The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the nation’s retail industry. During the national lockdown, at least 630,000 non-essential retail outlets were forced to close.[1] Many well-known department stores declared bankruptcy due to their unsustainable levels of debt entering the pandemic. Unfortunately,… Continue Reading  

A recent survey and report issued by the International Council of Shopping Centers brought a brighter light to the much-maligned retail real estate market. Who is shopping at traditional shopping centers? Surprisingly, it is the Millennials. More than any other… Continue Reading  

This issue of Forefront addresses some concerns with the retail industry. The beginning of 2017 saw numerous bankruptcies and big box store closings. Macy’s and JCPenney are selling their company-owned real estate to provide the financial runway for rebranding and… Continue Reading  

The economic woes of the past six years seem to be fading into the distance. Manufacturing output is up, the banks have opened their wallets again, unemployment has stabilized and real estate values and investments are climbing fast. But what… Continue Reading  

The retail industry is at war for consumer wallets.  Amazon.com has overturned the conventional “bricks and mortar” approach to retailing with its technological advances, ability to consolidate orders from multiple vendors, and expansion of its distribution network enabling significantly reduced… Continue Reading