Professional Overview
Mohamed Haouache is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Storefront, a New York City-based company established in 2012. Storefront operates the world's largest marketplace for short-term commercial space rental, facilitating the pop-up retail sector by connecting property owners with brands, designers, and retailers seeking temporary physical retail spaces.
Company and Market Position
Under Haouache’s leadership, Storefront has experienced substantial growth, with company revenue surging over 500% in recent years. The strategic vision includes ambitious goals to scale Storefront into a billion-dollar enterprise, reflecting its expanding influence in reshaping the brick-and-mortar retail landscape. Storefront’s platform enables landlords to list vacant properties and allows retailers to flexibly enter physical retail markets.
Haouache’s experience includes previous entrepreneurial ventures linked to retail real estate technology, notably the founding of Oui Open in 2014, an online platform designed to connect landlords directly with brands and designers, which has since merged into Storefront, further consolidating the position in the pop-up commercial property market.
Industry Expertise and Thought Leadership
Haouache is widely recognized within commercial real estate and retail communities as an influential figure in innovation for retail space usage and marketplace disruption. He has participated in multiple high-profile industry forums, including the ICSC RECon event and was featured in the "Retail Issue: Real Estate Forum Presents Influencers In Retail" (2019). His insights have been sought in various interviews and podcasts concerning the future of retail stores and the evolving “phygital” (physical and digital) retail experience.
Notably, Haouache has delivered presentations and interactive sessions focused on evolving retail real estate dynamics, operational optimizations, and market-testing strategies using pop-up stores to enter and explore new geographies.
Leadership and Company Culture
Haouache manages a diverse executive team at Storefront including a Chief Marketing Officer and a VP of Growth, indicating a structured leadership framework supporting global expansion and brand development efforts.
Glassdoor reviews reveal a mixed perception internally about Storefront’s leadership style, with some employees describing the CEO as “erratic and unreasonable,” reporting a rapid hiring and firing cycle that could impact talent retention. However, the company is also noted for attracting motivated individuals who are excited about Storefront’s mission, indicating a passionate but demanding work environment.
Relevant Achievements and Recognition
- Founder of Storefront, the largest global marketplace in short-term commercial space rental since 2012.
- Successfully scaled Storefront’s revenue by more than 500% within a short timeframe.
- Pivotal in the 2014 founding and subsequent integration of Oui Open into Storefront.
- Featured speaker and panel expert at ICSC RECon (international retail real estate convention) and other major industry events.
- Regular podcast guest and interviewee on topics related to retail innovation, pop-up stores, and the future of retail.
Additional Context
- Haouache’s professional background includes experience in finance prior to founding Storefront, underpinning his strategic and operational leadership with financial acumen.
- His approach to retail innovation leverages technology to disrupt traditional leasing models and enable flexible retail footprint expansions.
- The company is headquartered in New York City with a global footprint, having expanded operations to multiple international markets.
LinkedIn Profile: [Mohamed Haouache](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamedhaouache)
Company Website: [Storefront](https://www.thestorefront.com)
This profile reflects a CEO driving technological and market innovation within real estate and retail sectors, focused on fast-growing marketplace platforms that enable flexible commercial space transactions worldwide.
