Great Article on Raanan Katz and the RK Centers Brand - From the New England Real Estate Journal

Great Article that was published on Raanan Katz and his company.

How Raanan Katz's basketball logo tells a story and represents the RK Centers' brand

Kevin Belmont, RK Centers

Raanan Katz started out his career as a basketball player in Israel, but in the 40 years since he retired from his playing days, Raanan Katz has been leasing, managing and developing commercial and residential real estate. In the early 1980s, after acquiring over 2,000 apartments in the Boston area, he transitioned his focus from residential to commercial real estate and has since grown his portfolio to over 40 commercial properties, totaling over 6 million s/f of retail space and about 100,000 s/f of office space. Raanan's pride in maintaining top quality shopping centers is evidenced by his personal "signature" emblazoned on each building with the initials "RK" alongside the distinct company basketball logo.

The signature basketball RK Centers logo and RK initials have become a beacon for shopping center patrons and prospective tenants. When a patron or prospective tenant sees the "RK logo" on the side of a building or the basketball logo on the pylon sign they expect to enter a well maintained and attractive shopping center. According to Raanan Katz, "the RK logo is distinctive; our prospects know they are getting a professionally maintained center that will be clean and inviting. I personally visit the properties on a regular basis to ensure that our centers are top quality." The RK Centers brand has grown and evolved over the past 40 years, but the "RK Way" of shopping center maintenance has been a constant. Namely, the "RK Way" means that a RK property is going to be updated, well maintained, well landscaped, a safe shopping environment and, most importantly, inviting to patrons. Raanan Katz's and RK Centers' dedication and commitment to the communities in which he has developed property has not gone unnoticed. For example, the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida recently recognized Raanan Katz's tireless commitment to its development by renaming 170th St. as "Raanan Katz Boulevard." Raanan was further honored with the dedication of the Phyllis and Raanan Katz Sports Center, located behind RK Village Plaza (18200 Collins Ave.) in Sunny Isles Beach, where Raanan remains a fixture on weekend afternoons taking on all basketball challengers with his still potent outside shot. Katz's accolades extend to New England as well. Two examples of that recognition include, The Metro South Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Impact Award and the State of Rhode Island, House of Representatives a citation recognizing RK Centers as "being responsible for transforming a Middletown Shopping Plaza into an appealing and artistically styled center that enhances the town and encourages positive growth."

Katz's unique basketball logo is a legacy of both his early playing days in Israel for powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Israeli National Team, as well as his time playing for the U.S. All Stars, the sparring team for the world famous Harlem Globetrotters. Beyond being a real estate developer, Raanan remains close to the game in the ownership arena. In 1986, Katz became an original partner of the Miami Heat expansion franchise, where he remains a courtside figure at every home game. Katz was ecstatic to be a front row witness to the 2012 NBA Championship victory led by Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Besides the Miami Heat, Raanan also purchased a substantial interest in the Israeli basketball team Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2003. Maccabi is widely known as one of the most successful clubs in Europe and Israel, having reached the Euroleague championship game four times during Raanan's ownership tenure, including Euroleague Cup championship victories during Raanan's inaugural years of ownership in 2004 and 2005. Raanan subsequently sold his interest in Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2009, but remains heavily involved with Israeli basketball by sponsoring teams based in Jerusalem, Galil, and Holon.

Given its strong financial position, and excellent reputation for shopping center management, RK Centers is poised to acquire additional properties in an effort to grow its portfolio. A key advantage that Raanan Katz and RK Centers enjoy is that the company typically closes on acquisitions in less than 30 days by using its own funds; eliminating the need to obtain financing. With over forty years of experience in real estate, Raanan Katz and RK Centers have a proven track record of success with tenants, customers and the communities in which it operates. Most recently, RK Centers completed the acquisition of RK Cape Roads Crossing in Raynham, MA (214,000 s/f), RK Sage Plaza in Hallandale Beach, FL (30,000 s/f) and RK San Souci Plaza in North Miami Beach (27,640 s/f). More information about Raanan Katz and RK Centers is available at their website at www.rkcenters.com.

Kevin Belmont is director of marketing and information technology for RK Centers, Dedham, Mass.

NEREJ - How Raanan Katz's basketball logo tells a story and represents the RK Centers' brand

NEREJ - How Raanan Katz's basketball logo tells a story and represents the RK Centers' brand

Raanan Katz: New RK Centers Website

New Website Launched. A few Images from the new website.

Check it out.

Raanan Katz - New Website Launched

http://raanankatz.brandyourself.com/

http://raanankatz.brandyourself.com/ Check out my profile!

Check out our Scribd Page... see our leasing brochures and Raanan Katz

 

Raanan Katz, Owner of RK Centers has company utilize Scribd to post brochures and keep people informed about his real estate portfolio. 

Raanan Katz Information can be found at www.raanankatz.com

Great Article on Raanan Katz - GO MIAMI HEAT 2012

GO HEAT - RAANAN KATZ - Forgotten man of the Heat brass

As the team struggles to catch up — and hometown attention is heaped on majority owner Micky Arison — Katz is the forgotten man of the Heat brass. Along with Latin crooner Julio Iglesias, apparel maker Sidney Kimmel, and former cruise line executive Robert Sturges, he owns a combined twelve percent of the team's stock. The vigorous, handsome former basketball player has been a courtside fixture since the team's inaugural season.

Katz was born on a kibbutz in the northern part of Israel, where as a ten-year-old boy he honed his basketball skills on a dirt half-court with a netless hoop. In his early twenties, Katz made the Israeli national basketball team and earned a reputation as an excellent outside shooter. In 1962 the Boston Celtics invited him to training camp but then trimmed him from the roster. Katz says he was edged out by John Havlicek (who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984).

Later the same year, Katz played for the U.S. All-Stars, the sparring team for the Harlem Globetrotters. "We would always spot them six free baskets during games," Katz recalls, explaining why the Globetrotters would always emerge victorious. "It was pure entertainment." In 1965 Katz settled down in Boston, where he spent fifteen years amassing rental properties. In 1980 he switched from residential to commercial. Four years later, Katz moved to South Florida and began acquiring commercial properties all over Miami-Dade. He bought a piece of the team before its first game in 1986. In the early years, before the Heat moved from the Miami Arena to its Biscayne Boulevard palace, majority owners Billy Cunningham and Lewis Schaffel controlled the franchise with an iron fist.

In 1995 Katz sued Schaffel and Cunningham to stop the duo from selling their interest in the Heat to Wayne Huizenga's brother-in-law, Whit Hudson. Katz dropped the complaint later that year when Micky Arison and his father Ted bought out Schaffel and Cunningham for $60 million.

Today Katz likes to talk about his playmaking abilities. "I shoot and play like I'm 28-year-old," the six-foot-one former guard says. "My specialty is the three-point shot."

His company, RK Associates, owns and leases ten shopping centers in the county — mostly in the north end. In Sunny Isles Beach, Katz is the stuff of legend. Mayor Norman Edelcup dubbed this past May 18 "Raanan Katz Day" because of Katz's success as a developer and landlord. There is hardly a business in sight that doesn't rest under his company's logo — a basketball stamped with Katz's initials swishing through a net.

"He's tall, well built," said the manager of a Perfumania store in a Katz-owned shopping center at 169th Street and Collins Avenue. "He's tough," he added with a wide grin. But he declined further comment and refused to give his name.

David Reiser, who owns a UPS store and a Mail Boxes Etc. in two of Katz's strip malls, lauded the businessman's acumen. "He's a diplomat," Reiser said. "He's brought in good, national tenants." When asked if he knew of Katz's call to prayer for the Heat, Reiser chuckled. "If it hadn't been a request, it would have been a demand," he said. "It's certainly well known that he cares about [the Heat]."

Katz is also part owner of the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball club, which recently was defeated by CSKA Moscow in the Euroleague final four, ending the Israeli team's two-year reign as champs. Katz said he would actually have preferred a third crown for Maccabi rather than a first title for the Heat. "For some reason, I take Maccabi's loss more to heart," Katz admitted."

By Francisco Alvarado Thursday, Jun 15 2006
— Writing fellow Calvin Godfrey contributed to this report

Originally found At: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2006-06-15/news/go-heat/ 

RK Centers Changes Name - Owned By Raanan Katz

RK Associates Re-Branding to RK Centers