RETAIL RESET: THE FUTURE OF SHOPPING MALLS

JUNE 10, 2021 by the Smith Group

In the 1970s and 80s, Americans of all ages flocked to suburban shopping malls in droves. Not only did these centers offer retail, dining, and entertainment opportunities abound, they also served the as beloved community and gathering spaces. According to statistica.com, America had 30,000 shopping malls in 1970 and an astounding 116,000 shopping malls by 2017. However, as the 2000s gave rise to online retailers and sparked an evolution in consumer preferences, the once-bustling establishments steadily declined in popularity. Many retail outlets never recovered from this slide. As scores of brick-and-mortar retailers continued to downsize or fold entirelywith a new wave of companies failing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and more projected to followcommunities that once housed these iconic destinations were left with a surplus of vacant properties. Today, developers and design partners with an eye on the future are coming together to reimagine how these facilities can create a new generation of mixed-use opportunities.

A quintessential transit-oriented development (TOD), L'Enfant Plaza is a mix of retail, restaurants, office space, and residential apartment buildings.

Opportunities Abound

While tenants may have closed up shop, malls have again captured the eye of innovative urban planners, developers and design firms. Thanks to their inherently nostalgic community vibe and proximity to nearby urban and suburban locales, retail centers across the U.S. have the potential to be a key component within a new generation of adaptive reuse and mixed-use development models.

Designed to accommodate multiple tenants and uses, these properties are generally equipped with the acreage, square footage, and infrastructure necessary to support a diverse collection of purposes. As such, they are aptly suited to bring together an exciting new array of commercial, retail, and lifestyle functions within a centralized location. Emerging uses for spaces within or adjacent to redeveloped shopping mall facilities include:

Multi-tenant office suites

Service-oriented suites, medical offices, clinics, Department of Motor Vehicles registration renewal centers, etc.

Civic spaces, library branches, post offices, etc.

Urban technology & research centers

Educational (satellite) campuses

Entertainment destinations

Lifestyle-focused environments

Fitness centers

Multi-family housing

Warehouse and logistics facilities

and much, much more

SmithGroup is partnering with clients in California, Arizona, Virginia, and numerous places across the country to revive shopping and retail spaces and advance new models in adaptive reuse and mixed-use development. Following is a preview of a few recent adaptive reuses, redevelopment, and repositioning initiatives that have been in the works.

Conceptual rendering for a potential mixed-use redevelopment project in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Urban Technology & Research Centers

One area where we see unique transformational opportunities for retail properties is in the creation of mixed-use technology-centered hubs.

Demand for life science and biotechnology spaces is predicted to rise following the COVID-19 pandemic. Shopping malls, with their expansive floor plates, elevated floor-to-ceiling heights, and robust mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services infrastructures provide a compelling canvas for transformation.

San Diego is one of the nation's top-three life science clusters and home to a rapidly expanding footprint of tech firms. As such, it is poised for a surge in near- to long-term growth in this arena. Developers such as Stockdale Capital Partners are exploring opportunities to convert vacant retail spaces and anchor tenants to address market expansion needs.

SmithGroup's design teams worked with Stockdale Capital Partners to study the redevelopment of portions of a former Nordstrom store as part of a $500 million mixed-use office and campus for elite technology tenants.

Dr. Multimedia, a San Diego-based digital marketing organization serving healthcare clients, opted to locate its operation in the heart of a redeveloped retail space.

Non-Traditional Tenant Suites

For other organizations, the appeal of being co-located near the many amenities and services that redeveloping retail centers have to offer has made lease space within malls an attractive option.

"Some clients thrive on the energy and vibe that naturally accompanies being located within a retail environment," says Megan Skaalen, Workplace & Mixed-Use Studio Leader at SmithGroup's San Diego office. "Employees enjoy having access to the range of dining options and services that malls provide. There are so many opportunities to socialize and connect with one another before, during, or after work."

While Americans have been spending more time shopping online and staying at home in recent years, the conversion of big box outlets, warehouses, and other retail locations into state-of-the-art entertainment venues could also play a role in the redevelopment and transformation of shopping malls. These settingsfilled with attractions and interactive gameswould operate alongside other music, art, culture, and dining establishments, creating a network of vibrant gathering spaces with multi-generational appeal.

"Advancements in technology and access to digital streaming, gaming platforms and high-tech equipment have made it easy for people to enjoy a broad range of entertainment opportunities from the comfort of their homes," said Michelle Ray, Workplace & Mixed-Use Studio Leader at SmithGroup's Phoenix office. "Yes, it's convenient. But people still have an innate desire to connect with one another and participate in real, lasting, shared experiences that can't be recreated at home."

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for human-centric, live, and experiential entertainment opportunities are predicted to soar. From multi-sensory art installations, light shows and concerts to cooking and wine tasting classes, arcade-style game rooms, interactive themed hotels, and things we haven't yet imagined, people will be in search of places and activities that provide memorable, immersive experiences. Shopping malls of the past have great potential to house these destinations of the future.

As lifestyle-focused environments continue to rise in popularity, The Wharf brings together a mix of hospitality, entertainment, mixed-use and office spaces.

Lifestyle-focused environments

Planners, designers, and developers continue to see rising demand in both urban and suburban centers for mixed-use spaces that conveniently bring together residential, commercial, retail, entertainment and experiential opportunitiesideally within walkable distances. Some contend that shopping malls could be converted to serve as an integral component of such developments. Perhaps they could be outfitted with offices or shared co-working spaces that are adjacent to new residential developments.

Warehouse & Logistics Centers

Now, this topic tends to spark a great deal of debate within the design and development community. Organizations like Amazon have been snapping up shuttered malls and converting them into warehouse and distribution centers that support supply chain and fulfillment processes. Some of our design and development colleagues and partners support this model, citing that the transformed facilities play an important role in a region's economic engine. Others vehemently oppose the process of converting malls into fulfillment centers, arguing that it is a disservice to communities, robbing residents of important and much-needed community and gathering spaces.

Thoughtfully designed, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes further enhance the appeal of mixed-use and urban redevelopment projects.

Bottom Line

The market is ripe with opportunities to bring renewed life and purpose to shopping malls of the past. As the country settles into a new post-pandemic era of... everything...Americans' preferences regarding where and how they live, work, shop, and play will also continue to evolve. These shifting philosophies will certainly influence redevelopment and reuse strategies, as will geography, demographics, and political and community support. While the scope and programmatic elements of redevelopment and repositioning efforts will vary drastically based upon region, all will have undeniable, positive impacts that help reinvigorate communities. Whether public and private entities will choose to see the value and benefits that could emerge from taking on these projects is yet to be determined.

Question

list and explain in explicit detail 3 major trends discussed in this article associated with shifts in consumer demands related to place or convenience.

In the New Sudbury Mall, there is an independent hair salon. Applying what you learned from this article, provide two recommendations to help sustain their business as mall traffic continues to decrease.