Millennials remain the key decision-makers influencing the next phase for retail, says Nancy Erickson, executive managing director with Colliers International.

“We're following their lead and focusing on tenants that offer something they can't do on Amazon while they're watching TV,” she says. “This includes restaurants, discount fashion retailers and entertainment such as luxury dine-in movie theaters. Fitness and medical services, such as urgent care centers and medical spas, are also growing”.

Erickson notes that food was “the number one discussion” at the recent International Council of Shopping Centers conference in Las Vegas. “We all want good food and we're looking for something unique. Although national chains will do well, it's the out-of-the-box restaurants that are going to influence development both in shopping centers and mixed-use projects.”

Food does seem to be replacing fashion as a key driver of foot traffic at Stanbery Development's retail lifestyle centers and mixed-use projects, says Mark Pottschmidt, co-founder of Stanbery. At Stanbery's planned mixed-use project in Parsippany, he says, “We expect 30 to 40 percent of the tenants to be food operators ranging from fast casual to white table cloth. Amenities on the ground will drive demand for the apartments above.”

Erickson, whose retail team manages prominent mixed-use assignments including Bell Works in Holmdel and Valley & Bloom in Montclair, stressed the importance of communication between developers and retailers to create more engaging shopping experiences.

“Retail is often an afterthought in mixed use developments,” she says. “The column widths of the office and residential requirements above the retail portion define the width of the retail spaces and storefronts. This can make leasing to national retailers difficult, as the sizes are now pre-defined.”

Investors are giving retail another look after a lull that resulted from uncertainty over interest rates and the new administration, says Brian Whitmer, senior director Metropolitan Area Capital Markets Group with Cushman & Wakefield.

“We're seeing the capital and buyers come back into the market, and the interest is in quality retail properties with good tenant mixes,” says Whitmer. “Sellers are starting to become more active, and many of them have been looking at strategic dispositions of noncore, secondary and tertiary assets.”

Whitmer says investment is coming increasingly from high net worth individuals, 1031 exchange buyers and syndicated money. “We're also seeing people reinvesting in their better properties to improve on what they have,” he says.

Panelists says there is likely to be a major correction affecting New Jersey's malls in the near future.

“Across the US, 20 percent of malls will close in the next five years,” says Erickson. “The expectation is that upscale malls like Short Hills and discount malls which draw from a broad customer base will continue to do well. Less desirable locations will be de-malled and repurposed.”

“Malls are interesting right now and there is no logical next step for them,” says Eilberg. “We bought Hudson Mall in Jersey City, which was partially de-malled. Existing ownership had taken good care of the asset and there are clearly improvements to be made. However, we feel that it's great waterfront real estate, our tenants are doing well and it presents a lot of different options.”

“We're at the forefront of experiencing the dynamics of retail adapting to e-commerce in real time,” says Whitmer. “Food, fun and fitness are filling voids, along with the repurposing of large boxes for last-mile distribution.”

Panelists said national big-box retailers, like Lowe's, Home Depot and Best Buy, will continue to grow. Pointing to the continued expansion of Marshalls, T.J. Maxx and Home Goods, Erickson called the brand “a tenant to follow.” Eilberg singled out Best Buy for its return to traditional retail fundamentals, a move that has “reinvigorated the chain, and we think they're a winner.”

Retailers offering convenience, value and customer service in good locations are going to be successful, the panelists concluded. Less desirable locations offer ample opportunity for repurposing and redevelopment.

“There is an oversupply of retail, and the fact that supply is shrinking is frankly a good thing for the market,” says Eilberg. “At the end of day, the idea is to create a win-win. We have to work together and think creatively about ways to revise the model.”