How One Commercial Real Estate Landlord Assesses the Market

The complete upheaval of the commercial real estate market seemingly happened overnight, but the pandemic followed years of structural changes, so the recovery could take much longer.

1 minute read

April 16, 2020, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Texas Commercial Real Estate

Grossinger / Shutterstock

Steve Brown interviews Herb Weitzman, founder of Dallas-based commercial real estate brokerage the Weitzman Group, for an article about the road to recovery for the brick and mortar retail market following the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the key issues as play, is how quickly the pandemic shut down businesses and completely overhauled operations. This downturn is unprecedented, says Weitzman in the article. 

The structural changes already underway, suddenly exacerbated by the pandemic, won't be easy to recover from, especially for small businesses, says Weitzman. "When we go back to work it won’t happen quickly — the pandemic won’t stop in a day," he said in the article. "People are going to be afraid and take it very very cautiously."

Weitzman also tells Brown that the Weitzman Group "is working with the more than 3,400 tenants in his company’s shopping centers to keep them in business." The big box stores and grocers that recently invested in digital ordering and store pick-up programs are seeing those investments pay off, according to Weitzman.


Wednesday, April 15, 2020 in The Dallas Morning News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

7 hours ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today