LAS VEGAS—"We're thrilled to witness the increasing emphasis on the importance of suburban neighborhood retail, and it's been a long time coming," remarked Christopher King, CEO of Monster Entertainment, in a recent conversation with GlobeSt.com ahead of the upcoming ICSC Las Vegas retail event scheduled for May 19-21.
King expressed confidence that the industry has overcome the challenges of earlier decades regarding expansion, with the upcoming ICSC Las Vegas event poised to unveil what's new and undergoing revitalization at present.
"This marks my inaugural ICSC Las Vegas as a co-owner of Monster Entertainment. With our expansion and marketing team in place, our aim is to identify fresh opportunities nationwide," he added.
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Richard Rizika, partner and co-founder at Beta Retail, also shared insights with GlobeSt.com on neighborhood retail, highlighting the resilience of brick-and-mortar establishments in these areas. Despite any hurdles, Rizika emphasized the ongoing robustness of leasing in neighborhood and community shopping centers. "Physical stores remain a significant contributor to retail sales nationally," he said.
Rizika also pointed to technology adaptation as a key trend for enhancing efficiency. "There's a pressing need for modernization, addressing technical debt, and integrating new technologies to streamline operations," he said.
Check out related retail stories below that you might have missed and stay tuned for more trend coverage from other retail experts we spoke with as the ICSC approaches.
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
