Leasing Tip of the Day: Visit the Mall for Market Recon

It may come as a shock to you, especially since I own shopping centers, but I hate shopping.
The ONLY time I enjoy it is when I am entering a new retail market.

Here’s my advice for you when you enter a new market: start your research
with a visit to the dominant regional mall. Walking the mall provides invaluable
on-the-ground intel. Literally 😆

Observe the tenant mix and layout. See where customers flow and congregate.
Assess the overall energy and foot traffic. Notice any missing categories or
opportunities in the merchandising.

The mall serves as the epicenter and pulse of any local retail scene.
Experiencing it firsthand establishes a vital baseline understanding before you begin
leasing space in that market.

So make a mall visit your Day 1 task when entering a new territory.
It’s a key part of retail leasing recon and setting yourself up for success.