Retail Development

Everyone wants the gourmet grocer in their community. The secret to getting one? Density, says David Alpert.

And more stores are opening, according to Retail Traffic Magazine. An estimated 35,000 new stores are predicted to open in 2011, while closings will likely be less than last year.

Retail Traffic Magazine reports that some developers who specialized in regional malls are moving over into developing outlet centers. Says an analyst, "The whole value concept is resonating right now."

Business interests on a downtown commercial street complain a transit mall is making the area less attractive for retail.

In an effort to create a more diverse retail base and fill empty units retailers from an International Conference of Shopping Centers were guided through Downtown Crossing, The Rose Kennedy Greenway and South Boston Waterfront.

Experts believe that financing for retail projects may begin flowing early next year, but are concerned that the pool of recipients may be limited, and projects may be conventional.

While a number of mega retail developers crashed and burned during the recession, some smaller developers have thrived.

Retailers like Best Buy, Kohl's and Apple evidently think the market is looking up, and are planning to open new stores. But, Retail Traffic Magazine reports, retailers are going to be a lot pickier about site selection this time around.

In Philadelphia, a number of palatial restaurants have closed due to the bad economy. In their place, several more intimate, neighborhood places have popped up.

A competition to design the shopping mall of the future produces some surprisingly non-futuristic results, according to juror and commentator Allison Arieff.