Case Equity envisions an immersive, shopping and lifestyle center in the front with a high tech robotics fulfillment center in the rear. There is no upfront cost to the retailer except designing a retail store, similar to a “pop-up” location. The SFC would provide the logistics infrastructure. This would track and manage inventory, deliveries and returns. Thus, the age-old risks for retailers of leasing out space—guessing and hoping their sales will be high enough to make the rent is greatly reduced. In this new form of retail, Chopp says real estate landlords are not about leasing space but more about maximizing shoppers.

With the onsite fulfillment centers, Case Equity also anticipates that the costs and inconveniences associated with returned merchandise will greatly decrease. It's not just the “glitz and glamour” of “experiential retail” that many brands have been trying to market, according to Chopp. He says it's also functionality that allows for the best experience: convenience.

“As a real estate investor considering my options, retail scared me as retailers are experimenting and on shaky grounds, and industrial is way too frothy as a result of leases with e-commerce companies, many whom have yet to show a profit,” says Chopp. He points out both industries are missing the fact that the two largest retailers, Walmart and Amazon, have one thing in common—logistics superiority. Thus, thinking outside the box, Chopp says he created the SFC.