by bobangus

Did you ever stop to think just how many different types of retail property are available for sale or for lease? There are almost as many different types of retail property for sale and retail property for lease as there are retailers. Retail property is a broad category encompassing many different types of retail buildings and shopping centers, each with different characteristics designed to support different retail operations. In searching for retail for sale or retail for lease, it is useful to have a basic understanding of the differences between various retail and shopping center types.

Community Retail Centers
Community retail centers are a mainstay of U.S. retail activity found in most suburban shopping areas. They typically range in size from 100,000 square feet to 350,000 square feet and offer a wider range of apparel and other soft goods than smaller neighborhood retail centers. Among the more common “big box” or retail spaces found in community retail centers are supermarkets, super drugstores and discount department stores such as Target or Sears. Community retail center tenants sometimes include value-oriented big-box category dominant retailers selling such items as apparel, home improvement/furnishings, toys, electronics or sporting goods. These shopping centers are usually configured in a straight line (or strip) with extensive surface parking. They may also be built in an “L” or “U” shape, depending on the site and design.

Lifestyle Retail Centers:
Lifestyle retail centers are a relatively new addition to the commercial property market. Often located near affluent residential neighborhoods, this type of retail property caters primarily to “lifestyle” shoppers, those that enjoy shopping as entertainment or a leisure activity focused on the experience of shopping rather than on convenience or necessity products. Lifestyle retail centers have an open-air configuration and typically include a variety of upscale national apparel and specialty chain stores. They measure between 150,000 square feet to 500,000 square feet. Among the elements that differentiate lifestyle retail centers from other retail space are qualities that make it a multi-purpose leisure-time destination, including upscale or trendy restaurants and entertainment, as well as onsite design elements as fountains, abundant landscaping and outdoor seating areas.

Super Regional and Regional Centers:
Super-regional and regional retail centers are the largest types of retail spaces and include the enclosed mall formats many shoppers are familiar with. A regional retail center includes stores offering a wide variety of shopping goods, general merchandise, apparel and home furnishings. Most are built around a full-line department store with a minimum gross leasing area of 100,000 square feet and may range from 300,000 square feet to more than 1,000,000 square feet. Regional centers in excess of 750,000 square feet GLA with three or more department stores are considered Super Regional retail centers and draw shoppers from a larger population base. Typical configuration is an enclosed mall, frequently with multi-levels. Parking may also be structured to accommodate the sheer size of the center. Super-regional shopping centers range in size from 800,000 square feet and up.

Related Retailer Articles

by bobangus

Did you ever stop to think just how many different types of retail property are available for sale or for lease? There are almost as many different types of retail property for sale and retail property for lease as there are retailers. Retail property is a broad category encompassing many different types of retail buildings and shopping centers, each with different characteristics designed to support different retail operations. In searching for retail for sale or retail for lease, it is useful to have a basic understanding of the differences between various retail and shopping center types.

Community Retail Centers
Community retail centers are a mainstay of U.S. retail activity found in most suburban shopping areas. They typically range in size from 100,000 square feet to 350,000 square feet and offer a wider range of apparel and other soft goods than smaller neighborhood retail centers. Among the more common “big box” or retail spaces found in community retail centers are supermarkets, super drugstores and discount department stores such as Target or Sears. Community retail center tenants sometimes include value-oriented big-box category dominant retailers selling such items as apparel, home improvement/furnishings, toys, electronics or sporting goods. These shopping centers are usually configured in a straight line (or strip) with extensive surface parking. They may also be built in an “L” or “U” shape, depending on the site and design.

Lifestyle Retail Centers:
Lifestyle retail centers are a relatively new addition to the commercial property market. Often located near affluent residential neighborhoods, this type of retail property caters primarily to “lifestyle” shoppers, those that enjoy shopping as entertainment or a leisure activity focused on the experience of shopping rather than on convenience or necessity products. Lifestyle retail centers have an open-air configuration and typically include a variety of upscale national apparel and specialty chain stores. They measure between 150,000 square feet to 500,000 square feet. Among the elements that differentiate lifestyle retail centers from other retail space are qualities that make it a multi-purpose leisure-time destination, including upscale or trendy restaurants and entertainment, as well as onsite design elements as fountains, abundant landscaping and outdoor seating areas.

Super Regional and Regional Centers:
Super-regional and regional retail centers are the largest types of retail spaces and include the enclosed mall formats many shoppers are familiar with. A regional retail center includes stores offering a wide variety of shopping goods, general merchandise, apparel and home furnishings. Most are built around a full-line department store with a minimum gross leasing area of 100,000 square feet and may range from 300,000 square feet to more than 1,000,000 square feet. Regional centers in excess of 750,000 square feet GLA with three or more department stores are considered Super Regional retail centers and draw shoppers from a larger population base. Typical configuration is an enclosed mall, frequently with multi-levels. Parking may also be structured to accommodate the sheer size of the center. Super-regional shopping centers range in size from 800,000 square feet and up.

Related Retailer Articles