Haag Brown Commercial Real Estate

With a hearty helping of community pride — and perhaps a dash of manifest destiny — Haag Brown Commercial Real Estate & Development is growing Jonesboro and northeast Arkansas outward toward those green Delta horizons.

“If the goal of Haag Brown Commercial could be wrapped up in one word, it would be ‘expansion,’” said co-founder and principal Joshua Brown. “We enjoy being a part of the expansion of jobs, businesses, communities and individuals. Since its formation, this company has been involved in bringing several new businesses to the area, resulting in the creation of approximately 850 new jobs and a major expansion of the Jonesboro trade area.”

Shortly after opening for business in September 2010, the firm brought Red Lobster and Longhorn Steakhouse to Jonesboro, two chains that had been eagerly anticipated. Since then, Haag Brown has been busy introducing new franchises and retail developments to town, including the city’s first drive-through Starbucks.

Haag Brown saw revenue growth of more than 20 percent over the last year, and more growth is forecast. The firm last fall announced plans to open a permanent office in northwest Arkansas, after developing multiple projects in the region, and is looking at expansion in other parts of the state. But Jonesboro is home.

“Northeast Arkansas, particularly Jonesboro, has been a type of economic safe haven during the past few years of our country’s significant financial downturn,” Brown said. “Our company has excelled and flourished throughout the worst four years in the commercial real estate industry. As we expand our company into other parts of the state, we expect to greatly exceed our present successes in the upcoming years.”