Gerkin: Demographic shifts will remain an issue for the national retail real estate industry as a large number of retiring Baby Boomers merge with the wave of Millennials starting careers and buying houses. Millennials continue to seek amenity-based housing that's within close proximity to stores, transportation and restaurants. As this trend continues among Millennials, it creates a shifting demand for retail.

GlobeSt.com: How rapidly is experiential retail gaining momentum? What do you expect on this front in 2017 and what are the implications?

Gerkin: Experiential retail is gaining momentum within the shopping mall environment. Many of these retailers are reinventing themselves by securing real estate in open, public shopping space areas that merge with communities. We expect to see mixed-used developments including apartments, restaurants and shops grow in 2017. Today's consumer wants to live, work and play in a close proximity and this is a great trend for retailers that can get the space in these shopping centers.

ATLANTA—Demographic shifts are a reality impacting retailers and the commercial real estate they lease. But that's just half of the story.

At the same time, retail strategies are rapidly moving from a destination only to a full-blown experience. Malls are getting in on the action.

GlobeSt.com caught up with Gregg Gerken, head of Commercial Real Estate at TD Bank in the US, to get his thoughts on this trend in part two of my exclusive interview. You can still read part one of this interview: Which Retailers Will Win in 2017?.

GlobeSt.com How will demographic shifts impact retail real estate industry in 2017? And what are the implications?

Gerkin: Demographic shifts will remain an issue for the national retail real estate industry as a large number of retiring Baby Boomers merge with the wave of Millennials starting careers and buying houses. Millennials continue to seek amenity-based housing that's within close proximity to stores, transportation and restaurants. As this trend continues among Millennials, it creates a shifting demand for retail.

GlobeSt.com: How rapidly is experiential retail gaining momentum? What do you expect on this front in 2017 and what are the implications?

Gerkin: Experiential retail is gaining momentum within the shopping mall environment. Many of these retailers are reinventing themselves by securing real estate in open, public shopping space areas that merge with communities. We expect to see mixed-used developments including apartments, restaurants and shops grow in 2017. Today's consumer wants to live, work and play in a close proximity and this is a great trend for retailers that can get the space in these shopping centers.