This podcast episode explores how AI-powered drones are revolutionizing warehouse inventory management can minimize workforce and maximize productivity inside the warehouse. Featuring Verity founder Raffaello D'Andrea and JLL executives Kris Bjorson and Sam Brashler, the discussion highlights the challenges of traditional inventory methods, includi…

Architect and author Kevin Ervin Kelley speaks about his book "Irreplaceable: How to Create Extraordinary Places that Bring People Together." He discusses the key elements that make places great, the importance of combining diverse components to enhance user experience, and how retail environments can outperform online competition by focusing on po…

Bob Burk from UrbanStreet Group discusses the redevelopment of Motorola's former 225-acre campus in Schaumburg, a Chicago suburb. UrbanStreet acquired the campus in 2016 with plans to transform it into Veridian, a mixed-use urban environment. Bob discusses the site's history and their approach to integrating residential, commercial, and recreationa…

Ryan Moore, founder and CEO of Last Mile Investments talks about the growing trend of investing in unanchored retail centers. He explains the unique value proposition of these properties, emphasizing their location in high-traffic areas and their appeal to services like medical, dental, and food and beverage businesses. He also details Last Mile's …

Aaron Sorin from AnyRoad talks about the importance and impact of experiential events for retailers, restaurants, and shopping centers. He explains how AnyRoad’s event management software helps businesses measure and optimize their event strategies. He covers examples including Johnny Walker's personalized whiskey tours and Westfield's holiday Sant…

Ryan McNeill, founder of Veritas Development talks about OAK, a new mixed-use development in Oklahoma City. He was inspired by iconic retail spaces like Santana Row and The Grove to spend over 15 years assembling land and building OAK. The project, featuring retail, food, hotel, and residential, aims to revitalize the area and bring high-quality am…

Richard Lake, founding Principal of Roadside Development, and Catherine Timko, Principal at Riddle Company highlight transformative projects in Washington DC, including City Market at O and City Ridge. They discuss D.C.'s retail evolution and challenges in redeveloping office space into mixed use projects. After that, Michael Wheat, Managing Direct…

Anne Mezzenga from Omni Talk joins James for a discussion about expanding retailers such as Five Below, Harbor Freight Tools, Burlington, Ulta, and Netflix House. They talk about innovative store concepts and technologies being implemented by H&M and Schnucks and touch on the economic implications of these trends and the importance of experiential …

Jorge Barragan and Austin Wood are co-founders of The Picklr, an indoor pickleball chain. Discussing the sport's burgeoning popularity and demand, they share how The Picklr has sold 311 franchise locations in the U.S. and plans international expansions. They talk about their franchise model, the impact of the pandemic on the sport, partnerships wit…

James Cook is joined by Sucharita Kodali, VP and Principal Analyst at Forrester to talk about five significant trends impacting the retail sector. They discuss consumer confidence amidst low unemployment and high inflation, the role of artificial intelligence in retail, the current state of the luxury market, and the potential merger between Saks a…

Tim Murphy, CEO of Boomers Parks, delves into the operations, challenges, and growth of Boomers Parks' family entertainment centers (FECs) and water parks. The discussion covers Murphy's extensive background in the entertainment industry, the evolution and modernization of Boomers Parks' offerings, and the significance of understanding demographic …

Katie Grissom is the Head of Retail and Mixed-Use, Americas at Nuveen. She explains the company's retail investment strategy, emphasizing the importance of understanding consumer behavior. Katie points out the evolving demands of millennials, the significance of convenience culture, and the potential impacts of Gen Z's burgeoning buying power. Real…

Davon Barbour, President and CEO of the New Orleans Downtown Development District, discusses downtown New Orleans' vibrant retail, dining, and entertainment. Barbour elaborates on the the importance of public-private partnerships. He also highlights initiatives to support small businesses and attract new retailers, making downtown a hub for commerc…

Toby Harris, President & CEO of State of Play Hospitality discusses his company's three innovative entertainment offerings: Flight Club, Hijingo, and Bounce. Flight Club combines darts with upscale hospitality and cutting-edge technology, making it accessible and fun for all. He also shares insights into the origins and expansion plans for Hijingo,…

Giuseppe Stigliano is co-author of the new book “Redefining Retail: 10 Guiding Principles of a Post-Digital World.” With a Ph.D. in Marketing and Economics, he has co-authored influential business books with international guru Philip Kotler, such as 'Retail 4.0', 'Onlife Fashion', and 'Redefining Retail'. He highlights the necessity for retailers t…

Bluhawk in Overland Park, Kansas is a 277-acre mixed-use development anchored by a massive indoor sports facility. The facility includes basketball courts, turf fields, and NHL regulation ice rinks, which will attract a significant youth sports crowd. Kent Price and Bart Lowen of developer Price Brothers talk about the vision behind Bluhawk, the ty…

James Cook and Keisha Virtue wanted to see to see how many celebrity restaurants they could visit in two hours on the Las Vegas Strip. In their research, they identified 361 celebrity restaurant openings in the past 5 years in the U.S. and Canada. These establishments not only boost tourism but also create a competitive edge in the competitive rest…

IT'SUGAR is known for its extensive variety of treats and innovative products. It's a leader in what the company call "sugartainment." Jonathan Schwartz, Vice President of Real Estate and Business Development discusses the brand's latest endeavors, retail strategies, and future plans. The company often seeks locations in impulsive purchasing enviro…

James sits down with Deborah Weinswig, CEO of Coresight Research and Ana Leon, Director of Retail Research at Nuveen to chat about the latest trends in retail, real estate, and technology discussed at ICSC Las Vegas 2024. The conversation covers augmented reality, RFID technology, ethnic grocery stores, retail media networks, and the growing import…

Tom McGee, ICSC President and CEO, along with Dana Telsey CEO of Telsey Advisory Group, dive into emerging trends in retail real estate and consumer behavior, focusing on topics such as the impact of supply issues on leasing activity, the rise of omnichannel retailing, and the importance of local boutiques. They also cover insights on consumer spen…

Sales forecasting is critical for retailers and restaurants. Paul Sill, the head of the Visionary Insights Group at JLL, explains how forecasting models are built and used. The episode also explores how internal and external data, including customer demographics, competitor data, and mobile data, are incorporated into predictive models to assist re…

Keisha Virtue gives the latest data on how retail vacancy rates are affected by high demand and a lack of supply. She explores the shift towards smaller store footprints and the impact of inflation on the construction of new shopping centers. She also touches on the varying expansion and contraction across retail sectors, with notable movements in …

Alex Elias is CEO and co-founder of Qloo, an AI platform designed to understand and predict consumer tastes. He discusses how AI-driven prediction models can influence retail strategies and shopping center development, touching on the significance of privacy-centric data collection. This episode also includes a live demonstration of Qloo's affinity…

Meet Cindy, a virtual spokesperson designed to forge stronger connections between shoppers and shopping centers. Cindy was created using AI tools, but isn't herself an AI. This episode explores the motivations behind Cindy's creation. The team behind Cindy delves into the challenges and successes of bringing a virtual influencer to life, emphasizin…

Join Stephen Dombrovski as he takes us on a journey through the evolution of shopping centers and the art of showmanship. From his childhood experiences witnessing the birth the modern mall to a career in retail real estate, Stephen shares stories about the remarkable events and promotions that transformed malls into vibrant community hubs during t…

Beginning in 2006, a pivotal year marked by the widespread adoption of broadband internet, EDENS embarked on a journey to redefine itself by focusing on human connection and experiential retail. Jodie McLean, CEO of EDENS, explores the company's mission to enrich communities. Jodie shares personal anecdotes to illustrate Edens’ evolution towards cr…

This episode dives into the current landscape within the grocery store industry in North America. The conversation also touches on the role of technology and online grocery shopping, the resilience and attractiveness of grocery-anchored shopping centers to investors, and more market insights from the United States and Canada. Download a free copy o…

Dr. Gordon Chiu is a scientist and commercial real estate investor. Facing a pothole problem at his shopping center in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Chiu used his unique expertise in graphene, a modern and strong material, to develop an efficient and cost-effective solution for repairing potholes, substantially improving the longevity of asphalt and redu…

Michael Hirschfeld discusses his over 50-year career in the retail real estate industry, focusing on urban markets across the U.S. He started in 1970s New York City at a time when retail brokerage was not the developed field that it is today. He speaks to the evolution of urban retail, the impact of changing market dynamics on retail real estate, a…

This episode features two tech companies, exploring what their products mean for retailers and shopping centers. Verlin Youd explains how Ariadne's technology tracks customer behavior in physical locations such as stores, shopping centers, and airports, thereby providing retailers with analytics historically limited to e-commerce. Zied Ladhari disc…

Justin Greider, the Florida retail lead at JLL, explains how the state attracts new residents with a lower cost of living, ultimately driving up demand for retail space. Tourism also remains a powerful driver for Florida's retail sector, with Orlando and South Florida benefiting the most. In addition, industry veteran David Zoba and JLL President o…

Josh Poag, the President and CEO of Poag Development Group discusses past and future projects, including Avenue One in Omaha and the redevelopment of the Oak Court Mall in Memphis. He also talks about the future for retail real estate and the need for engaging with local communities. James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for…

What does it take for a big retailer to make a massive organizational change? Maybe they want to roll out a new point of sale system or a new software to manage their supply chain. Companies often know they need to make a change, but not exactly how to get there. Catherine O'Doherty talks about her approach to the challenges of transformation and c…

Justin Stein, Executive Vice President of Leasing at Tanger Inc., dives into the evolution of outlet malls, where the the emphasis is now on diversifying the tenant mix, offering digital native brands, and creating shopping experiences for consumers. Tanger's newest centers in Huntsville, Alabama; Asheville, North Carolina; and Nashville, Tennessee…

Gary Rappaport, CEO of Rappaport, talks about his long-term investment strategy focused on grocery-anchored shopping centers in the Washington, DC area. Sharing insights from his book, 'Investing in Retail Properties: A Guide to Structuring Partnerships for Sharing Capital Appreciation and Cash Flow', Gary reveals how his business model has led to …

Devin Murphy, President at Phillips Edison & Company sat down for a conversation prior to his upcoming retirement. He talked about his career journey and his leadership role at Phillips Edison, which went public in 2021. The company is one of the largest owners of grocery-anchored shopping centers in the US. Devin shares his views on the shifting l…

Spencer Robinson, Director of Real Estate at Central Michigan University, delves into the world of green claims - statements companies make about their sustainability initiatives - and discusses the increasing need for these claims to be verifiable. Spencer sheds light on recent legal developments and regulations surrounding these claims, particula…

Take a deep dive into the European retail real estate market with retail specialists in the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Explore store expansion plans and shopping trends in Europe's most popular shopping districts and retailers. - Mark Smith leads EMEA Cross Border Retail, and UK Retail Occupier Leasing at JLL. - Benjamin Boccara is a…

This episode features a focus on Phoenix, Arizona. First, ASU's Mark Stapp provides insight into the economic state of the metro, discussing factors such as housing affordability, water resources, and changing temperatures. Then, Charley Freericks with Catellus Development talks about his work at the Novus Innovation Corridor. The public-private pa…

Content creator Nancy Bhasin, who posts as @basicbalance on Instagram, gives a behind-the-scenes peek into how she creates content in partnership with shopping centers in her area. Jen Augustyn, the CEO of ad agency The Dealy Group, talks about creating campaigns with influencers for her brick-and-mortar retail clients. Then, Ashlyn Booth of JLL ta…

In this special Black Friday bonus episode of "Where We Buy," James Cook discusses trends and expectations for the holiday shopping season in North America. Joined by fellow retail researchers Keisha Virtue and Heli Brecailo, they share insights from surveys conducted with U.S. and Canadian shoppers. They cover the impact of inflation, the shift fr…

Terry Montesi, founder and CEO of Trademark Property Co., talks about how his company approaches development projects with a 'conscious capitalism' stance, advocating for the welfare of multiple stakeholders. He also gives his thoughts on the future of traditional enclosed malls, the role of mixed-use development in bolstering retail, and Trademark…

James dives into the San Francisco restaurant scene. The first stop is Fisherman's Wharf, where Bob Partrite is the COO of Simco Restaurants, which operates five restaurants and a coffee shop at Pier 39. Bob discusses the challenges of serving food in a tourist area and how the company navigated the pandemic. The next stop is Ghirardelli Square, wh…

Rob Holuba with CenterSquare Investment Management, explains the investment strategy around Essential Service Retail (ESR) shopping centers. Rob shares how CenterSquare embraced the ESR strategy, buying unanchored centers, strategically located in suburban submarkets with high visibility, offering a diverse mix of small shop spaces tailored to the …

Adam Ifshin is the co-founder and CEO of DLC, a company that owns, manages, and redevelops open-air shopping centers. DLC focuses on acquiring and adding value to assets in the open-air retail space, with a particular emphasis on grocery-anchored properties. They also engage in redevelopments, including densification, mixed-use additions, and addin…

Justin Baer started Collars & Co. by selling his unique Dress Collar Polo during the pandemic. He gained celebrity investors when he appeared on Shark Tank. He discusses his experience on the show and how it propelled the growth of his business. Baer also talks about his decision to open brick-and-mortar stores, starting with a pop-up in Tyson's Co…

CBL Properties wants you to know that it still loves the mall. In fact, the company owns 59.5 million square feet of retail properties in the U.S., including 56 malls, outlets and lifestyle centers. Charles Lebovitz, Chairman Emeritus and founder of CBL, describes the Lebovitz family's background in real estate, starting with their first mall in Ch…

Dannon Shiff is SVP of Real Estate at Dave's Hot Chicken, the popular fast-casual restaurant that has gained attention for its hot chicken sandwiches. The chain started with a pop-up location in East Hollywood and has since expanded with multiple brick-and-mortar restaurants across the United States. The menu at Dave's Hot Chicken is simple, focusi…

Physical retail has not always been at the vanguard of technology. In this episode, we meet two companies that are striving to change that. Taj Adhav, the founder of Leasecake, shares insights on how his lease management platform simplifies the lives of retailers. Additionally, Fab Stanghieri and Owen Remers from Cineplex Digital Media discuss how …

Celebrities and influencers have a bigger impact than ever in the world of retail and restaurants. Hear from celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson about what it's like to navigate this complex environment. On this episode: - Chef Marcus Samuelsson on what it’s like owning and operating restaurants as a celebrity chef - Jay Norris of Guesst talks about t…