Southeast

For years, much of Memphis’ retail growth has been concentrated in the suburbs. More recently, however, redevelopment activity in East Memphis, Midtown and Downtown has created a new source of investment and retail demand.  While suburban growth remains steady, some of the market’s most notable projects are occurring in established areas where older properties are being redeveloped and repositioned for new uses. As a result, some of the market’s most significant activity is occurring within existing commercial corridors rather than through large-scale retail expansion. Memphis remains a healthy retail market, although growth has become more measured than it was a few years ago. Retail vacancy is forecast to reach 5 percent in 2026, while average asking rents are projected to climb to $14.20 per square foot.  New supply also remains relatively limited. After more than 400,000 square feet of retail space was delivered annually in both 2023 and 2024, just 250,000 square feet is forecast to come on line in 2026. Limited new supply has helped support rent growth across existing shopping centers. Some of the strongest examples of this trend can be found in Midtown, Downtown and East Memphis, where older sites are being transformed into new mixed-use developments. …