Retail Retold

Guy Morris is a legend in the real estate business and in this episode, you will hear why. He started in advertising but quickly realized that real estate was where it was at for him. Guy shares with Chris Ressa his experiences in building a portfolio, the resilience of retail real estate post-COVID, and the current dynamics of the market in New York City. He emphasizes the importance of central b...

Data transparency? Transaction timelines? In this episode of "What's In Store?" Chris Ressa and Karly Iacono discuss what they would love to see improve in CRE. Focusing on the need for data transparency, the inefficiencies in transaction timelines, and the complexity of documentation, they explore potential solutions and innovations that could enhance the industry's efficiency and effectiveness....

If it's happening in CRE in Ohio, Tori Nook is all over it. But her journey to starting her brokerage, Anchor Retail, was definitely unexpected. In this episode of Retail Retold, Chris Ressa and Tori talk about the current state of the retail landscape and the unique characteristics of the Ohio market, where DLC now has four open-air shopping centers. She highlights the challenges and opportunitie...

What do you think you know about measuring foot traffic? In this episode of Retail Retold, Chris Ressa and Carla Henson, Vice President of Solutions at MRI Software discuss the evolution of foot traffic analytics, the integration of AI in retail, and how data can optimize customer experiences. Carla shares insights on the potential of visual AI in understanding consumer behavior and the importance...

What does it take to revive a retail brand? And, have you heard the most incredible grassroots approach to site selection? In this episode of Retail Retold, host Chris Ressa speaks with Stephanie Stuckey, CEO of Stuckey's, about her journey and the rich history of the iconic roadside retailer from its 1937 to its peak during the Great American Road Trip era. She discusses her plans for expansion,...

Will Chris and Karly agree on the impacts of privatization on retail? In this episode, Chris Ressa and Karly Iacono focus on significant deals such as Walgreens' privatization by Sycamore Partners, Nordstrom's strategic move to go private, and Blackstone's acquisition of ROIC. What are the implications of these changes for investors? Plus, they recap the highlights of ICSC OAC from earlier this mo...

Have you ever thought about real estate beneath the stores where you shop? Evan Mouhalis does, and he does it well. In this conversation, Chris Ressa and Evan, a real estate entrepreneur and managing partner of Mahalas Capital Management, discuss Evan's journey from commercial real estate finance to developing retail properties and venturing into the tire business. The conversation covers various...

It'Sugar is more than just a candy store. It's an immersive experience. In this episode of Retail Retold, Chris Ressa interviews Jonathan Schwartz , the Vice President of It'Sugar. Jonathan shares his journey in real estate, detailing his experiences from corporate real estate to leading the real estate department at It's Sugar. He discusses the unique positioning of It's Sugar as more than just a...

In this episode of Retail Retold, host Chris Ressa speaks with Aaron Harris , Vice President of Real Estate and Construction for Dutch Bros Coffee. They discuss the unique drive-thru experience at Dutch Bros, the company's rapid expansion plans, and how they navigated the challenges of the pandemic. Aaron shares insights on the Albuquerque store's opening, the importance of market knowledge, and t...

Can two retail real estate thought leaders really pick five "favorite" retailers? It's like picking a favorite kid! In this episode of 'What's in Store,' hosts Chris Ressa and Karly Iacono do pick some favorites, spotlighting innovative retailers across various categories. They explore the performance of general merchandisers, grocery stores, soft goods, specialty retailers, hard goods, and food a...

In this episode of Retail Retold, host Chris Ressa speaks with Peyton Thomas , Vice President of Construction at Renovo Construction . They discuss Peyton's unique journey from a career in acting to construction, the innovative approaches Renovo takes in the general contracting industry, and the challenges faced during the construction of a Dick's Sporting Goods store in Ithaca, New York. The conv...

In this episode of Retail Retold, host Chris Ressa speaks with bankruptcy counsel Scott Fleischer , partner at Barclay Damon , about the intricacies of retail bankruptcies, focusing on the Chuck E. Cheese case during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss the unique challenges faced by retailers, the role of landlords, and the impact of lender support in bankruptcy outcomes. The conversation also tou...

In this episode of Retail Retold, host Chris Ressa and Travis Farren, Vice President of Leasing at DLC are feeling the vibes of a unique coffee shop that opened at La Frontera Village, just outside of Austin, TX. Putting the customer experience at the center of the shop, the owner was executing on a robust business plan that has set him up for success. With over 20 years in the industry, Travis sh...

This week, host Chris Ressa interviews Josh Suffin, president of RetailStat (formerly CreditIntel), about the evolution of the company, the importance of relationships in retail real estate, and insights into the current state of the industry. Josh shares his journey in the retail sector - he started part time at RetailStat at the age of 15! - the significance of understanding client needs, and th...

Topics: Retail, real estate, consumer spending, holiday sales, health and wellness, gym industry, marketing psychology, e-commerce, value retail, consumer trends In this episode of What's in Store, hosts Chris Ressa and Karly Iacono are in the nitty-gritty of consumer spending trends, holiday sales performance, and the HOT category of health and wellness. They also discuss the psychology behind ma...

In this episode of Retail Retold, Chris Ressa discusses the current state of the retail market, highlighting growth in retail sales and the implications of recent bankruptcies. He shares a detailed case study of a redevelopment project in Lockport, New York, where a vacant Walmart was transformed into a multi-tenant property. Creativity and adaptability are key drivers in commercial real estate. T...

In this episode of ‘Retail Retold’, host Chris Ressa and Charlie Arbing, Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Construction at  Boot Barn , discuss the company’s growth trajectory, marketing strategies, and the importance of partnerships in retail real estate. He highlights the unique positioning of Boot Barn in the Western wear market and the company’s approach to customer segmentation. C...

In this solo episode, Chris Ressa discusses the current state of retail as we enter 2025, focusing on the recent wave of bankruptcies among both traditional and e-commerce retailers. He highlights the challenges faced by digitally native brands and the significant market opportunities that arise from the struggles of larger retailers. Ressa emphasizes the importance of understanding consumer behav...

In this episode, host Chris Ressa takes a look at the world of retail security. Sedgwick Davis, co-owner of Myles Davis Protective Services, joins Chris and shares his extensive background in security, transitioning from executive protection to retail security, and discusses the founding of his company. What is driving Myles' success is their dedication to quality service, understanding community...

In this episode of 'What's in Store', hosts Karly Iacono, Senior Vice President at CBRE, and Chris Ressa, COO at DLC, discuss their key takeaways from ICSC New York 2024. Creativity in deal-making, the importance of long-term strategies like five-year plans, the evolving use of retail space, market shifts towards grocery growth in the Northeast, and the aggressive expansion of mature retailers are...

Guest: Maria Pope Toliopoulos Topics: retail, sales reporting, leasing, tenant rights, exclusives, broker fees, leasing process, online sales, physical stores, real estate In this special live episode of Retail Retold, Chris Ressa and Maria Toliopoulos, Senior Vice President of Global Retail at Ashle y Global Retail, debate the complexities of retail leasing. At RetailStat's annual panel event lea...

In this Retail Retold Replay, we revisit Chris Ressa and Karly Iacono's top five predictions for retail real estate in 2024. They explore the dominance of suburban markets, the increasing focus on sustainability in retail properties, the shift towards flexible store sizes, the muted development pipeline, and the optimistic outlook for deal-making in the coming year. The conversation highlights the...

In this episode of What's in Store, hosts Chris Ressa and Dana Telsey , founder of the Telsey Advisory Group , about the current state of retail, emerging trends, and predictions for the future. They discuss product trends, holiday sales forecasts, the impact of marketing on consumer behavior, and the significance of leadership changes in the retail sector. Telsey shares insights on consumer spend...

In this episode of What's in Store, hosts Chris Ressa and Karly Iacono take a look into the latest headlines in retail mergers. What's happening with Amazon Fresh's comeback in the grocery sector? And what's the story behind WH Smith's ambitious expansion into U.S. airports? What are the implications of the paused Kroger-Albertson's merger, the blocked Tapestry-Capri Holdings deal, and what's on t...

In this episode of Retail Retold, host Chris Ressa and David Saltman, CEO of LeasePilot, CEO of LeasePilot, a contract drafting platform focused on the real estate industry. They discuss the intricacies of commercial lease drafting, the role of automation and AI in improving efficiency, and the future of contract generation. David explains how LeasePilot streamlines the drafting process, reduces h...