Tenant Representation - Leasing
William Butcher has extensive experience representing both Landlords and Tenants with a focus on retail, office, and small-medium sized businesses in Madison and Dane County, including lease-up project management of new mixed-use retail/office projects to existing urban and suburban retail, office, flex, and industrial sites. In addition to a vibrant mix of retail and office leases, he has successfully leased (as both Tenant and Landlord Representative) dozens of restaurants, bars, cafes, craft beverage (distiller, brewer, cidery) and hospitality businesses... an area of expertise in a challenging field.
Examples include—
TENANT REPRESENTATIVE: CAPITOL SQUARE RESTAURANT
Represented a Capitol Square restaurant, in place more than ten years, in a lease renewal that required a clear read of the market and a win-win for landlord and tenant. Renewal signed 2026. Lease renewals are a critical part of tenant representation, well beyond the initial deal.
TENANT REPRESENTATIVE: S&K BUILDING SERVICES / MADISON WINDOW CLEANING
Represented S&K Building Services and Madison Window Cleaning, a regional building-services company with a Madison truck fleet, after the building they occupied sold in 2026. Found a replacement warehouse, fleet and office facility in Monona and negotiated a direct long-term lease with the owner, signed September 2026. Terms confidential.
Tenant Representative: Wonderstate Coffee
Simultaneous with the rebranding of one of Wisconsin’s signature coffee companies, I was engaged by the owners of Kickapoo > Wonderstate Coffee to locate, negotiate, and advise on the opening of a new flagship cafe in Madison. Ultimately a location on the capitol square was the right fit. Working closely with the ownership and management team through a challenging winter/spring 2020 and the uncertainties that came with a global pandemic, we navigated the gauntlet and today the cafe is a glowing addition to the vibrant food and cultural scene of the downtown core.
"William was a critical partner for opening our coffee shop on the Square in Madison. His expertise, attention to detail and advocating on our behalf was extremely important for our project success. William was right there with us from step one until this day almost a year after we have been up and running - he helped us find and secure the location, offered resources and input for designers and general contractors and acted in our best interests as our representative in every step of the lease process. Wiliam's understanding of our industry and the needs of a retail location made him a natural fit to represent us and our interests. I couldn't recommend William more for any real estate needs you may have for your business!"
— TJ Semanchin — President & Founder / Wonderstate Coffee
Tenant Representative: Delta Beer Lab
Pio Piotrowski was began his journey toward craft beer fame a half a continent away in Colorado, later in Minneapolis, MN. When he set his sights on Madison, a mutual friend suggested I might be a good fit to help him open his brewery here. The journey included a forgiving timeframe as Pio set me to identifying a series of options while he hiked the Appalachian Trail. On his return, we had options. After a long site selection process that required balancing the needs of a 30-barrel production target with a retail tasting room, he ultimately settled on a space that could accommodate both, at a cost savings, while keeping the option open for a downtown tasting room location for Phase 2. Today Delta Beer Lab is producing some of the best beer in the region, has a stunning tasting room on site, and is looking forward to expansion.
Tenant Representative: Cider Farm
The Cider Farm is as expressive of Wisconsin terroir as it is of Wisconsin ideals. John Biondi and Deirdre Birmingham started cultivating their organic cider apple orchard in 2000 outside Mineral Point, WI, and 18 years later were looking for a location to open a production and tasting room in Madison. After months of searching for the right spot, I negotiated a deal to take over a portion of an existing specialty foods grocery store which meant adapting the space for cider production, a commercial kitchen, and tasting room. Today The Cider Farm is thriving in their new location and continues to win awards for their singular ciders.
“When I was looking for a special and appropriate location for placement of Madison’s first cidery and tasting room, William helped me find the right location, helped to negotiate and structure the deal, coached me on what I should and shouldn’t be concerned about—all things you would expect a broker to do. William, however, went well beyond the expected. He helped me connect with a consultant who, in concert with William, helped me design and lay out my kitchen and bar areas. He connected me with the right contractor to do the build out and helped coach me through the process of purchasing my restaurant equipment and furnishings. William and I have remained friends and I will certainly use him for my next project.”
— John Biondi / The Cider Farm
TENANT REPRESENTATIVE: BOHEMIAN OASIS - 1955 ATWOOD AVENUE
Represented a new business owner with opening a massage and healing studio in a new mixed-use building on Atwood Avenue, signed 2024. This was the owner’s first commercial build out, so the work started with walking her through how the process works and what a landlord will and will not do, then negotiating a fair rent and a tenant-improvement package that let her build out the space the way she wanted it. The business is thriving.
Tenant Representative: Taco Local
When David Rodriguez wanted to open a brick and mortar restaurant to expand his food cart empire he called me. After a typically exhaustive process he settled on one of my favorite neighborhoods and a building with which I'd had a long history. Having negotiated the purchase of the building in 2007, the then owner transformed it into one of the most elegant restoration projects on the east side from an underutilized eyesore to glory as a signature example of historic reuse. The 2,400 SF two-story stone building was built in 1871-72 as a wagon and blacksmith shop for a young capital city. David took the already significant restoration and elevated it further by creative retrofitting to what now is setting a bar for iconic adaptive restaurant use of historic neighborhood property in Madison. Taco Local’s tacos and margaritas are equally fantastic. Taco Local closed in 2023, but it was a spectacular addition to the neighborhood while it lasted.
