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This century’s Roaring ’20s includes changes for retail and restaurants INSIDE Retail investment sales enjoy an above- trend pace for past two quarters Investment market As competition increases, now is the time for portfolio optimization and strategic planning Grocery activity PAGE 20 Virtual kitchens will see sales increase by 25% each year for the next five years Restaurant trends PAGE 19 May 2021 PAGE 8 T here’s a light at the end of this pandemic tunnel, and it’s going to be the bee’s knees. About 100 years ago, the country emerged from the depths of the deadly Spanish flu and World War I to find growth and prosperity in a period known as the Roaring ’20s, an era of social, cultural and artistic dynamism – and even some vernacular spe- cific to the decade. Jazz flourished, Babe Ruth dominated baseball and pineapple upside-down cake found its way onto family dessert plates. New technology, manufacturing and industry fueled innovation and infrastructure improvements, boosting the econ- omy. Much historic data from the peri- od indicates how, for the most part, everything became “Jake” (A-OK). Welcome to 2021. In the pending post-pandemic U.S., we are embracing optimistic statistics that point to an emerging economy through pent-up demand for retail, restaurants, travel and more. Nay- sayers may call horsefeathers, but we think these views might change within a rapid level of recovery. We also believe that COVID-period tech- nology investments and operational advances in restaurant and retail will persist and grow further. n Sunny economics and job growth. In April, the Federal Reserve acknowledged stronger economic expansion than anticipated, upgrad- ing its median growth forecast for 2021 to 6.5% in March from 4.2% in December. The revision notes a substantial boost from the recently approved $1.9 trillion American Res- cue Plan Act. Colorado’s business leaders are on board for the sunshine. In April, the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business issued its quar- terly Leeds Business Confidence Index, which reflects leader partici- pants’ expectations from the first to second quarter for six economic categories: the state and national economies, industry sales, industry Please see Page 22 Jimmy Balafas Co-founder and managing partner, Kentro Group Tim Gillies Restaurant demand is anticipated to be significant in the months ahead due to easing restrictions and the warmer weather that always fuels socialization. Pictured above is Postino Broadway in early May.