Every month, we reach out to retail industry leaders in order to gain their perspective on the market. This month, we asked: What upcoming trends or changes do you see occurring in the retail center space?
Kristin Mueller, President of Retail Property Management, JLL
Everything is mixed-use going forward, whether it’s new development or redevelopment. We’re now putting in a smaller amount of retail with other uses, whether multifamily, office or hospitality, because people want to be in this environment. Generally, retail centers will be offering more diversity because the world has changed. About 10- to 15-years ago, the norm for the regional mall was to have four fashion anchors with a whole lot of apparel in between, but that’s been shifting. Certain tenants that used to be considered a reputation risk for the tone of a property — such as tattoo parlors, auto repair shops, grocers or liquor stores — are now considered attributes, making the property more diverse and interesting.
