Strong attendence at this year's ICSC conference in Charlotte could portend a good year for retail. But, then again, it could just confirm our suspicion that brokers will go anywhere there's golf. About 75 duffers took part in the national retail real estate organization?s golf tourney Monday at Providence Country Club. Among them: CBRE?SMike Lucier, Landmark Development Partners' Randy Smith, law firm Johnston Allison & Hord?s Danny Merlin, and Bank of the Ozarks? Anthony Swainey. A tennis tournament was held later in the day to help loosen everyone up for the more serious activities planned for today.

About 1,200 attended the event at the Charlotte Convention Center. Panelists discussed capital markets, surviving the recession, and branding in the social network age. Randy (above, with a solid swing at the first tee) says this year's buzzword could easily be?franchisee.? Big box retailers are largely static, but plenty of entrepreneurs are out there looking to latch onto the latest retail craze. One of the most popular right now is frozen yogurt, Randy tells us. ?These are people who might have been laid off, have a little money in the bank and are saying to themselves, ?I think I?ll go get a franchise.??