Retail inventory in Southern New Hampshire totaled 29.8 million square feet in 2018, a nominal gain of 42,900 square feet from 2017. Vacancy increased 41,200 square feet, equating to a vacancy rate of 9.3 percent compared to 9.1 percent last year. The higher rate can be mainly attributed to closings by Toys ‘R’ Us (four namesake stores and two Babies ‘R’ Us stores) and Walmart (two Sam’s Clubs). Offsetting these closings were openings that filled several large vacancies. Three vacant Sports Authority stores were occupied by HomeGoods, Sierra Trading Post, Cost Plus World Market, Guitar Center, Party City and DSW. BJ’s Wholesale Club opened in the vacant Sam’s Club in Manchester. A vacant center in Merrimack, now known as Merrimack 360, is under redevelopment. Planet Fitness opened there and an Altitude Trampoline Park is planned. Other announced tenants include Dollar General, Great Clips and The Thirsty Moose Taphouse. As a result of these changes, absorption was flat for the year. The retailer adding the most space in the region was BJ’s Wholesale Club, which opened 108,900 square feet in Manchester. Cardi’s Furniture and NH1 Motorplex Indoor Karting were next, filling space at Seacoast Shopping Center in Seabrook. Sam’s Club, Toys …
Retail real estate in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) is nearing its cyclical peak, and users that want to continue expanding in the metroplex are being hamstrung by a lack of quality space and surging rents. According to CoStar Group, DFW’s retail vacancy rate currently stands at 4.4 percent, a record low that the research firm expects to hold steady or even improve in the coming years. Rents have grown by more than 3 percent annually over the last five years, and are now 15 percent higher than their pre-recession peaks. Put simply, DFW is a landlord’s market. As such, retailers that have had success in the metroplex over the last decade and want to keep opening new stores should be considering other markets. One of the ideal landing spots for these users lies a mere 200 miles up Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City. According to CoStar, Oklahoma City’s retail vacancy has grown by approximately 100 basis points over the last two years, currently clocking in at 6.1 percent. There is very little new product under construction — less than half a million square feet — but asking rents in Oklahoma City average $14.40 per square foot, compared to $18.89 per square …
The Orange County retail real estate market remains resilient despite continued pressure from growing ecommerce sales and a new tranche of retailer bankruptcies. Sears is the latest retailer to file for bankruptcy in the Amazon era. Toys“R”Us, Fallas Paredes and Mattress Firm have all declared bankruptcy, while Lowe’s announced it would close all Orchard Supply Hardware stores. In comparison, ecommerce sales continue to experience double-digit increases year-over-year and analysts are quick to conclude the so-called “retail apocalypse” is imminent. Does this mean it’s time to panic if you are in the retail real estate business? Definitely not, but it does mean the edge belongs to those who are proactive and adaptable in their decision making. We are also seeing many retailers and developers step up their game in the wake of ecommerce popularity. Retailers like Walmart and Ralph’s/Kroger are offering free same-day delivery and, in the case of groceries, food delivery in as little as one hour. Retailers like Best Buy are not only price matching but offering better product education and experience via what the company calls a “stickier” relationship. Developers are getting better at placemaking, the multi-faceted approach to planning, design and management of space, giving people more …
It’s too early to tell the impact of the new federal tax law on retail here in New Jersey, or how things might change now that we have a new governor. But one can place a sizable bet, literally, on the fact that medical marijuana dispensaries now given the go-ahead here will lead to recreational use, and that sports betting in New Jersey is going to also be a hit. Betting on Jersey’s retail sector is a great wager too. North Jersey’s top markets — Paramus, Wayne, Woodbridge, Bridgewater and Princeton — are all in great shape. Vacancy rates are low and rents are stable. Although the area was hit hard dur- ing the financial crisis and onetime retail juggernauts such as A&P and Sports Authority had to shutter their doors, much of that space was redeveloped. The space vacated by retailers due to the big impact of the Internet — Toys ‘R Us was stung badly by e-commerce, for example — has quickly been absorbed. Opportunity is at such a premium, it’s tough to find a steal at any of the area’s major regional malls or power centers, or the other desirable retail corridors for that matter. North Jersey retail is that …
If we had to sum up the 2018 Atlanta retail environment with a single word, it would be “change.” Atlanta’s builders have turned away from the traditional suburban models in favor of modern mixed-use developments featuring high-end office and residential units on the upper floors, along with street-level retail shops. Many planners see such projects as a means of creating more walkable, safe and vibrant neighborhoods. Retailers are drawn to intown opportunities such as Modera by Mill Creek’s mixed-use apartment communities (existing locations in Midtown, Sandy Springs and Vinings, with Reynoldstown coming soon), or Revel, a planned $900 million, 118-acre mixed-use and entertainment destination being developed by North American Properties in Duluth in Gwinnett County. With a limited supply of real estate inventory for shops and restaurants and the continued demand from new concepts entering or growing in the Atlanta metro market, the competition for space has grown fierce. For example, Franklin Street’s client City Barbeque waited 18 months for a premier location to become available for its new eatery in Johns Creek. The restaurant group made a lease agreement offer within three days of the prior tenant going dark to secure the spot before other bidders could jump in. …
As e-commerce continues to challenge the growth, evolution and resilience of retail, brokers in Houston have reason to be optimistic about leasing velocity and absorption in the coming months, even as new construction floods the market. There’s no denying that in the past several years, the retail industry has experienced a shakeup. The move to online shopping has spared very few retailers, and Houston is no exception. The Houston MSA has seen its fair share of big box store closures, but tenants and developers alike appear ready to face the challenges head-on. The collective mood among retail professionals in Houston is one of acceptance of a new, tech-heavy retail landscape. The retail community has evolved into embracing the likes of pop-up shops, online platforms, curbside pickup options and a service-based shopping experience. Ultimately, however, it’s the consumers who decide the fate of certain retailers. The professionals who develop and lease retail properties are integrating more psychological analysis into their daily work than ever before. In today’s environment, even the slightest of nuances in consumer behavior can mold critical aspects of real estate strategies. The evolution of retail follows the evolution of human behavior. Market Fundamentals Houston is one of the …
Today, Detroit looks starkly different than a decade ago. The city was hit hard by the Great Recession, but shortly thereafter, businesses started moving their operations into the downtown corridor. Businessman Dan Gilbert moved Quicken Loans into its downtown headquarters in August 2010, bringing approximately 1,700 employees with him. Today, Quicken’s footprint has expanded to 17,000 employees working downtown. Other companies followed, such as when we moved our headquarters downtown in 2012. As the city has regained its footing, retail has helped bring people into the downtown corridor, both from around the city and from out of the suburbs. To date, Woodward Avenue and Capitol Park have been the two main hubs of retail activity in downtown Detroit, with once-vacant buildings housing national brands and unique entrepreneurs. As these two neighborhoods become more populated, retailers are starting to look for other neighborhoods in Detroit with potential to be redeveloped into standout retail options. This begs the question: can other neighborhoods in Detroit flourish and support retail, beyond the central business district? As Detroit’s renaissance expands to other neighborhoods throughout the city, we expect there to be more opportunities ahead. Any incoming retailers and developers should consider what categories may be …
Twenty-five years ago, the Plano-Frisco-McKinney area was replete with open fields, cows and dirt roads. Today, the intersection of State Highway 121 and the Dallas North Tollway is central to Dallas-Fort Worth’s (DFW) development activity. Every red light within a three-mile radius of that intersection has cars stacked 10 deep. The entire area is a metropolitan buzz of noise and activity. The key to understanding how real estate markets — not just retail —in these cities changed so dramatically in less than 20 years lies in geography. The (DFW) metroplex consists of about 9,286 square miles, which is roughly double the size of the Los Angeles metro area, not to mention bigger than the combined size of Rhode Island and Connecticut. The sheer mass of land in DFW and diverse city development policies ensure population densities and characters vary tremendously from one submarket to another. Consequently, retail real estate in the metroplex exists and thrives in pockets. Given the benefit of the expanded infrastructure that the Plano-Frisco-McKinney area has enjoyed over the last two decades, it comes as little surprise that the region would eventually be a magnet for rooftops — and associated retail activity. Basic Numbers CoStar Group identifies …
The retail market in Reno/Sparks continues to improve with big box retailers moving to the market and a steady decrease in the vacancy rate. The retail market in Reno/Sparks has seen an overall decrease in vacancy for the fifth consecutive quarter with the current vacancy rate hovering just under 7 percent. Average market rent is currently $1.50 per square foot, triple net, and appears to be slowly climbing as we continue to experience positive net absorption. Tenants moving and expanding in the area include Big Lots leasing 30,112 square feet in Spanish Springs, and Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply Company leasing 16,016 square feet and 38,326 square feet, respectively, in Sparks. Sprouts Farmers Market has opened two new locations in Reno and Sparks over the past 12 months, absorbing roughly 60,000 square feet. Grocery Outlet, Tuesday Morning, Marshall’s Home Goods, Burlington and Raley’s Supermarkets have also expanded in northern Nevada. The Reno/Sparks market has seen increased activity in the finance services and fast-casual restaurant industries. New fast-casual restaurants in the area include Mod Pizza, California Pizza Kitchen, Burrito Bandito, Sizzle Pie, Pine State Biscuits and Habit Burger. Chase Bank and United Federal Credit Union have opened several locations in Northern …
If you mention the phrase “retail apocalypse” to anyone in the Richmond market, you will immediately receive a puzzled look back. The Richmond retail market is about as far away from a retail apocalypse as any market in the country. Yes, we have seen the Toys ‘R’ Us, Sears, Macy’s and Kmart closures, but with close to 83 million square feet of retail space in the Richmond MSA, the current retail vacancy rate is below 5 percent. The vacancy rate is at, or near, a record low and demand for more space remains robust. New retail development projects are leasing quickly and several noteworthy redevelopment projects are in the works. In May 2016, Wegmans opened its first 120,000-square-foot Richmond store at Stonehenge Village along Midlothian Turnpike. In August of that same year, Wegmans opened its second store at West Broad Marketplace in Short Pump. Since those two openings, Richmond has received new attention from many national tenants, developers, and investors looking to enter the market. Market activity has been driven by the likes of Wegmans, Kroger, Publix, Aldi, Lidl and Whole Foods Market, as well as Gold’s Gym, Planet Fitness and Crunch Fitness. In 2016, Ahold announced it would sell …