Company Profile

Ponder Properties Commercial Real Estate LLC

Ponder Properties is a full service commercial real estate firm specializing in leasing, land and property sales, property development, property management, and light industrial development. Ponder Properties is also a leading broker for restaurant sales and leasing in the Birmingham area.

We are the listing agent for a number of developments and shopping centers in the Birmingham metro area. In addition we represent a number of tenants, chain stores and firms in their search for new locations.

Terry Ponder

Terry has been in the retail world for 30 years, prior to going into Commercial Real Estate. He was with Sherwin Williams for 17 ½ years having held many positions including that of Store Manager, Personnel Manager, Office Manager, Regional Advertising and Merchandising Manager for 350 stores.

During his career he specialized in troubleshooting and helped turn around troubled individual store locations while headquartered in Atlanta. Later, he was sent to Miami- Ft. Lauderdale where the District had 21 out of 22 stores losing money. The District was in danger of being shut down. Hundreds of stores were shut down in those troubled times and some markets such as Los Angeles (66 stores) were abandoned. He turned the South Florida District into the most successful in the country and became the top District Manager in the Country (out of 87 Districts).

He then was sent to Cleveland, Ohio, as National Sales Manager for 1,765 Stores and 23,000 employees. At that time the company was an estimated 55 days from bankruptcy and 80% of management was replaced. Terry was one of two non outsiders brought in to participate in the highly successful turnaround of the company.

Moving to Birmingham to go into business for himself, Terry founded Rainbow Paint & Decorating, a five-store chain located in Birmingham in May, 1982. He purchased a troubled store that had been owned by two owners and had lost money for all of its ten years of existence.   Rainbow grew from two employees to become the largest volume chain of its type in the South with a payroll in excess of $1.5 million.  

According to the Benjamin Moore management people, Rainbow’s Vestavia location was the busiest independent retail paint dealer in the nation. Rainbow broke a number of sales records in all of its stores. Prospects and fellow dealers flew in from all over the USA to see the stores.

During that time he participated in a number of committee positions with All Pro, then a $2 billion dollar buying group. He was head of the important wallcovering- window treatment committee for several years. He also volunteered his services and traveled the USA and became a non paid advisor for troubled independent stores, as needed.

He sold Rainbow in November 1994 and turned his focus to real estate development.

Since leaving Rainbow, he has developed and owns the successful Rainbow Plaza Shopping Center at Greystone. He also owns Regal Plaza in Pelham, is co-owner of Shelby Med Plaza in Alabaster and Victoria Plaza in Pelham and partners in various developments such as Colours Plaza in Chelsea.

In 1996, Terry’s first year in Commercial Real Estate, won the award of Rookie of the Year with the Birmingham Association of Realtors.

Since that time, Terry has helped develop and lease numerous shopping centers, has handled hundreds of leases and has sold many millions of dollars of property including buildings, land, offices, shopping centers, etc.

Terry is the founder of Ponder Properties Commercial Real Estate LLC, a full service commercial real estate firm. Specializing in leasing, land sales, property development, property management and light industrial development. Ponder Properties is also a leading broker for restaurant sales and leasing in the Birmingham area.

Over the course of years as a Retailer, he has opened and relocated numerous stores and is very experienced in both sides of leasing, obtaining successful locations, etc. With many years of retail experience, he still thinks like a retailer.

Ponder Properties is the listing agent for a number of developments and shopping centers in the Birmingham Metro area. In addition they represent a number of tenants, chain stores and firms in their search for additional locations. Ponder Properties has developed and sold a great many shopping centers.

Joining Terry at Ponder Properties Commercial Real Estate are his two sons and daughter, making it a true family business! Typically, they work together as a team on properties for maximum marketing effectiveness.

Glenn, the oldest son, is a President of the company and partner in Ponder Properties Commercial Real Estate. Glenn comes from a background in retail as well. Keith is Property Manager and handles all of the marketing for the firm. Melanie is in charge of the Accounting Dept. and works mainly with Property Owners of the properties we manage.

 Terry is active in a number of charitable projects and enjoys helping people. His greatest achievement has been the hiring and development of hundreds of people over the years. He feels that you need to put back into life some of what you take out.

Terry can be reached at (205) 408-9911 extension 1.

Glenn Ponder

Glenn has been in the retail world for over ten years, prior to going into Commercial Real Estate. He was with Rainbow Paint and Decorating for twelve years. He held many positions with Rainbow including Assistant Store Manager, Store Manager, and Vice President of Operations.

Glenn helped found Rainbow Paint & Decorating, a five-store chain located in Birmingham in May, 1982. Rainbow grew to the largest volume chain of its type in the South. He sold his interest in Rainbow in November 1994. During his tenure at Rainbow, he achieved over $1 million in sales at the first location. Later, he took the Vestavia store up to $2.5 million in sales before going into Corporate Operations.

Glenn has served as President of the Birmingham Remodelor’s Association, Board Member of the Greater Birmingham Homebuilders Association, President of Vocalizers Toastmasters Club, Apartment Council of Birmingham Board Member, and a number of other positions.  He is currently active in a number of community organizations, and is a member of the Birmingham Association of Realtors, the Alabama CCIM Chapter, and  President of the Commercial Real Estate Club.

Glenn is a member of Ponder Properties Commercial Real Estate, a full service commercial real estate firm. Glenn specializes in Property Redevelopment, New Development, Investments, Sales, Leasing, Tenant Representation, and Property Management.  In his first year in Commercial Real Estate he achieved over $2 million in sales and leasing transactions for his clients.

Ponder Properties Commercial Real Estate is the listing agent for a number of developments and shopping centers in the Birmingham Metro area. Ponder Properties is also a leading broker for restaurant sales and leasing in the Birmingham area.  In addition they represent a number of tenants, chain stores and firms in their search for additional locations.

Glenn can be reached at (205) 408-9911 extension 2.

Melanie Thorn 

Ponder Properties Commercial Real Estate is proud to announce the addition of Melanie Thorn to their staff.  

Melanie previously was employed by Rainbow Paint and Decorating for eight years in Accounting, Marketing and Advertising. Following that, she was in the Food industry for a number of years in Birmingham and San Francisco.  

She joins the Property Management Division of Ponder Properties Commercial Real Estate.  

Ponder Properties Commercial Real Estate is one of the leading commercial real estate companies in Birmingham. They specialize in developing, leasing and managing properties in the Birmingham Metro area. In addition Ponder Properties is a leader in Restaurant leasing, Shopping Center development and Office Condominium sales in Metro Birmingham.

Melanie can be reached at (205) 408-9911 extension 6.