Absorption of vacant space has remained brisk in South Florida. Brick and mortar is still very important despite e-commerce.

GlobeSt.com: Emergence of discounters filling vacant big-box spaces

Stimming: In South Florida, the closing of national brands, such as HH Gregg, Sports Authority, Staples, Sears and Kmart, is making it ripe for successful discounters like Ross Dress for Less, T.J.Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, and Burlington, to further capture market share. It is also opening opportunities for newer brands in the market to expand, such as Orchard Supply and Hobby Lobby who have been ripe to backfill vacant big-box spaces.

(Another major retailer just made its way into Florida's hot retail market. Get all the details.)

In many instances, negotiations with replacement tenants are under way well before the space has even gone dark. A prime example is CREC's recent signing of Ross Dress for Less to replace Staples at Kendall Mall, where LOI negotiations began a year before Staples vacated. Similarly, we negotiated a lease with Michael's to occupy a Tiger Direct space at Market Square in Fort Myers, which was completed while Tiger Direct was still in possession.

How can we stem the tide of shopping center foreclosures? Here's one view.

MIAMI—With the ICSC Florida Conference & Deal Making event in just a few days, many are buzzing about the revelations that will come forth about the South Florida retail real estate market. GlobeSt.com caught up with Sabrina Stimming, senior vice president and director of leasing at CREC, to learn her top anticipated “hot” retail topics that will be on industry pro's minds at the upcoming 2017 ICSC conference in Orlando.

GlobSt.com: South Florida is emerging as an isolated 'retail island,' bucking the national trend of major retailers closing doors. How is this happening?

Stimming: While we increasingly read about doom and gloom in retail, South Florida is thriving. The market is bucking the national trend due to strong fundamentals—population density, tourism, immigration, scarcity of land for development and limited supply.

Despite the sentiment around the country, retail is alive and prospering here in South Florida. Major closings by struggling and outdated national brands are cleansing the retail landscape to free up prime space and present fresh opportunities for new tenants.

Absorption of vacant space has remained brisk in South Florida. Brick and mortar is still very important despite e-commerce.

GlobeSt.com: Emergence of discounters filling vacant big-box spaces

Stimming: In South Florida, the closing of national brands, such as HH Gregg, Sports Authority, Staples, Sears and Kmart, is making it ripe for successful discounters like Ross Dress for Less, T.J.Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, and Burlington, to further capture market share. It is also opening opportunities for newer brands in the market to expand, such as Orchard Supply and Hobby Lobby who have been ripe to backfill vacant big-box spaces.

(Another major retailer just made its way into Florida's hot retail market. Get all the details.)

In many instances, negotiations with replacement tenants are under way well before the space has even gone dark. A prime example is CREC's recent signing of Ross Dress for Less to replace Staples at Kendall Mall, where LOI negotiations began a year before Staples vacated. Similarly, we negotiated a lease with Michael's to occupy a Tiger Direct space at Market Square in Fort Myers, which was completed while Tiger Direct was still in possession.

How can we stem the tide of shopping center foreclosures? Here's one view.