That’s what city officials hope will happen after setting up a 2k SF booth at ICSC RECon this week. DC has nearly 7M SF of retail space to fill and Washington, DC Economic Partnership CEO Keith Sellars will head to the biggest retail trade show in Las Vegas this week to find coveted retail tenants. Keith and his team, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, have over 60 meetings set up with restaurants, neighborhood-serving retailers, and big-box stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot. Keith’s wish list to fill retail spots also includes big names like Macy's, Wegman’s and Bass Pro Shops.

Based on 15 years of going to the annual event, DC’s presence could result in some new retail. WDCEP has helped over 200 retailers like REI and Unleashed by Petco open DC stores, resulting in 3.7M SF of signed leases and nearly 11,000 jobs. It’s gotten easier to get meetings, says Keith, because there’s more compelling selling points, including the nearly 30 grocery stores that have opened in DC since 2000 and high-end retailers like Hermes and Kate Spade coming to CityCenterDC.

DC will be showcased in this mega booth. Keith says 40% of next week’s meetings will be with restaurants, along with grocery stores to help fill food deserts in neighborhoods like Deanwood, Anacostia and Bellevue. The team is also using Create, software developed by a DC-based tech startup that uses 3D modeling to provide virtual tours of the city and specific areas where space is available.