Turnip Truck

The Turnip Truck is a local grocery store that has been serving Nashville since 2001. It is a full service, locally owned, natural foods store rooted in providing the highest quality, natural, local and organic foods available. They opened a new 9,000 square foot location just as the COVID-19 pandemic struck, on the heels of a tornado, but have still been able to see a demand in the community. In addition to the extensive grocery selection, they offer hot and cold bars, grab-and-go foods, a deli and juice bar, a bakery, bulk foods department, a growler filling station with kombucha and beer and fresh soup. They currently have 2 locations with their first out of state location opening soon.

Whole Foods Market

With over 500 locations across the US, and currently holding notoriety as the world’s largest natural supermarket in the retail industry, Whole Foods expanded by adding another location in Tennessee. Whole Foods added one new 44,500 square foot marketplace in February just before the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.  As grocery stores continue to be among the most profitable retailers during the pandemic, overall grocery expansion seems to be continuing into 2021.

Aldi 

This 16,400 square foot German grocery chain is planning to open 70 new stores from coast to coast by the end of 2020 with two locations being in the Middle Tennessee (Brentwood) area. With more than 2,000 stores across 36 states, Aldi is on track to become the third-largest grocery retailer by store count by the end of 2022. As a response to the coronavirus pandemic Aldi reserves the first hour of business on Tuesdays and Thursdays for vulnerable shoppers.

Sephora

Sephora announced plans to open as many as 100 new stores across North America in 2020. That included making a bold presence amongst shopping centers instead of shopping malls where foot traffic has died down. Sephora currently has over 450 standalone stores in the US and they expanded to a few high-traffic shopping centers in the Tennessee area to boost their presence. Their current make up includes standalone shops, shop-in-shops that are mixed into anchor stores, and new 4,000 square feet concepts that allow Sephora to have a local presence.

Ross Dress for Less

Now with 20 total locations in the state of Tennessee after opening their second location this year in Clarksville, Ross is continuing to bring customers out who are looking for name brand clothing at a discounted price. This concept typically requires around 30,000 square feet in order to hold all of the home goods, apparel, footwear, furniture, accessories and more that they have in stock. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, customers are required to wear a face covering while in stores, but it hasn’t halted the response of shoppers who enjoy shopping the brand. In this recent opening, it joined the retail complex currently home to Rack Room Shoes, Burkes Outlet, Marshalls and Planet Fitness.

Looking for the perfect concept to bring to a bustling shopping center? Allow Retailsphere to help you locate the best tenet to fill your vacancy with a no-obligation demo today. We can help connect you with site selectors for the brands above, and other similarly expanding brands in Tennessee.

The post 5 Retailers Expanding Across Tennessee appeared first on Retailsphere.

A litany of new tenants are coming aboard Fashion District Philadelphia, a redevelopment of the old Gallery at Market East in the heart of the city, a project created through a Macerich/Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) partnership. Armani Exchange Outlet plans it first Pennsylvania store at Fashion District. Also expanding there are new-to-Philadelphia tenants Kate Spade New York, DSW, Windsor, Yoyoso and Clair de Lune. They'll be joined by international fast-fashion retailers Primark and Ardene.

Experiential tenants including AMC Theaters, Round 1, Wonderspaces and REC Philly have also settled there. La Madeleine, Pei Wei and among about a dozen eateries are expanding into Fashion Center as well. Oath Pizza, for example, has added its fourth Pennsylvania location at the center.

A new concept called Anchor Shops that offers small online retailers a turnkey bricks-and-mortar store space with low infrastructure costs and local fulfillment, has leased a site at Fashion Center. Founder Shlomo Chopp said his firm, ShopFulfill, will open 12 such concepts throughout the Northeast. Chopp told the Cheddar business news network that he believes his concept is a more permanent solution to vacancies than standard pop-ups. Anchor Shops' fulfillment center is located in nearby Morristown, N.J.

Carlisle, Pa.-based The Giant Co. has been extremely active in the state. Last year, Giant rolled out five of its compact Giant Heirloom Market concepts in the Philadelphia area in the districts of University City, Northern Liberties and Queen Village, with more planned this year. A new 13,000-square-foot, two-level Giant Heirloom Market in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties neighborhood, featuring an underground taproom and gaming area, is among the latest to open.

The chain also opened a Giant Direct hub on Reservoir Street in Lancaster to serve as a curbside pickup site and grocery delivery center, and it built a new Giant supermarket in the Philly suburb of Warrington. Giant said it plans a $114 million investment in its Pennsylvania stores through 2021, including the addition of two more full-size Giants, with plans to renovate 35 existing stores. One, in Swatara Township, is going into a Weis Markets location that closed in 2019, while the second is going into Pocono Summit, all part of a company goal "to expand our footprint in the Pocono region," said Nicholas Bertram, company president.

One of Dick’s Sporting Goods new-concept stores, Overtime by Dick's, opened in Liberty Plaza in Philadelphia in late June. The outlet-style concept offers an assortment of equipment, apparel and footwear priced to 75% off. Another, a Dick's Sporting Good Warehouse pop-up store, opened in a former Toys R Us on June 15 for a six-month run at Village Square Mall in Bethel Park.

Numerous Lidl groceries have opened through Pennsylvania since mid 2019 as part of the German chain's East Coast expansion that put locations at the new Shoppes at Wyndham center near York College in Spring Garden Township, York County and in Lancaster County, among other locales. Stores range from 14,000 square feet to 36,000 square feet, compared to competitor Aldi's 10,000 square-foot average.

At the newly redeveloped Plymouth Meeting Mall north of Philadelphia, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Burlington each opened new locations last fall, while arts-and-crafts seller Michael's debuted Feb. 28 this year, all part of 200,000 square feet of new retail, dining and experiential concepts planned at the PREIT-owned center.

The Folcroft, Pa.-based regional gourmet chicken concept, Chick-A-Boom, eventually plans 5 to 10 new locations in the Philadelphia area, it said.

The mixed-use The Waterfront development in Homestead, Pa., south of Pittsburgh, will soon celebrate the return of original center tenant Old Navy to a former Office Depot space. The center also welcomes boutique women's fashion retailer Versona, a 6,500 square foot location inspired by Italian designs. The chain's only other western Pennsylvania location is in Cranberry.

Fabletics has added a Pittsburgh outpost in Simon's Ross Park Mall, the chain's 38th location. Founded in 2013 by actress Kate Hudson as an e-commerce active-wear retailer, Fabletics plans to grow its physical-store presence to 100 U.S. locations. Another fast-expanding chain, women's fashion concept Evereve, has also taken space in the center. Specializing in designer clothes for moms and moms-to-be, the clothier has grown from 48 stores in 2014 to about 100 units at present.

Target said it will retrofit part of a former Kaufmann's department-store building on 5th Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh into a 22,000-square-foot store. Elsewhere, a new Whole Foods is under development as anchor of a $50 million mixed-use project on the former Penn Plaza site in Pittsburgh. The 50,000-square-foot store, slated for a 2021 opening, replaces a smaller Whole Foods on Penn Avenue.

In early April, fast-growing Tractor Supply, which reported record sales and earnings in its 2020 second quarter, debuted a 19,000-square-foot store in Brickerville (Lancaster County) on Division Highway. Deemed as an essential business in the pandemic, Tractor Supply opened 38 new U.S. stores in the first half of 2020 with plans for about 40 additional units the balance of the year.

Are you in Pennsylvania looking to reach these expanding retailers. Many of the brands highlighted here are actively expanding through out the rest of the year and could be a good fit for your shopping center. Let Retailsphere help you reach these potential tenants. Sign up for a no-obligation demo today.

The post Pennsylvania Quickly Becoming an Expansion Hotspot appeared first on Retailsphere.

We've identified several brands that are, in fact, continuing to expand. While it might seem like all bad news for retail, we're here to tell you there are still many brands look for new space in the state of Florida. 

Target

The world just got a little bit brighter with new Target locations. The affordable, chic Target superstore has announced two new locations this year in Florida and one more future opening in Grove Station. 

According to Target’s website, they have additional plans for close to 40 locations inthe future. Despite closures nationwide in the past few years, Target is looking for locations in neighborhoods and has a variety of size requirements that fit their needs in several states. 

Capital One

Capital One is not retail or food, but they do fill brick and mortar locations. Online banking is wonderfully convenient, but there are still banking services provided only in person. Capital One has plans to expand only in the following locations: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

Have the perfect downtown spot for Capital One? The location size would need to be 5,001-10,000 square feet with a high traffic count of 75,000-80,000.

PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans

Despite the name, this coffee shop is not only in New Orleans. The coffee franchise with vibes to match the quality of their coffee are found from their heart in Louisiana to other states, such as Colorado and South Carolina. A new location for PJ’s Coffee is coming to Bradenton, Florida. 

Would a supreme coffee shop, like PJ’s Coffee, be the perfect fit for your vacancy? The 78 unit franchisor plans to add approximately 10 new franchisees in the next 36 months. The site must be around 400-2,200 square feet, be freestanding or inside a mall or strip mall. 

Whataburger

The famous burger joint serving a burger that requires two hands to hold already boasts over 800 locations. The family owned and operated Whataburger released their plans to open 15 new locations this year and 25 in 2021.

Research gathered by Retailsphere cites Whataburgers expansion to 9 states, including Florida, adding to the 36 current Whataburger locations in the sunshine state. 

Got a spectacular space for this famous burger? 

Whataburger plans to open 12 stores in 2021, located within a mile of a Target, Walmart, or other big box business. Size requirements are precisely 3,100-3,330 square feet with 20,000-30,000 traffic counts. 

Publix

The supermarket and pharmacy retailer appreciated by customers for it’s quality food choice and efforts in sustainability and waste intolerance continues to be an industry leader. 

In June, Publix opened 4 locations in Florida and another one in July. Another store location will be opening in Wildwood, FL soon. 

ALDI

Boasted on it’s website as “High-quality products at impossibly low prices”, this world-wide, German-based food store chain favorite has announced 70 store openings this year, with four of those in Florida (Clearwater, Lutz, North Port, and St. Cloud). 

Longing for an ALDI in your portfolio? To start, make sure there is space available for the 25,000+ required square footage and 15,000-20,000 in traffic count.

Wawa

With nearly 900 locations nationwide, Wawa is still booming and widely known for its all day, everyday service of fast, fresh hoagies, coffee, and fuel services. Wawa has announced 5 new store openings in Florida this summer. 

Looking to get Wawa in your open vacancy? In the next two years, Wawa plans to open 10 new stores. The location size needed is approximately 5,001-10,000 square feet, preferably freestanding. Traffic counts need to be 25,000-30,000.

New doors are opening near you. If you need help searching for expanding retailers, Retailsphere can help you fill the vacancies in your portfolio with retailers who are opening new doors. 

Schedule a demo to find out how Retailsphere can assist you in filling your closed door vacancies to thriving open for business retail spaces. 

The post Target among the Retailers Opening New Doors in Florida appeared first on Retailsphere.

E-commerce driven, direct-to-consumer retail has boomed over the last decade. Companies like Warby Parker, Dollar Shave Club, and Glossier have disrupted their respective industries, offering design forward products, as well as clever and beautiful marketing, at a lower than expected price point. 

In 2014, Casper set out to flip the mattress industry on its head. Long dominated by stuffy showrooms and extremely high mark-ups, the mattress industry was due for a change; and Casper was one of the first companies to offer premium mattresses sent directly to consumers at shockingly low prices. Over 170 “bed-in-a-box” style mattress companies now exist, with Casper still garnering a high rank among them.

And while traditional retailers have been told direct-to-consumer companies could lead to their demise, these partnerships show proof of a different narrative. Here are a few reasons direct-to-consumer brands could become your next great tenant.

More Than A Trend

Just as Casper spawned over a hundred copycat companies, it seems almost no industry is safe from direct-to-consumer interruption. Society at large is now online, and in the wake of COVID-19, these brands have a leg up as they may not rely on traditional, brick-and-mortar retail sales. But instead of stealing shoppers from real world companies, it seems that having an in-person showroom experience available for customers is still the aspiration of many of these brands. 

For example, a few years after a successful online launch, Warby Parker began opening showrooms. In similar fashion, Casper began online and then partnered with Target, in addition to running 60 of their own showrooms. 

While e-commerce isn’t going away, it has become the next frontier for finding brands who are ready to migrate offline and embrace brick and mortar. Landlords shouldn’t be afraid to approach one of these brands with a great tenant opportunity. 

Boutique Partnerships

Pre-COVID, Casper had plans to open 200 more of their own stores. While those plans have had to be tweaked, their appetite for an in-person presence has not gone away. They’ve recently announced another new partnership with Sam’s Club to offer their products in traditional retail stores. 

Big box brands like Target, Costco, and Sam’s Club all have a history of embracing these up-and-coming brands, and offering their store as a launchpad to further success—which is a strategy other spaces can borrow. In-store pop-up shops and boutiques could breathe new life into your existing tenants. Offering existing tenants the ability to sublease space to other brands could give them the boost they need, especially in the current economic climate. 

Experiential Retail 

Traditional retailers can rely on customers’ desire for tactile experience. E-commerce has not yet been able to replace feeling the fabric of a dress or savoring the scent of a candle. Humans are social, and trying new things is exciting. Direct-to-consumer companies can not only enhance their brand by offering customers a novel experience, but an in-person presence also gives a solid stamp of legitimacy. In fact, 49% of shoppers cite not being able to touch, feel, or try a product as one of their least favorite aspects of online shopping.

When trying to fill your current vacancies, think of how you can build a hybrid shopping/entertainment experience. Showroom style stores that allow customers to try or experience products, like the Apple Store, are popular for a reason. But unlike Apple, direct-to-consumer brands have proven they can show-off their goods without an in-store inventory to pull from. This means that even small retail spaces can be used, with all purchases then pushed online and shipped to the consumer’s home. Warby Parker uses this exact model for their eyeglass showrooms. 

Even as direct-to-consumer brands continue to usurp long standing traditional brands, the marketing and experiential opportunities of traditional retail still play an important role in scaling a business. If you’d like to step out of the box and discover more about how you can fill vacancies with online brands, Retailsphere is here to help. Set up your no-obligation demo today to see how easy it can be to find retailers like Casper and bring them to your shopping center. 

The post Could an E-Commerce Brand be your Next Tenant? Casper Partners With Sam’s Club appeared first on Retailsphere.

Still, 24% of chain retailers grew their footprint in the city this year, and that trend will likely continue as brands figure out how to navigate the challenges of the current pandemic. Here are just a few examples of retailers who have plans to expand their footprint across New York state in the near future:

Chase Bank intends to open up to 12 new branches in Albany, Rochester, and New York City over the next few years. The company is currently experimenting with new formats such as their flagship branch at 390 Madison Ave, which was designed to foster a sense of collaboration between customers and their bankers, while the Harlem community branch was designed as something of a third-space: The open floor plan allowed them to host “Chase Chats” and local small businesses to host pop-up events. Chase prefers to open branches in areas that have a population of approximately 100,000 within a five-mile radius and to occupy units on the corners of busy intersections.

Ulta is planning to open two locations in New York this year, with one in College Point and the other in Farmingdale. Ulta stores are, on average, somewhere between 1,000-2,500 square feet and found in fashion-oriented centers in dense residential markets. The company prefers to open stores in locations with a population of 40,000 within a five-mile radius.

Target has been experimenting with its small-format stores for years now, and they made plans earlier this year to open over 30 new stores with the format. While most Target locations are, on average, around 127,000 square feet, the company is looking to expand into urban and dense suburban areas as well as the spaces around large college campuses with models that are closer to 15,000-60,000 square feet. These locations should be located somewhere with a population minimum of 75,000 within a five-mile radius and should see a traffic count of around 30,000 to 35,000. Target intends to open several stores in New York over the coming months and years and has already selected three new locations: a 34,000 square foot store at 1863 Broadway in Columbus Circle, a 29,000 square foot store at 615 10th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, and a 46,000 square foot store in Staten Island’s Forest Avenue Plaza.

The Home Depot plans to open up a new location in Maspeth this fall. The company typically operates 130,000-square-foot stores with a 500-space parking lot. The Home Depot can typically be found in pretty dense areas with an average of 110,000 living within a five-mile radius. Most of their stores have a traffic count of 75,000-80,000. 

Like most retailers, Starbucks has had a rough year. Comparable store sales in the U.S. and around the world were down by 40% in Q3. Luckily, the coffee company already had a plan in motion that would help them navigate the current challenges of retail — the three-to-five-year plan to pivot to mobile and drive-thru ordering has been fast-tracked to be finished within a year and a half. In order to do so, Starbucks is working on finding units that accommodate drive-thru lanes in high-traffic areas. Starbucks cafes are usually around 1,000 to 2,500-square-foot, end-cap locations with high visibility in grocery-related developments that don’t already have coffee shops. The company has more stores in Manhattan than any other retail and is quickly growing across the city. In 2020, Starbucks has already opened 24 new stores in New York City and 300 stores across the Americas. 

Are you in New York looking to reach these expanding retailers? Many of the brands highlighted here are actively expanding throughout the rest of the year and could be a good fit for your shopping center. Let Retailsphere help you reach these potential tenants. Sign up for a no-obligation demo today.

The post 5 Expanding Retailers in New York State appeared first on Retailsphere.

This growth could even increase due to the exit of Manhattan retailers, as NJ locals choose to stay close to home in the wake of COVID-19.

The American Dream

The American Dream retail and entertainment complex in East Rutherford announced reopening on October 1. Opening the 3 million-square-foot mega-mall, which first opened its doors in fall of 2019, brings hope for the future of the economy at large. 

Following the successful reopening of the venue’s indoor ski hill earlier this month, the next phase of reopening will include a number of large retailers. H&M and Primark will open doors alongside indoor DreamWorks Water Park, the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park, and Out of This World Blacklight Mini Golf and The Rink (an NHL regulation-sized ice skating rink). 

Jim Kirkos, CEO and president of the Meadowlands Chamber, told Real Estate New Jersey that “American Dream will be the economic engine for the Meadowlands Sports Complex... New Jersey needs American Dream to help revive its economy in a post-COVID-19 era.”

Panera Bread Expanding

Panera Bread, which already claims 78 stores in New Jersey, has plans to expand in the northern region of the state. The fast casual chain and bakery also recently launched a new grocery delivery concept called Panera Grocery that will also be available at New Jersey stores. Customers can order staples such as breads, bagels, milk (at participating locations), Greek yogurt, yogurt tubes, cream cheese, apples, avocados, blueberries, grapes, and tomatoes, diversifying the chain’s ability to meet market needs. 

Target and Costco grow Too

Target announced a 91,000-square-foot store in Wall, a new Costco will open in Cherry Hill this month, and relatively new grocery chain Lidl also has plans for expansion. Lidl recently opened a 28,000 square-foot location in North Brunswick, the chain’s 10th and counting in the state. This is part of the chains $500 million East Coast expansion plan, including opening more markets in New Jersey by 2021

Jersey City Bursting With New Tenants

Jersey City will welcome 8 new tenants to a combined 33,400 square feet of retail shopping, all part of a deal by Grid Real Estate. Filipino grocery store Sariling Atin will occupy 10,000 square feet, expanding from its original location in Queens.  It also features a cafeteria-style food counter and designated dining space alongside the market. Other tenants include Robert Pluhowski Custom Furniture, Medly Pharmacy, Irish pub Grace O’Malley’s, Cavany Foods, Metro Market, and LabCorp. 

Jersey City will also soon be home to Englewood Health in a 50,000 square-foot office building. Strategically located near the Journal Square PATH station, the health hub will provide a variety of healthcare services for the community, including orthopedics, primary care, OB/GYN, cancer, cardiology, pulmonology, urology, and colorectal surgery. 

Brands Expand Across the State

Topgolf, the multi-level driving range and entertainment complex, plans to open it’s third New Jersey location in Maywood, NJ. In a novel take on empty large-scale retail spaces, Topgolf will take over the former Bergen County Sears warehouse and distribution center. 

The Dollar Tree plans to open five new locations, as well as an almost 5,000 square-foot expansion of the existing Haddon Township store. The new stores will all top 9,000 square feet, with the largest being a 12,680-square-foot lease in Springfield. 

Smaller, but impactful openings, also pepper the state, including a 4,700 square-foot Sherwin-Williams in Monroe Township; a specialty bakery, Dessert Soiree, in Camden County;  and the discount retail chain Burlington in Raritan (with another opening planned in Brick).

Looking for new tenants in New Jersey? With Retailsphere, get ahead of the game with the most up to date retailer data, including small multi-unit groups and local thriving brands that are actively expanding. Sign up for a no-obligation demo today.

The post Dozens of Retailers expand in New Jersey appeared first on Retailsphere.

Despite the current economic downturn, the fast food market is estimated to reach $931.7 billion by 2027, making the segment highly attractive as tenants that will weather economic and health crises. Interested in bringing a quick service restaurant on as a tenant? Here are 5 fast expanding options you may want to add to your list of prospects. 

Raising Cane’s 

This cult favorite is quickly finding mass appeal. The chain is well known for their chicken fingers, crinkle cut fries, and signature sauce. Raising Cane’s saw an uptick of 22.46% in growth this year. In fact, Raising Cane’s CEO recently shared that after just 30 days, during the height of the pandemic, their sales totally recovered to pre-COVID numbers. This incredible strength and growth makes them a great choice for a strong tenant. 

Tropical Smoothie Cafe  

Not just delicious smoothies, this fast growing cafe also serves up flat breads, wraps, and more to hungry customers. Clocking in a record-breaking summer of sales, Tropical Smoothie had a 22.1% increase across the U.S. in the most recent fiscal year. The company’s CEO recently shared that he felt consumers were turning to the brand for a healthy option during the pandemic. A diverse menu and seasonal specials keep things fresh, and keep up the foot traffic, at Tropical Smoothie. 

Chick-fil-A

Known for its impeccable service and its incredibly long drive thru lines, Chic-fil-A is the perfect tenant for proven success. Ranked as the 3rd fastest growing restaurant chain, customers won’t wait in those lines very long. Efficiency and happy customers are the hallmark of Chic-fil-A. And the brand has diversified during the pandemic to offer popular meal kits. All the more reason for customers to visit the business frequently, and make sure your parking lots are full. 

Jersey Mike's Subs

Jersey Mike’s has seen solid sales growth of 17.8% in 2020. The sub sandwich chain famously invested $150 million nationwide to retrofit its stores for increased safety during the pandemic, and they also recently innovated their delivery and catering services to further guard against contamination. This is a brand that is taking health and safety seriously, and the market is rewarding them. A trustworthy brand like Jersey Mike's could be a great addition to fill your latest vacancy. 

While success is never guaranteed, these brands have proven to be more than profitable during what has been, for most, a very rough year. Interested in learning more? Schedule a Retailsphere demo today and get a more in-depth look at these 5 brands—and many more. 

The post How Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) are Winning during Covid-19 appeared first on Retailsphere.

Even with the state’s size and diversity, some commonalities exist when it comes to retail tenants. According to Texas expert retail brokerage firm Weitzman, some retailers are in expansion mode in Texas, even in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Weitzman experts also noted that open-air shopping centers are becoming particularly popular, as they allow for amenities such as drive-through space, dedicated parking, patio dining and curbside delivery.

Wingstop

Wingstop is currently in franchise-driven expansion mode throughout Texas, especially in the Austin area. Weitzman’s Assistant Vice President Brett Maze indicated that “we want to fill out the rest of the Austin MSA,” with hot spots for the franchise including, south San Marcos, south, east and northeast Austin; as well as suburban Bee Cave, Buda, Hutto, and San Marcos. The preferred space size Wingstop is looking for ranges from 1,600 square feet to 2,000 square feet. According to Retailsphere, the Austin area currently has 218 units open already.

“Wingstop is seeking more sites in Austin and wants to open them by year-end, focusing on in-line retail locations where they can have dedicated to-go and curbside parking,” said Matt Epple, executive vice president with Weitzman’s Austin office.

In-N-Out Burger, Whataburger, McDonalds

Kyle Knight, senior vice president with Weitzman, indicated that the California-headquartered In-N-Out Burgers is eyeing major, super-regional hubs in Houston, by securing pad sites in shopping centers near freeway locations and major intersections. The Houston area currently supports three stores.

James Namken, senior vice president with Weitzman’s Houston office, noted that In-N-Out is one of three QSRs focused on Houston-area expansion. Also looking to open more restaurants are Whatburger and McDonald’s. These chains are interested in targeting market coverage holes, as well as relocating lower-performing stores. Much like In-N-Out, the regional (Whatburger) and national (McDonald’s) chain is looking for pad sites of at least one acre. Another fact to note is that Whatburger is looking to expand nationally, through franchising.

Kids Empire

Moving from food-oriented concepts to an entertainment focus, one retailer that is aggressively increasing its Texas presence is Kids Empire. This child-oriented, indoor playground is opening sites in retail centers throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, as well as Houston and San Antonio, deals were inked by the Weitzman brokers, on behalf of the tenant. The company is also looking for sites in Austin. So far, the La Crescenta, CA-headquartered company has taken down space ranging in size from 10,000 square feet to 26,152 square feet. While many of the new locations have been temporarily shuttered, due to COVID-19, they are slowly re-opening, according to the company’s website.

And while specific lease terms haven’t changed in contracts in Texas, Weitzman notes that almost all of tenants are requesting “COVID Language” in their leases, which include permission for a shutdown, should one by mandated by the state, county or municipal governments. The remainder of 2020 should still see a reduction in occupancy, partially mitigated by what Weitzman called “extremely conservative new construction,” which has been a trend in Texas for the past couple of years.

Despite concerns over COVID-19 spread, Texas continues generating population and residential growth, leading to retail growth. And while expansion may be slower than in previous years, there are retailers continuing with their growth plans.

Do you have a vacant space or pad site in Texas that you're looking for potential tenants to fill? Let Retailsphere help you reach out to the right site selector in your area. Sign up today for a no-obligation demo and take a look at profiles for expanding retailers like the ones listed here. Plus, see how much simpler your search for new tenants and the leasing process can be. 

The post 5 Retailers Expanding in Texas appeared first on Retailsphere.

Not on most urban or even suburban populations’ radar, Tractor Supply Co. tends to cater to rural populations. However, a browse through their inventory will uncover a vast collection of products. From the company website: “What can you buy at Tractor Supply Company? Everything except tractors.” Their products include the assumed products for farming, such as tractor parts, fencing materials, and animal feed in addition to clothing, home decor, toys (albeit, farm themed). In the onset of the pandemic, certain products did exceedingly well, such as hiking boots for all the sick-of-quarantine adventurers, bird feed for the influx of new bird watchers stuck in isolation, pet food for all the new pet owners that adopted animals early in the pandemic, and galvanized tanks, typically for feeding livestock converted to do-it-yourself swimming pools.

Categorized as an essential business, Tractor Supply reported high levels of foot traffic at the beginning of COVID lockdowns. Their success could be attributed to the fact they are an essential business, or that many people visited the store since many other stores were closed. 

Another factor for success is that Tractor Supply implemented technology tactics years before the pandemic struck to be poised for success. In place pre-COVID was a better online platform, same/next day delivery, mobile check outs, and curbside pick up - all thing shoppers assume to be normal shopping offerings in a Covid-19 world. 

It could be assumed could be that Tractor Supply Co was at the right place at the right time with niche products, just right for a pandemic-stricken population. But when you consider they implemented technology and alternative shopping options long before COVID bashed most physical stores out of existence, they have clearly been planning and anticipating growth for some time. They have discovered the harmony between e-commerce and physical stores, producing long time customers who are happy to have the ease of ordering online or quickly grabbing what they need with pick up. Clearly, Tractor Supply was ready for their rise to one of the top retail, pandemic or not. 

Are you looking for the right brand to thrive in your brick and mortar vacancy? Do you have a large vacancy that Tractor Supply might fit well in? Set up a no-obligation demo to find out how Retailsphere can bring the right brand to your space by providing in depth retailer information and site selector contacts for brands like Tractor Supply and others. 

The post The Unexpected rise and expansion of Tractor Supply appeared first on Retailsphere.