million square feet.
RockStep commences its small-town acquisition strategy with shopping centers in Texas, Arizona and Louisiana.
RockStep begins work on an H-E-B project in College Station and acquires five malls, fulfilling Andy’s vision of bringing the retail and shopping center experience to the enclosed mall sector.
RockStep adds 10 shopping centers to the portfolio, including six malls, with a presence in 11 states and 8 million square feet of acquired or developed property.
Riverwalk Outlets becomes RockStep Capital’s first metro market acquisition.
RockStep Capital reaches over 9.7 million square feet of acquired property, including the acquisition of Manhattan Town Center in Manhattan, Kansas.