Detroit: Challenging the Naysayers Wal-Mart expansion, grocer redevelopment signal vote of confidence in beleaguered market. While there is no denying that metro Detroit remains in a deep economic slump, the degree to which lenders, investors and even retailers have shunned the Southeast Michigan market can’t be justified, say some local commercial real estate professionals. “Lenders […]

LaCenterra wants an encore Lifestyle center near Katy is likely to expand with its affluent area Five years ago, Woody Mann was having trouble convincing national chains that his planned lifestyle center LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch would be a good spot for retail. There was a national perception that Katy was a sleepy small town, […]

Distressed Retail Real Estate, Investment And Management The investment sales market is being impacted by the availability of capital and the lack of distressed properties on the market. Meanwhile, managers are also stunned at the low number of properties that are being placed into receivership by lenders. Many people Shopping Center Business interviewed were quick […]

Bon Ton, Macy’s Find a Middle Way to Profit – For Now The middle has been a sweet retail spot of late. Mid-priced department-store chains like Bon-Ton Stores (BONT) and Macy’s (M), have turned in good financial results. But they should not get too comfortable. The 278-store Bon-Ton recently released its fourth-quarter results and posted […]

Fitness centers like 24 Hour Fitness are filling vacant spaces in shopping centers No longer the 90-pound weakling of the commercial real-estate market, fitness centers are muscling into prime shopping space ceded by traditional retailers. “We have a joke in our industry that the way you know a shopping center is in trouble is if […]

Shadow Closures Many chains aren’t following through on store-closing announcements Those pesky e-mails with “warning!” in the subject line might be dubious, but they do offer clues about the prevailing zeitgeist. Two years ago many of these 21st-century chain letters warned of an impending tsunami of store closures and urged worrywarts to steer clear of […]