By Jared Sullivan, The Lerner Co. The retail commercial real estate industry has been an interesting world to observe over the last several years, to say the least. From the repurposing of massive retail boxes and malls following the fall of Gordmans, Sports Authority, Sears and others, to the unpredictable global environment we have been experiencing over the last 12 months due to COVID-19. One thing that’s certain is the ability to quickly adapt within the retail world is a critical element to remain relevant as the mold of consumers’ needs continues to evolve. Fortunately for the Omaha and Lincoln retail markets, the downturn for businesses and consumers alike has been significantly less than the more densely populated cities and suburbs of New York and California. Nevertheless, the impact of government shutdowns and restrictions throughout 2020 has handicapped more businesses and landlords than we ever expected. As we emerge from this storm, we must ask ourselves “What will the retail landscape look like moving forward?” Here to stay One outcome of 2020 we anticipate seeing as a gold standard moving forward has been the implementation of curbside carryout and mobile order pickup services. While the concept of these services is …
