about Us

Retail and lifestyles are in the midst of a major transformation and communities, business districts and main streets are facing new challenges—whether due to new zoning regulations, socio-economic shifts in the population, or retail market changes—TTG offers a different kind of support. We provide strategic guidance that helps you understand the complexities and make informed decisions that strengthen your business community with positive results in your residential community. Different from architects and other consultants we provide the perspective of tenants and shoppers right from the beginning. Success depends on them.

How Our Guidance Works:

Problem Identification: We help you identify and understand the competition and challenges your community faces due to new laws, events, or changes in the market and market area.
Strategic Planning: We collaborate with your team on an as-needed basis to create a work plan that is possible and realistic. The plan is based on goals that fit the location and market.
Connecting to Resources: Depending on project needs we can guide you in selecting consultants, companies, and additional staff to execute the work. Our advice includes what to expect regarding scope, timing, and costs—saving you time, effort, and money by focusing on what your community truly needs, not on impractical visions that fail to deliver results.

Why The Todreas Group?

With decades of experience in retail planning and development, TTG is uniquely positioned to guide you toward smart decisions while helping you avoid unnecessary costs. Our expertise empowers you to seize opportunities with confidence and sidestep common pitfalls.

By partnering with TTG, you gain access to our expertise in analyzing retail, community, and market issues and our ability to connect you with the right professionals to deliver results.

Disclaimer: Previously known as Todreas Hanley Associates, we have rebranded as The Todreas Group. While our name has changed, our expertise and commitment to retail planning remain the same. We provide strategic guidance and insights, helping others execute the plans.

our team

Carol Todreas, Founder

Carol Todreas, the founder of The Todreas Group (TTG), is a seasoned expert in retail planning, marketing, and leasing. With a background in historic preservation and urban retail development, she has advised on projects like the revitalization of Brookline Village, the MIT Ray and Maria Stata Center, and The Strand in Galveston,Texas. Carol also serves as a retail columnist for the New England Real Estate Journal and mentors for MIT’s Venture Mentoring Service and Mass Challenge, an international accelerator for Start-ups, offering guidance in physical and e-commerce retail, retail real estate, community, and government projects, as well as art, music, entertainment, and fashion. Her expertise in tenant mix and market analysis has driven successful outcomes across diverse commercial projects, both locally and abroad, including her work with Societe des Centres Commerciaux in Paris, France.

Jivan Colabawalla

Jivan Colabawalla is a skilled retail real estate specialist with a strong background in business and finance. His career began in the airline industry before transitioning to retail management and consulting. Notable achievements include the revitalization of TowerSquare in Springfield, MA, and leasing a large mill building in Windsor Locks, CT. Jivan excels in strategic leasing and market assessment, offering valuable consulting services for downtown revitalization and private investments in New England.

Marc Older

Marc Older brings extensive experience in planning and development from both public and private sectors. With degrees in Economic Geography and Regional Planning, he has worked on major projects like Boston’s Harborpark Plan and new town designs in Puerto Rico. Marc’s public sector roles included managing Boston’s growth and waterfront planning. As a vice president at Akira Yamashita and Associates, he managed large-scale mixed-use developments in the U.S. and Japan. He currently focuses on the impact of changes in transportation modes and land use on economic and retail area markets and developments.