Features

A new owner is leading to a new era of experience-led retail in Seattle. Located at 6th Avenue and Pine Street in downtown Seattle, Pacific Place has been a cornerstone of the city’s retail landscape for more than a quarter century.  Originally developed by Pine Street Group LLC and designed by architectural firm NBBJ, the center’s 335,000 square feet of retail space was designed to wrap around a crescent-shaped atrium topped with a skylight. Opened in October 1998, the five-story shopping and entertainment center redefined urban retail in the Pacific …

The younger generation is entering the workforce and influencing retailers. Here is how they are changing retail. In the digital age, nearly everything is accessible online — entertainment, shopping, friendship, you name it. With a few taps on a screen, we can order three pairs of jeans, have a pizza delivered, and carry on a meaningful conversation without ever leaving the couch. Considering that Generation Z — those born roughly between 1996 and 2013 — has grown up immersed in this digital reality, it would be easy to assume they …

One of the nation’s consistently healthy retail markets is seeing a selective approach to growth. Retail real estate across the Mid-Atlantic is having a moment — but it’s a disciplined one. As fundamentals remain healthy in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., the region is seeing a notably more selective approach to retail growth. Years of limited new development, zoning constraints and rising construction costs have tightened supply, pushing owners, investors and municipalities to be far more intentional about what gets built — and where. Sources interviewed for this article point to …

After a few years of malaise, the forecast for single-tenant net lease retail properties is on the upswing for 2026.  Activity in the single-tenant net lease (STNL) retail sector is ramping up after several years of a sluggish market. While lower interest rates may be paving the way for good times ahead, the market is seeing increased activity in the meantime from buyers and sellers seeing eye-to-eye for the first time in a while. That resulted in many investment sales firms posting a strong performance in 2025, with 2026 looking …

mcg’s Page Winkler looks at retail design through an experienced lens. Here, he gives insight into shopping center design and function for the next era. Interview by Randall Shearin  In today’s evolving retail landscape, adaptability and experience are redefining the way shopping centers are designed and operated. Shopping Center Business recently spoke with Page Winkler, president of mcg architecture, to explore how design strategies are responding to shifting consumer behaviors, the rise of mixed-use projects, and the growing demand for flexible, multifunctional retail spaces.  SCB: What types of projects are …

With the brick-and-mortar retail revitalization in full swing, it’s crucial to have flexible, innovative store formats to succeed on the big stage. “If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.” Martin Scorsese, Frank Sinatra and Jay-Z probably weren’t thinking about brick-and-mortar retail real estate when they penned and recorded the iconic song lyric, but that doesn’t make the expression any less applicable to that particular subject.  The notion of merchandisers, restaurateurs and entertainment operators needing a certain and precise combination of savvy, moxie and pizzazz …

Phoenix-based Vestar continues its focus on new development with more than 4 million square feet recently completed, under construction or pre-development. Vestar has long been known for being the go-to developer in the Phoenix area for retailers. The company has developed a cadre of well-known retail environments in the area, including Desert Ridge Marketplace, Tempe Marketplace and Queen Creek Marketplace. Today, the company has 72 centers under ownership or on its robust third-party management and leasing platform. It has also recently completed 750,000 square feet of new retail development in …

Nearing 1,000 locations nationwide, Zaxbys is evolving from a regional Southern favorite to a national QSR staple. As it celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, Zaxbys has ushered in a new era with a comprehensive refresh. This includes the introduction of its ‘Modern Farmhouse’ restaurant design, as well as an updated visual identity, branding and packaging. Together, these updates reflect a modernized, cohesive look and feel, signaling the next chapter in Zaxbys’ evolution while maintaining the bold flavors and Southern hospitality that guests love.   And so, with its bold flavors …

Minimal new supply leads to tight fundamentals in select areas that continue to outperform the urban core.  While the health of the retail market along the Magnificent Mile continues to recover incrementally with a rebound in foot traffic following a prolonged downturn, Chicago’s neighborhoods and suburbs are bustling with leasing activity.  In fact, limited retail supply in the suburbs and throughout most of the city’s neighborhoods is one of the biggest challenges facing the market, according to Michael Flinchbaugh, an associate director with Chicago-based Bradford Allen. He says the dynamic has …

Arizona-based SimonCRE has quickly grown its development platform. Today, the company has multiple large-scale centers under development. Since its foundation in 2010, SimonCRE has grown from a small startup to a major player in national retail development. It has become a company known not just for creating buildings, but also for renewing spaces, shaping communities and embracing challenges in a changing sector. With SimonCRE celebrating its 15th anniversary in August, the company’s journey offers a lesson in persistence, tenacity and vision. From Humble Beginnings to Hitting Its Stride The story …