CREJ - Retail Properties Quarterly - May 2015
The annual International Council of Shopping Centers Recon event in Las Vegas has arrived. The global convention for the shopping center industry attracts thousands of retail real estate professionals and exhibitors. The Colorado Real Estate Journal is proud to join the many local retailers, brokers, owners, developers, architects and real estate service providers at this event, and demonstrate just how much the Colorado retail market is thriving. Foreign and domestic markets are looking to Colorado for expansion. The ICSC conferences are great for meeting with prospective retailers and getting them interested in opening stores locally, said Brian Phetteplace, senior manager of economic development with the Downtown Denver Partnership. Retail investment remains strong in Colorado and especially in the Denver metro area. Garrette Matlock and Ryan Bowlby explain these strong fundamentals in their retail outlook on Page 4. However, Denver is not the only area along the Front Range that is seeing retail growth. The Northern Colorado and Colorado Springs markets reported robust first quarters this year as well. Restaurants continue to be a major driver of retail properties. Franchise opportunities at fast-casual restaurants are giving owners several different options for shopping centers, and the eateries are competing for prime locations in the centers. Traditional restaurants are evolving and catering to current and future generations as comfort, atmosphere, décor and furnishings play a major role in the dining experience. As restaurants compete for space, retail locations become targets but offer many challenges. Find out how restaurants are adapting in the restaurant update section. The expansion of FasTracks from Union Station to Denver International Airport also will have an effect on the retail industry at rail stations. The shopping trends section explains what this means for the future of retail in these areas. Thank you to everyone who contributed articles, met for interviews and helped create a publication packed with information on the present state of Colorado’s retail real estate market. Without the help of these industry experts, this special section would not be possible. As you read this publication, please contact me with thoughts about articles and ideas for upcoming issues of Retail Properties Quarterly. Thanks for reading, Ryan Gager rgager@crej.com