Our History
35 Years of Building What Communities Need
The Trotman Company is a full-service retail development firm based in Montgomery, Alabama. For over 35 years we have specialized in finding the right sites, building the right relationships, and delivering retail centers that serve communities for decades.
We are family-owned and family-operated which means every project carries our name, and we treat it that way.
“Built on Relationships. Proven through Performance.”
4.1M
Square Ft Developed
$1B+
In Value Created
20+
National Anchor Tenants
35
Years of Excellence
Before the Company
The Man Behind the Company
Before there was a company, there was a competitor.
Charlie Trotman spent three seasons as the starting quarterback at Auburn University from 1977 to 1979 — learning what it
means to lead, to prepare, and to perform when it counts. He graduated with a degree in Political Science in 1980 and went on
to earn his law degree from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, passing the bar in 1983.
But the courtroom wasn’t where he wanted to be. Real estate was. After nearly a decade learning under some of the
Southeast’s top developers, Charlie trusted his instincts, bet on himself, and founded The Trotman Company in 1990. The rest
is 35 years of history.
Charlie Trotman — Founder
QB
Starting Quarterback
Auburn University · 1976–1979
BA
B.A. Political Science
Auburn University · 1980
JD
Juris Doctor — Passed the Bar
Cumberland School of Law · 1983
QB
Founded The Trotman Company
Montgomery, Alabama · 1990
Timeline
Company Milestones
Italian Village at Daphne
A 34+ acre master-planned, Italian-inspired development in Daphne, Alabama — anchored by a Walmart Neighborhood Market, with retail and a 208-unit apartment community.
Merry Corners
A 30,000 sq ft strip center completed in Pike Road, Alabama.
Baptist Healthcare at Merry Corners
A 12,800 sq ft Baptist Healthcare building — the first phase of Merry Corners in Pike Road.
Ellen Farmer Joins
Charlie’s daughter joins the company; Shoppes at Fort Toulouse opens in Wetumpka, Alabama.
Expansion into Georgia
Midland Commons, a Publix-anchored center, opens in Columbus, Georgia.
Charlie Trotman Jr. Joins
Charlie’s son joins the company; Shops at Point Clear opens in Fairhope, Alabama.
The Publix Partnership Begins
Shops at Pike Road, a Publix-anchored center, opens in Pike Road, Alabama.
25th Anniversary
The Trotman Company celebrates 25 years.
Expansion into Mississippi
Meridian Crossroads (Best Buy, Petco, Books-A-Million) in Meridian — plus the Wetumpka Wal-Mart and Walgreens stores in Montgomery and Wetumpka.
1.6 Million Square Feet Delivered
Eastern Shore Centre (630,000 sq ft — Dillard’s, Belk, Barnes & Noble, Publix), Eastern Shore Plaza (Best Buy, PetSmart, Michaels, Old Navy), Oliver Creek Crossing (Wal-Mart), and Pace Ridge (Wal-Mart, Home Depot).
Expansion into Florida
Crestview Marketplace, a Winn-Dixie–anchored center in Crestview, Florida.
Woody Trotman Joins
Charlie’s brother comes to work for the company.
Schillinger Towne Centre II
Anchored by Home Depot, Kohl’s, and Carmike Cinema — Mobile, Alabama.
Schillinger Towne Centre
285,000 sq ft anchored by Wal-Mart — Mobile, Alabama
The Winn-Dixie Partnership
13 Winn-Dixie–anchored shopping centers developed across Alabama and Florida.
First Development
Centreville Marketplace, a Winn-Dixie–anchored center in Centreville, Alabama
Company Founded
Charlie Trotman establishes The Trotman Company, Inc.
Leadership
Meet the Team
A family business built on trust, relationships, and an unwavering
commitment to delivery.
