New York Deal Making is ICSC’s second-largest conference with 500 exhibitors and some 10,000 attendees.  This two-day event provides opportunities to gain information about the most current industry issues, and meet and make deals with colleagues doing business in the retail industry. We had a great show this week.  We met with many new contacts and we were able to showcase some of our current work.  Although retail real estate has faced a lot of challenges during the last few years, this year’s attendees seemed to highlight the new opportunities for growth. Preferring to look at the brighter side of the retail sector.

“The demise of retail has been greatly exaggerated”

Some takeaways from attendees; an increase of restaurant footprints in shopping centers, online brands expanding into brick and mortar stores, the food hall trend continuing to grow, the densification of properties with more residential and office space, and growth in pop up retail space. We heard time and time again that people are looking for authentic places and fresh experiences.

With that in mind there was a lot of interest in our new POPBOX project – container retail with a food hall.  POPBOX is a new trend in retail that enables developers to infuse new retail into an existing out parcel location in a modular economical way.  It will draw retailers and shoppers looking for a PLACE to Shop, Mingle, and Enjoy entertainment while experiencing a variety of food vendors.

If you missed us at the show, be sure to check out our current projects.

inPLACE Design is an architecture, planning, and design firm with the experience and capabilities to create extraordinary, engaging, and inspiring placemaking in cities, towns and suburbs both nationally and internationally. We are dedicated to design excellence and innovative design strategies that are environmentally responsible and sustainable.