Lewis Gelmon

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Lewis’s expertise has been recognized by leading finance groups, national franchise associations, and real estate media across North America. He’s been featured by:

A Much-Needed Resource to Offset Rising Landlord Costs and Increase EBITDA

Lew is North America’s go-to expert in multi-unit real estate strategy, known for embedding directly with leadership teams to take control of lease portfolios and drive rapid gains in enterprise value.

With 30+ years of negotiation experience and hundreds of millions of dollars saved, Lew helps multi-unit operators and private equity groups cut costs through high-impact rent reductions and decisive exits from underperforming locations, even with years left on the lease.

As Managing Partner at Acuity Negotiations, Lew serves as an embedded Vice President of Real Estate for multiple brands, bringing executive-level real estate leadership to the table and delivering results that align directly with ownership priorities.

His proven framework is now the standard for companies managing complex, multi-location portfolios and looking to turn real estate from a liability into a competitive advantage.

Pioneering the Real Estate-Driven Organizational Model

Lew Gelmon is credited with creating the Real-Estate-Driven Organization, a strategic approach that connects a multi-unit operator’s complex real estate activities to the goals of ownership through the creation of and implementation of effective real estate policy, with a strong emphasis on lease decision-making.

His Embedded Vice President of Real Estate framework has been adopted by multi-unit operators and private equity groups across North America, helping them scale efficiently, manage rent obligations, and focus human capital.

This model integrates C-suite strategy and field execution, empowering leadership teams to use real estate as a sustainable pillar for growth, stability, and long-term enterprise value.

Real Estate Strategy Sessions

Lew leads immersive, on-site Real Estate Strategy Sessions that help executive teams take control of their lease portfolios and uncover immediate opportunities to reduce costs. These half-day working sessions align leadership, surface hidden rent-reduction potential, and create a framework for exiting underperforming units who’s leases have many years of term remaining with confidence.

Each session is tailored to your organization’s specific portfolio and challenges, and growth plans, combining practical strategy with high-level vision. Lew’s guidance has helped multi-unit operators and private equity groups replace reactive leasing decisions with a structured approach to rent optimization, lease termination, and long-term portfolio performance.

For many companies, it becomes a pivotal turning point that delivers clarity, savings, and strategic direction than months worth of fragmented efforts. Only 6 available per year.

*only 6 available per year

Expertise

Portfolio Optimization, Rent Reductions, and Lease Negotiations
Multi-Unit Expansion Strategy
Real Estate Department Leadership
Risk Mitigation and Enterprise Value Creation

Signature Topics

Negotiating Rent Reductions
Restructuring Portfolios to Improve EBITDA
Real Estate Leadership for Multi-Unit Operators
Building a Real Estate Department That Drives Enterprise Value

Companies

Acuity Negotiations

Managing Partner; providing executive-level real estate strategy and embedded Vice President services for multi-unit organizations across North America.

Brand Partnerships

Trusted by private equity firms and franchise brands Lewis continues to set the benchmark for strategic lease negotiations. Lewis has built, advised, and negotiated for:

Cirrus Consulting

Founder; established the first dental and healthcare lease negotiation firm with offices in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.

Domino’s Pizza Canada

Master Franchisor; doubled national store count through strategic site acquisition and lease expansion.

Burger King

Advisor; supported multi-unit franchise operators with portfolio strategy and rent roll reduction initiatives.

Book Lewis for a Seminar

Lew Gelmon is a nationally recognized strategist and keynote speaker who provides franchise organizations, multi-unit brands and business owners with the right knowledge to lower costs, improve EBITDA, and enhance enterprise value right away.

Audiences walk away with:

Proven frameworks for rent reductions, and enterprise value improvement
Creating best in class real estate related policies multi-unit operators can benefit from
Confidence to negotiate from a position of strength
A clear vision on how to deal with difficult landlords and save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

Lew’s programs redefine how ownership and executives think about multi-unit tenant strategy.

Testimonials

“Lew’s on-site strategy session completely transformed how we approach real estate. In just one afternoon, he helped our leadership team uncover inefficiencies we didn’t know existed and align our locations with a unified growth plan. We walked away with specific actions we could implement immediately and within a quarter, the savings were real.”

Multi-Unit Operator (Restaurant Group)

“Lewis brings a rare combination of deep market insight and executive-level clarity. His frameworks helped our brands move from reactive lease management to a real estate–driven model that’s now a core part of our growth strategy.”

Private Equity Partner (Multi-Brand Portfolio)

“What stands out about Lewis is his ability to connect strategy to real numbers. He doesn’t talk theory…he shows you exactly where you’re losing money and how to fix it. His approach has helped us make smarter site decisions and strengthen our bottom line.”

President, Multi-Unit Restaurant Brand

“I’ve worked with a lot of consultants, but Lew feels more like part of the executive team. He understands what keeps operators up at night and his frameworks give us the structure and confidence to make major real estate decisions without second-guessing.”

Franchise Executive (National Chain)

Get in Touch

Explore how a disciplined lease strategy can elevate your brand.

Media Kit

Leading Authority on Rent Reductions and Lease Terminations for
Multi-Unit Operators

As Featured In

A Much-Needed Resource to Offset Rising Landlord Costs and Increase EBITDA

Pioneering the Real Estate-Driven Organizational Model

Real Estate Strategy Sessions