Neighborhood retail has become one of the most competitive investment categories in commercial real estate.
In this Retail Insight interview at ICSC Las Vegas, reporter Nellie Day sits down with Westwood Financial COO Lauren Ball to discuss what’s driving the company’s near-98% occupancy rate across its grocery-anchored portfolio. Ball points to a straightforward but powerful dynamic: a decade-plus supply shortage meeting surging population growth in high-migration markets, with institutional capital now pouring into retail after years of being underweight in the sector. The result is compressed cap rates, rising NOIs, and fierce market competition requiring precision, relationships, and strategic execution.
Watch the video to hear Ball explain how Westwood’s boots-on-the-ground ownership approach has helped the company build a portfolio that looks tailor-made for today’s investment climate — and why she sees the momentum continuing.
Retail Insight is a sponsored video series produced by Shopping Center Business, capturing insights from leading retail real estate firms at ICSC Las Vegas 2026. Click here to subscribe.