662: The Demand For Neighborhood Retail Persists

Despite its initial trajectory, ecommerce has plateaued at 16% of total retail sales. Concurrently, the cost of land, borrowing, and construction has made it prohibitive to build new retail centers. As a result, occupancy levels at existing properties are in the mid-high 90’s, and sometimes even 100%. There’s a huge demand for space from restaurants, beauty salons, yoga and pilates studios, gyms, massage clinics, plus other medical providers like dentists and chiropractors.  Cyndi Peach, Managing Partner of Nexphase Venture Partners, has had successful exits of strip centers over the past decade and continues to build her portfolio.