Mary Winter Teaster of Colliers facilitates female entrepreneurship in the midlands
May 11, 2022
Colliers | South Carolina’s Mary Winter Teaster has brokered over 675,000 square feet of space to multiple female-owned businesses since 2020.
Mary Winter Teaster has developed a passion for encouraging female entrepreneurship within the central South Carolina region. Since 2020, Teaster has brokered multiple commercial sale and lease transactions representing female-led or owned organizations, small businesses and nonprofits.
Teaster was a founding board member and former President of CREW Midlands, a local group of successful commercial real estate professionals from every discipline. CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) works to advance women globally in commercial real estate through four key initiatives: business networking, leadership development, career outreach and industry research.
“While I love representing all types of organizations and businesses within the region, the opportunity to help other women pursue their business dream of leasing or buying commercial real estate remains a top priority,” said Teaster. “Serving business owners for over 25 years, I have been able to bring a female perspective that has enabled me to successfully serve those businesses owned or led by women.”
A few notable transactions include:
Teaster represented the landlord in leasing over 2,000 square feet of retail space at 128 State Street to Tall Oaks Boutique owned by Sierra Barton. Tall Oaks was a successful online retailer of women’s clothing and accessories business, and Barton opened her first brick and mortar in West Columbia’s booming State Street district.
“Mary Winter knew my shop needed to be in the most eclectic area with young clientele and neighboring shops with an innovative vibe,” said Barton.
Teaster represented McIntosh Cottage Antiques in the purchase of a 1,400-square-foot retail building at 714 Beltline Boulevard in Columbia. Founded in 1985, McInTosh Cottage Antiques is run by Elizabeth Sheehan and her husband Adam and features a carefully curated collection of English and French antiques.
“Working with Mary Winter was such a joy,” said Sheehan. “We had our eyes on a specific property and she worked hard to make our purchase happen. She truly went the extra mile, and because of that, we’re in the perfect space!”
Teaster represented Holly Saleeby Atkins of Atkins Law Firm in leasing and selling 720 Calhoun Street, a 2,000-square-foot office building, purchasing 1813 Laurel Street, a 7,850-square-foot office building, and a sublease of her vacated office space. Atkins has practiced workers compensation law since 1990.
“Mary has helped me many times over the last several years,” said Atkins. “She first helped me when my business was growing, and we needed to find larger office space on two different occasions. The most recent purchase was an over 8,000-square-foot property at 1813 Laurel Street. She also assisted in selling my first building that I purchased right out of law school, which I had strong emotional ties with, to another young lawyer as their first owned property. I knew they would care for it as I had. Mary has always been there when we needed her.”
About Colliers
Colliers | South Carolina has over 140 staff members, including 62 licensed real estate professionals, covering the entire state with locations in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg. Total 2021 brokerage volume exceeded $1 billion, which included over 590 sales and leasing transactions. In addition to traditional commercial real estate representation services for our clients, the company is actively engaged in Corporate Solutions and Healthcare Services. Colliers is an Accredited Management Organization (AMO) through the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and is the largest manager of commercial real estate properties in South Carolina, with a portfolio of over 17 million square feet of office, industrial, retail and healthcare properties. Colliers’ staff hold 54 professional designations, the most of any firm in South Carolina. Colliers | South Carolina’s partner, LCK, provides project management services for new facilities and renovations across South Carolina and set a new record by managing a portfolio of projects approaching $1 billion in volume during 2021.
Colliers (NASDAQ, TSX: CIGI) is a leading diversified professional services and investment management company. With operations in 67 countries, our more than 15,000 enterprising professionals work collaboratively to provide expert advice to real estate occupiers, owners and investors. With annualized revenues of $3.0 billion ($3.3 billion including affiliates) and $40 billion of assets under management, we maximize the potential of property and accelerate the success of our clients and our people. Learn more at corporate.colliers.com, Twitter @Colliers or LinkedIn.
