Massachusetts

With older, pure-play retail space being repurposed into mixed-use developments and e-commerce-resistant users growing their regional footprints, the Boston retail market is evolving in lockstep with that of the United States. At the same time, new, trendy retailers and restaurant concepts are vying to get their feet in Boston’s door, drawn to the market’s healthy fundamentals and above-average levels of disposable household incomes. The net result of all this activity is a revitalized retail landscape that is defined by rapid absorption and rent growth within quality existing spaces, the repurposing of older spaces into different uses and the rise of mixed-use developments as backdrops for new supply additions. According to World Population Review, Boston, a city spanning some 100 square miles, is the fourth-most densely populated metro area in the country. Fueled by a vibrant education scene that includes more than 20 colleges and universities, as well as the addition of 25,000 new jobs in 2019, the population is growing. These geographic and demographic fundamentals have all but ensured that demand for retail space in Boston is perpetually strong, even during economic downtimes. According Marcus & Millichap, the city proper’s retail vacancy rate currently sits at 3.3 percent, though it …

Bolstered by strong growth in its millennial population and high-paying jobs, Boston’s urban core continues to boast one of the lowest retail vacancy rates in the country. But this trend has also led to a wave of new development that could temper that good news for Boston retail owners. According to data from Marcus & Millichap, metro Boston’s retail vacancy rate is expected to rise by 40 basis points from 3.2 percent to 3.6 percent in 2019, a year in which 1.3 million square feet of new projects are slated for completion. By comparison, the national vacancy rate stood at 10.2 percent at the end of the first quarter, reports Reis. Marcus & Millichap predicts that the uptick in metro Boston’s retail vacancy will slow the pace of annual rent growth to 3.3 percent. Population growth is fueling demand for housing, which in turn spurs demand for retail to serve those new residents. Metro Boston’s population has grown by more than 112,000 people over the last five years, according to Marcus & Millichap, and the area boasts a median household income in excess of $90,000. While the local rate of population growth mirrors that of the United States as a …

From new mixed-use developments popping up in the skyline to the increase of small-format stores, 2017 saw robust growth in downtown Boston’s retail landscape. Specifically, stabilizing rental rates have led to an uptick in retail leasing activity, showing the strength of both traditional retail destinations such as Newbury Street, as well as new mixed-use developments like One Seaport Square. While the downtown retail market is poised to remain stable, 2018 will welcome new trends fueled by e-commerce and omnichannel retailers, new leasing models, shifting consumer shopping behaviors and the ongoing challenge to accommodate millennials’ evolving preferences and expectations. The Seaport’s Emergence as a Retail Destination Historically, Back Bay has served as Boston’s premier neighborhood for retail with Newbury Street as its crown jewel and nearby Prudential Center, Copley Place and Boylston, all within a few minutes’ walking radius from the famous street. While Back Bay will continue to be a hotspot in 2018, Boston’s Seaport neighborhood is breaking out as a retail destination to watch as it transitions into one of Boston’s premier work-live-play destinations. Most recently, retailers Blue­mercury, Mr. Sid, TravisMathew, Filson, L.L. Bean, and Lululemon are finding the value in meeting Boston’s young professionals where they work, live and …