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Insights for Store Development & Construction Leaders
Best practices, strategies, and expert perspectives on retail rollout management, multisite construction, and store development operations.
The Labor Number Got Better. The Retail Construction Math Got Worse.
ABC says construction needs 349,000 new workers in 2026, down from 500K-plus a year ago. The headline reads like relief. For retail operators running 50 to 500 store programs, the underlying math just got harder.
Mixed-Use Developments Are Reshaping the 2026 Retail Pipeline
Simon's $250M upgrades, Nashville Premium Outlets, and a wave of sports-anchored mixed-use projects are pulling the 2026 retail pipeline toward a different kind of site.
The 2026 Retail Construction Squeeze: Why Store Openings Are Up but Capacity Is Down
Retail construction activity is contracting in 2026 even as store openings climb. The math is uncomfortable, and operators who plan for it now will outperform those who don't.
Tenant Improvement Costs Are Diverging by Region in 2026
TI costs are not converging. They are pulling apart. Northeast markets now run 25-45% above national average, while other regions show different dynamics. Your TI budget can't be one number anymore.
Where Retail Growth Is Concentrated in 2026: Off-Price, Beauty, and Discount
Telsey Advisory Group's 2026 forecast points to a narrow band of categories driving most new store openings. The concentration tells you where the operational pressure will land.