Clapp's commercial appraiser Paul Carter says the departure of certain stores to larger sites that provide the convenience of drive-through service is a factor in the climbing vacancy level. He says the departures have opened up "deep spaces" in shopping centers that are often difficult to subdivide to suit smaller tenants.

The semi-annual report excludes anchor stores and those with the highest and lowest rents. The survey represents about 75% of all neighorhood shopping centers anchored by a supermarket in Winston-Salem. The average vacancy rate in the north and east is about 20%, with an average asking rent rate of about $10 per sf.

Other shopping centers in this submarket have an average vacancy rate of about 30%. The southwest submarket has the lowest vacancy rate at about 8%. Two shopping centers in the northwest area are 40% and 60% vacant. Well-located centers have fewer problems finding tenants, the report says..