Increased retail activity is causing owners to rethink existing properties, Cushman & Wakefield Americas retail head Matt Winn told us on the floor this week at ICSC. Dormant shopping centers are having to evolve, he adds, which means adding a unique mix of uses like healthcare instead of the same old fashion and food options. It also means adding newer local concepts to centers to spice things up.
Weingarten Realty CEO Drew Alexander tells us the firm won't look to add trendy flavor-of-the-month design features into existing or future centers. Drew tells us a classic, elegant look for common areas and storefronts is what keeps a project timeless—and more importantly, keeps customers coming back. LA, Seattle, and DC are growth areas for the Houston-based company, Drew tells us.
