Juan Romero
CEO + President
Juan Romero founded api(+) in 1990 after working with some of the most respected industry leaders and architectural design firms in the world.
A visionary, astute leader and entrepreneur, Juan is passionate about helping organizations grow through great design, smart branding, and creative thinking.
Juan is in his third decade directing teams of talent in creating places and spaces that function, entertain, move product, and inspire.
His multidisciplinary portfolio includes commissions in architecture and interior and graphic design. His work in retail architecture and historic preservation has won numerous awards and has been published in industry periodicals. Additionally, Juan is a frequent guest contributor on the subject of retail design and development to trade, business and design publications, and serves with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) as a Retail Store Development committee member and International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
Over the years, Juan has addressed Hispanic issues and initiatives at national and international conferences and speaking engagements. He was recently invited to speak at the International Retail Design Conference (IRDC) on “How to Market to Hispanics,” leading the discussion in how to maximize the benefits of Hispanic retailing. His article published in Visual Merchandising + Store Design Magazine (VM+SD), “Do you habla Español”, discusses facts and trends, cultural influences, shared values, and design opportunities.
Juan’s organization, api(+), is one of the very few top retail design firms in the U. S. which is successfully bridging this Hispanic/American phenomenon. While the research and statistics are there as confirmation of this great opportunity, it takes an organization such as api(+) to conceptualize the solutions and, more importantly, deliver actionable steps to implement them in a timely, culturally sensitive, code compliant and operationally savvy environment. This is his vision and the professional advantage api(+) offers today’s leading retailer entering the Hispanic retail marketplace.
As a Hispanic and the president of a multi-cultural design firm and having lived the experience, Juan is well qualified and compelled to bring to the marketplace the retail knowledge we have developed over many years of working with the top retailers in the world.
Some of api(+)’s most prominent Hispanic concepts include Navarro Pharmacies in Miami, FL, Auto Mercado del Oeste S.A. Costa Rica, Carnival Super Market in Dallas, TX, Rattan Supermarkets in Venezuela, T-Mobile Stores in Los Angeles, CA, Taco Cabana, Houston, TX, and Pollo Tropical and Sedano’s Supermarkets in Florida among others.
Juan holds a bachelor of architecture degree from the University of Florida, he is a licensed architect and is the recipient of the Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc. Hispanic Businessman of the Year.
When not immersed in great architecture and design, you may find him mixing up the perfect margarita and enjoying a good Cuban cigar.
Juan Romero has worked closely with major client groups both nationally and internationally, including:
- Kash n’ Karry Food Stores Inc.
- The Dairy Farm Group
- Sedano’s Supermarkets
- The Kroger Company
- New York Yankees
- Walmart USA
- Walmart Japan
- Walmart Mexico
- The Home Depot USA, Inc.
- Food Lion LLC
- Beall’s Department Stores
- Barnes & Noble, Inc.
- Navarro Pharmacies
- The Fresh Market
- Crosland
- Wilder Companies
- RMC Property Group
- SCI Management
- Schnucks
- Lowes Foods
- Whole Foods Markets
- Earth Fare, Inc.
- Minyard/Carnival
- Auto Mercado del Oeste S.A.
- Sweetbay Supermarkets
- The Sembler Company
- Trammell Crow Company
- HEB
