William Himmelstein established Tenant Advisory Group LLC based on a core set of values, as well as the philosophy that “giver’s gain.”
“My passion comes from meeting with other business owners on a daily basis, learning about the intricacies of these other businesses, how they run and what their needs are, and finding novel ways to help address their specific pain points and requirements,” said Himmelstein. “I feel invigorated when I make strategic connections between two business owners or service providers and am able to help them reach out in ways that are often not even directly related to commercial real estate.”
Tenant Advisory Group LLC (TAG) is a boutique commercial real estate firm based in Chicago. Established in 2008, TAG is dedicated to helping businesses optimize their use of space while minimizing costs. From the start, Himmelstein said he envisioned TAG as a company rooted in integrity, responsiveness and a client-first philosophy. This approach has fostered enduring relationships, with over 95% of TAG’s clients coming from referrals and repeat business.
Himmelstein graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BSBA in marketing and management, alongside a minor in psychology. He honed his skills at leading firms such as UGL Equis, Cushman & Wakefield, and The John Buck Company before founding TAG. Disenchanted with the transactional mindset of larger firms, Himmelstein sought to create a firm built on trust and long-term partnerships.
With Himmelstein at the helm of the company, TAG experienced a turning point during the COVID-19 pandemic, pivoting its focus from traditional office leasing to industrial markets and sale-leaseback transactions. By leveraging his network of real estate investors, Himmelstein structured creative solutions for businesses in financial distress. Sale-leasebacks allowed companies to unlock capital while retaining operational stability. This strategy not only helped struggling businesses but also expanded TAG’s service offerings and significantly increased revenue.
“Bill encouraged his team to change their focus from winning new business and working transactions to understanding how they could help support their past clients and businesses in their network to survive, and even grow, to get through the tough times they were facing,” said his staff.
Himmelstein’s leadership has earned TAG industry accolades, including recognition as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ notable leaders in commercial real estate and multiple most influential chief executive officer awards from CEO Monthly.
By fostering a culture of growth and adaptability, Himmelstein strives to ensure that TAG remains at the forefront of an evolving industry. “Allowing our team to focus their efforts that require human interaction and spending time advancing the growth of Tenant Advisory Group has been the backbone of our business plan,” he said. “We know that if we have happy and growth-oriented team members, we will ultimately have happy clients as well.”