“Retailers are doing well, but growth is challenging as there isn’t much space to be had,” says Greg Eisenman, managing director of retail tenant services at Franklin Street. There is a major appetite for deals, but interest rates and construction costs have made development difficult, so it is taking longer for retailers to find space and close deals. The challenges are part of the overall historical retail cycle, explains Eisenman. “As brokers, we have to get a lot more creative, and just continue to dig deeper and harder. Nothing’s coming …
Sandy Sigal believes in a holistic approach to the properties he’s acquired. He pairs tech-savvy data gathering to understand trends and opportunities with a focus on creating shopping experiences consumers crave and connection with their communities. This strategy is essential to making NewMark Merrill’s projects into successes, including the company’s latest California projects: the Rialto Village shopping center in the Inland Empire, which just completed preleasing, and the Corbin & Parthenia shopping center in the San Fernando Valley area, which is slated for renovations. Knowing your customers allows you to account for their retail needs and desires …
If the conventional wisdom is that the worst loans are made in the best of times, then a return to fundamentals and positive risk/return dynamics seems likely in the near future, according to Michael Klein, founding principal and CEO of Freedom Financial Funds. Today’s market is not unprecedented, says Klein. “It is a moment that we’ve lived through in the past, where buyers and sellers are just not on the same page.” Currently, the rising cost of capital means a lack of transactions, but Klein notes that historical trends indicate activity will pick up, …
The retail growth of the City of Moreno Valley, in Southern California’s Inland Empire submarket, has been fueled by jobs and residential development in the area. One of the fastest growing cities in Southern California, Moreno Valley’s population has increased by 3.3 percent over last year, in part because of companies moving into the area, which is already home to two electric vehicle manufacturers alongside ALDI, SKECHERS, Amazon and more. Nearby State Route 60 and Interstate 215 consistently advertise Moreno Valley to the 56.2 million people who pass through the area by car each year. Moreno Valley …
Thinking ahead, WHLR proactively managed its exposure to volatile capital markets and an inflationary environment. In 2021, the company refinanced all its loans that were set to mature within seven years, garnering the REIT low cost, fixed-rate debt set for the next 10 years. In addition, WHLR’s focus on the service, convenience and necessity retail tenant categories in secondary and tertiary markets has helped shield the company from the impacts of inflation risk, explains Andy Franklin, CEO of WHLR. The company’s 2022 merger with Cedar Realty Trust also helped …
The City of New Orleans is famous for its events — from parades at Mardi Gras to its world-renowned Jazz Fest and food-themed festivals. The New Orleans Downtown Development District (DDD) is intent on using those celebratory events to drive the city’s visitors to experience and enjoy all the retail that the Canal Street commercial district has to offer. New Orleans’ focus on history, experiences and food makes stopping and enjoying Downtown New Orleans a natural activity for visitors. Famous restaurants, upscale retailers, music and cultural attractions, plus exciting events repeatedly draw tourists …
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City of Glendale: Support for New Business Bolstered by Streamlining
Glendale, California is home to some of Southern California’s most popular destinations and its draw for merchants, residents and visitors is undeniable. Brookfield’s Glendale Galleria and Caruso’s The Americana at Brand are two of the top shopping centers in California, iconic locations for major retailers. What can Glendale offer to make itself even more attractive for a wider range of businesses? The city is focused on streamlining permitting systems and offering a concierge service to ensure promptness, according to Bradley Calvert, director of community development for the City of Glendale. “Typically we assign a …
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Frisco’s New Attractions Draw Tourists, Retailers
Just 25 miles north of Dallas sits Frisco, Texas, a city that’s famous for The Star — the 91-acre Dallas Cowboys’ world headquarters and practice facility. Like many Texans, Jeff Cheney, mayor of Frisco, loves The Star, but he loves even more the opportunities it provides to residents, visitors, nearby businesses and anyone who wants to be a part of the action. “With seven million visitors a year, we’re known as ‘Sports City USA,’” Mayor Cheney says. “One of the biggest things you can do as a city is help local …
North Florida has been a hotbed of retail activity that hasn’t shown signs of slowing, according to Carrie Smith, senior vice president of retail at Franklin Street in Jacksonville, Fla. “Retail is nothing short of being red hot,” she says. “It’s probably in the most aggressive dealmaking mode since I’ve been in business. The deal flow is very high, and it’s hard to keep up.” Jacksonville boasts low vacancy rates, in part due to its rapid population growth throughout 2022. According to Franklin Street’s latest data, Jacksonville saw deliveries of …
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Glendale California Retail Hub Pulls in Merchants, Customers
Less than 10 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles is Glendale, Calif., a city with nearly 200,000 residents and an enviable location if you’re a retailer. “Within a 10-mile radius, we have access to more than 2.5 million people,” says Soua Vang, deputy director of economic development for the City of Glendale. “We are strategically located within the LA marketplace, just minutes away from some of Southern California’s most popular destinations.” If you’re a visitor, those popular destinations may include the Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Walk of Fame or Universal Studios. …