LAS VEGAS—The Houston retail market has been strong for years now and consumers in Houston — like many parts of the country — are very resilient. As a result, Jason Baker, principal with Houston-based Baker Katz, is seeing more first-to-market retailers across a wide range of categories make their way into Texas by way of Houston.

We chatted with Baker during the ICSC Las Vegas Conference, where he said that with a mix of the lack of new construction, resulting in both elevated occupancy and rental rates, the byproduct is a highly competitive landscape.

The bottom line is that best in class operators are at the front of the line when quality vacancy does become available, he says.

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Natalie Dolce

Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com and GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, 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.