In one analysis after another, retail has been one of the strongest property types, with significant improvements over the last six months. Yields are "well placed relative to the risk-free rate in many markets and rental growth has reemerged in some markets after a multi-year absence," said an Oxford Economics report. "Stock per capita is reduced in many areas while household incomes continue to recover, so there may be some pricing power for landlords."

"There's been a lot of data and reporting over the past year about limited space in Class A centers squeezing out smaller local chains, and in my experience, that's exactly what's happening," Jared Rothkopf, a CRE attorney at Polsinelli, told GlobeSt. "Landlords want high credit tenants who can provide better security packages than local startups. Startups need to prove their concepts in less attractive spaces and trade up for better space after they're more established."

"For some reason, the retail spaces are moving quicker than anyplace else," said Michael Thom, an attorney in the business and finance department at Obermayer who often works in Bucks County. "I do think there are places where small mom and pops have issues. As the smaller tenants are coming up for renewal, I'd think more landlords would talk about increasing the rent." If they can't pay, there's now an opportunity to attract a national tenant that can afford higher rates and boost the value on a triple net lease because it will also come in with stronger credit.