Texas

Among professionals in the major sectors of commercial real estate, retailers are often the first to spot, understand and respond to emerging trends in human behavior. Those trends have shifted dramatically the past few years, and retail real estate in Austin has certainly felt the ripple effects, from downtown to the suburbs and across the emerging “nodes” in between. For some time now, American consumers in general have been clearly indicating their preference for more “experiential” ways to shop or receive services. That said, smart developers know that the experience begins well before shoppers enter a retailer’s doors. And understanding how to best cater to emerging demands helps breed success, not only for tenants, but also for the project as a whole. The following three trends represent key ways in which consumer demand is driving change in Austin’s retail landscape and illustrate how the market is responding. Seamless Integration Consumers want retail options located within close proximity to where they work and live — all the better if the property housing these needs can be one and the same. Just as Austin has grown regionally, so has demand for retail space, giving rise to mixed-use projects throughout the city. In …