Fishy Business

08 / 06 / 15

Last edited 02 / 03 / 21

2 min read

If you work in the real estate business, chances are that at some point, someone has tried to tell you that your job is “all kinds of boring.” But most times, they sure are wrong.

Not long ago we read a blog post published by one of our clients, Phoenix-based Gary Shaw of Arcad shutterstock_114286867 ia Management Group. It was the kind of story that reminded us just how not boring the real estate business can be.

Gary relayed the tale of what happened when a commercial tenant of his company became delinquent on the rent for their retail space. As a result of the missing rent, Arcadia Management Group essentially “locked out” the tenant, which typically results in a fast remittance of the funds owed.

This wasn’t just any retail store, though. It was a high-end tropical salt water fish store, and taking care of the inventory was no small task

We’ll let Gary tell you what happened next in his own words:

“We were certain the tenant would be able to come up with the capital to cure the default and take back his store.

“The real world, unfortunately, doesn’t always follow the ideal scenario. The store owner was truly at an impasse and did not have the capital to cure the default. He made it clear that he was walking away from the fishy business for good.

“We pleaded with the owner to continue running the aquarium equipment while we made plans to liquidate – ‘If nothing else, do it for the fish!’ Our pleas went unanswered, and our calls were never returned. Nemo, Dory and all of their friends’ lives were now in our hands. Overnight, we went from property managers to fish store operators and underwater ecosystem caretakers.”

Thankfully, this story has a happy ending.

Gary and his team were able to enlist the help of a tropical fish industry insider and learn how to care for hundreds of fish until they could find new homes for their unexpected new business venture. You can read more about his experiences in commercial real estate management on his blog.

What unusual challenges have you encountered in your property management career, be it commercial, multifamily, or any other vertical?

AUTHOR

Leah Etling is the founding editor of the Balance Sheet and a 12-year Yardi employee who also oversees press releases and social media. An award winning journalist, she holds a master's degree from UC Berkeley and is a native of Santa Barbara County, Yardi's home.

Fishy Business

Recent articles

Yardi is a Forbes Best Company & Best Large Employer for 2026

What to do when CRE feels harder than it should

2026 multifamily reports: Download the latest from Yardi Matrix

We’re here to help