What's in Store? - Vegas Fever: What's on everyone's mind leading into ICSC Las Vegas

Retail Retold

Summary

In this episode of What's in Store, Chris Ressa and Karly Iacono are building up the buzz leading into ICSC Las Vegas—the "Super Bowl" of retail real estate. It's not just about big deals; it's about the mindsets of the retailers, landlords, and other industry stakeholders.

The trio of hot topics? Tariffs, AI, and supply-demand warfare. While tariffs continue to ripple uncertainty, AI's footprint in site selection and real estate decisions is exploding, despite concerns over its imperfections. On the ground, the supply crunch is forcing retailers to get creative—even snapping up bankrupt spaces just to get in the game. Ressa and Iacono see Vegas as a litmus test for who's truly playing offense in this market squeeze.

Takeaways

• The Real Estate Gala showcased a diverse group of non-institutional investors.
• Tariffs are a significant concern, with varying opinions on their impact.
• Retailers are generally optimistic and sticking to expansion plans despite challenges.
• Artificial intelligence is becoming ubiquitous in business operations.
• There is a need for consolidation in AI tools to avoid inefficiencies
• Supply and demand dynamics are still favoring landlords in retail real estate.
• Retailers are being creative in accessing real estate despite constraints.
• The conversation around tariffs and AI will dominate discussions at ICSC.
• Investors are anxious about the impact of tariffs on retailer earnings.
• New concepts in retail are emerging, but traditional methods still hold value.

Chapters

00:00 Insights from the Real Estate Gala

04:07 Leading into the retail real estate Super Bowl, ICSC Las Vegas

06:00 The Impact of Tariffs on Retail

13:45 Artificial Intelligence in Retail

26:12 Supply and Demand Dynamics in Retail