From The Magazine

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 …

With placemaking, flexibility and the ever-changing needs of retailers and consumers in mind, retail architects are more creative than ever when it comes to built environments. Retail spaces have changed dramatically over the past decade. Enclosed environments, once leading the trend in the industry, have been traded for open-air environments. Many properties that were once solely occupied by retail tenants now have multiple uses, including entertainment, office, multifamily and hotel. In a time when it’s tough to develop, smaller, convenience-oriented projects are dominant, with the redevelopment of regional properties a …

All types of purchasers, from private capital to institutional groups, want to take advantage of the property sector’s strong fundamentals. In JLL’s second-quarter “Retail Market Dynamics” report, “resilience” was the word used to describe the national retail investment landscape in the first half of 2025.  Transaction volume reached $28.5 billion, a 23 percent increase over the same period a year ago. The figure also outpaces the long-term historical average of $27.7 billion for the first two quarters of the year, according to the brokerage firm. The scope of data includes …