How I Work: Brooks Whiteside, Broker at Whiteside Industrial Properties

I’ve got a ton of respect for the infill real estate strategy that Brooks Whiteside is implementing in South End. He’s the guy behind The Gold District.

In South End alone, Brooks has leased over 50,000 square feet of commercial space. Of those leased spaces, four were restaurants totaling 16,000 square feet and all were “change of use” redevelopments. In addition to restaurants, Brooks has leased an art gallery, micro brewery, and office space, all in South End and The Gold District in Charlotte (via Linkedin).

Brooks is also a Charlotte native and attended Charlotte Country Day.

Office location

On S Mint St. in The Gold District of South End 

Job title

VP/Broker at Whiteside Industrial Properties

What do you actually do?

I represent sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants of commercial real estate in and around Charlotte. Mainly focusing on urban redevelopment sites and industrial real estate.

Commute 

Driving from Cotswold, roughly 10-20 minutes on either Randolph or Independence depending on the time.

What do you do during your commute?

Either start taking calls for the day or listening to 610am during football season and Sirius presets.

Phone type

iPhone 6

Desk photo

Computer

Dell at the office and iMac at home. 

Gadgets you can’t live without

iPad 

Do you listen to music while you work?

Yes when working on Excel, research, etc. I will listen to Spotify or iTunes, generally music without lyrics (not classical).

What’s your favorite spot for a business lunch? Your order?

The Gallery recently because it’s a great private spot and across the street from our office. Chicken salad on multigrain croissant is my go-to order. 

Social media habits

Mainly Instagram and Facebook. My feed is filled with my hobbies like skiing and music.

To-do list manager

I use notes on my iPhone but still use pen and paper/stickies the most at work.

What everyday thing are you really good at?

Staying calm when crap hits the fan.

Best time-saving shortcut or Charlotte life hack

Whenever a friend moves here I always tell them to go to Pasta and Provisions beside Sundries and order Garlic Rosemary Spaghetti and Meatballs Pomodoro for quick, homemade, LEGIT Italian. Also, Little Hardware is the best hardware store in the City. 

Sleep routine

Inconsistent, sometimes I work late and sometimes I go in early. My schedule fluctuates daily. 

Where do you go around Charlotte to get away from the office?

The Whitewater Center, farmers market with my wife Neely, The Visulite, breweries, and runs on the greenway by the Metropolitan. 

What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

Coffee 

If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you be doing? 

Guiding ski trips somewhere in the Rockies. 

Best job advice you’ve received

I truly believe that if you do what you love, success will follow. 

Last book you read 

“Getting There” by Gillian Zoe Segal. 

What’s one thing people don’t know about Charlotte that they should?

There are actually people from here. I can give you a list; it’s pretty long and they are pretty cool. 

Is there anything else that we didn’t ask that you’d like to tell our readers?

Persistence and confidence to get the job done is undervalued. Don’t be afraid of failing repeatedly. 

What other Charlottean would you like to answer these questions?

Michael Jordan.