The food and beverage category continues to thrive in today's retail climate. More and more consumers are dining out, which is increasing popularity among centers with sit-down and fast-casual restaurant tenants. Those thoughts are according to Richard Birdoff, principal and president of RD Management, who recently chatted with GlobeSt.com about all things retail. According to Birdoff, consumers enjoy the unique experiences many restaurants offer such as pop-up eateries and beer gardens, themed bars, food halls, and group dining events. "These 'experiential' food and beverage concepts draw patrons out of their homes, eager to capture shareable moments on their social media channels. Across the board, brick-and-mortar retailers that can provide an experience will continue to compete with online retailers and attract millennials and Generation Zers," he said. On the topic of food halls, Cushman & Wakefield's Garrick Brown, VP of the Americas and head of retail research, recently also put out a food halls report, which said that what began as a trend that was largely relegated to just a few markets, has since exploded. When C&W first reported on the food hall movement, the concept was still in its infancy. At the time GlobeSt.com previously reported that food halls were largely divided into two basic camps; larger projects—often in historic, transit-oriented locales or smaller, mostly chef-driven concepts—almost all of which were located in Manhattan and just a handful of other American cities. Brown's report points out that "Just as consumer behavior, eCommerce and bricks-and-mortar retail are evolving at a breakneck pace, so too is the food hall movement." In the report, he explores the most noteworthy trends in food hall development including expansion into different types of CRE, the impact of branding, space design, integrating entertainment elements and much more. "When we first began tracking this phenomena in 2016, there were roughly 120 projects across the country. That number is on track to nearly quadruple, with 450 food halls expected to be operational throughout the US," he says. "By the end of 2020. At a time when headlines about the retail sector remain dominated by stories of closures and bankruptcies, food halls have emerged as one of the hottest growth trends." Malls, college campuses and suburban office campuses are currently seeing action with a new roster of players emerging beyond the chef-driven concepts and handful of food hall venue operators that largely pioneered this movement, Brown says. "Meanwhile, the drive to offer heightened experiences for consumers is also intensifying." Take a look at the details slideshow above for some key research from the Cushman & Wakefield food hall report. Check back with GlobeSt.com in the next week for more from our wall-to-wall retail coverage surrounding the Las Vegas ICSC RECon show last week including exclusive discussions with attendees on trends in the market. Also, take a look below at stories you might have missed. https://www.globest.com/2019/05/28/marketing-to-niche-demographics/ Despite Strong Tenant Demand, Retail Isn't Without Challenges How to Incorporate Healthcare Services into Retail The Future of Food Halls Checking the Box for all Retail Parties The Opportunities in Opportunity Zones No More Separating Online From Offline Sales The Repurposed, Revitalized and Redeveloped Shopping Center JLL Panel Breakfast Talks AI, New Innovative Concepts How Retailers are Using AI to Win Challenges and Opportunities in Retail Financing Time to Take Action, Pull the Trigger Marcus & Millichap Celebrates Clients, Talks Retail Transformation Welcome to ICSC's RECon 2019 Are You an Internet Resistant Retailer? Heading to ICSC's RECon This Weekend? Why Retail Industry Must Be Proactive in 2020 Election How to Fill Vacant Anchor Retail Space Emerging Retail Trends and How Your Real Estate Investments Can Benefit A Closer Look at What Retail's Future Might Have in Store Experts Talk RECon; New Emerging Concepts and Power Centers High Level of Retail Activity Expected The Retail Issue: Real Estate Forum Presents Influencers In Retail