Coming off the retail real estate industry's largest annual gathering in Las Vegas, CRE360 Partners is reporting a clear shift in how communities approach retail growth: municipalities are no longer waiting for development to come to them. Across roughly 100 meetings at the show, the firm's team saw cities and economic development authorities acting as proactive dealmakers — recruiting specific retailers, matching them to land and partners, and offering to fast-track approvals. The marketplace increasingly calls it "community-centric development."

From the Sidelines to the Negotiating TableFor years, municipalities fielded proposals rather than driving them. That has changed. Cities now arrive informed about entitlements, timelines and the economics that make a project work. Many approach retailers and developers directly, identify available sites, and commit to moving projects through approvals quickly. Sitting close to local activity, they often know about closures and openings before the broader market does.

"I've been to more than 20 of these shows, and I've never seen municipalities show up like this," said Ken Jacobs, Director of Real Estate at CRE360 Partners. "The mayor, the consultants, the whole team — they came with an agenda. They're telling us what their communities want and asking how we can help them get it done."

Beyond the Grocery Anchor

The ask has broadened, too. The daily-needs grocer remains the foundation of most viable retail development, but cities are now recruiting health, wellness and recreation uses — urgent care and other medical-retail formats, pickleball, tennis and similar amenities. The logic mirrors the "last-mile" strategy that reshaped grocery: get as close to where people live as possible."

These municipalities are proactively pursuing what their communities are demanding," said Karen Sebastian, Director of Real Estate Transactions at CRE360 Partners. "They're seeking out the right retailers, helping line up land and partners, and offering to move it through the process quickly. The opportunity for us is to come to them with the research that shows which retailers actually fit their community — and then help make it happen."

Why Research-Backed Recruitment Wins

As communities grow more sophisticated, they value data over wish lists. A city may want a marquee specialty grocer, but the demographics don't always support it. CRE360 uses trade-area research and a gravity-model sales forecast — built to match the methodology grocers use internally, and typically accurate to within roughly 5% — to identify the retailers a community can realistically attract, then builds a leasing strategy around that anchor. A credible forecast also moves a deal to the front of the line with decision-makers who may see 20 to 50 submissions in a week.

That pairing of in-house research with hands-on transaction execution helps municipalities and developers pursue a realistic tenant lineup rather than chase an unviable one.

"When you put a sales forecast in front of a decision-maker that shows a store will perform, it moves mountains," said Kevin Bissell, SVP of Real Estate Research at CRE360 Partners. "Municipalities understand that now. They don't just want a name on a list — they want proof that a retailer and their community are the right fit. That's exactly the work we do.

"A Broader Development ReboundAfter several years of limited ground-up activity, development is returning as capital becomes more accessible and demand strengthens, with particular momentum across the South and a warming Midwest. CRE360 expects research-led, community-centric planning to play a defining role in which projects move forward.

CRE 360 Partners, a premier full-service commercial real estate consulting firm, reported that retailers are entering 2026 with a disciplined, "quality over quantity" expansion strategy following ICSC New York 2025. Retailers remain active and are using data to prioritize high-quality locations, strong underlying fundamentals and analytics-backed site selection.

"What we're seeing isn't contraction. It's concentration. Retailers are expanding into locations that data has already proven will perform, reshaping how growth decisions are made," said Sam Collier, Managing Director at CRE 360 Partners.

Market Signals Point to Strategic Growth Opportunities

Retailers and landlords are navigating 2026 with discipline and clarity. Key market signals include:

• Disciplined Retail Expansion: Retailers have open-to-buy programs, with grocery operators actively pursuing new locations and relying more heavily on data-backed site validation.
• Value and Discount Momentum: Consumer trade-down is driving strong growth among value and discount retailers, creating opportunities for landlords to reposition tenant mixes toward more resilient categories.
• Data Driven Decision Making: AI and predictive analytics are accelerating decisions, enabling retailers to right-size stores and landlords to refine tenant mix with greater precision.
• Limited New Development: Constrained retail development is sharpening site selection, with retailers and developers seeking greater certainty before advancing new projects.
• More Collaborative Deal Structures: Landlords are increasingly offering rent support, tenant improvement participation and test-and-learn arrangements to attract high-potential concepts and accelerate leasing.

"ICSC New York demonstrated that this is an exciting time for retail real estate," said Kevin Bissell, Senior Vice President of Real Estate Research at CRE 360 Partners. "These conditions create opportunity for those with the intelligence to act decisively."

The message from the show was clear: success belongs to those who combine strategic vision with tactical precision as retailers expand and supply remains limited.

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CRE 360 Partners, a premier full-service commercial real estate consulting firm, achieved two key milestones in the past year, sourcing more than 35 retail sites and completing over 40 market studies. As retailers race for prime locations, landlords compete for tenants and municipalities seek investment, the firm differentiates itself by combining data-driven insights with white-glove service to help clients grow strategically.

Powering Growth Strategies

CRE 360 Partners' site selection and deal services have become a trusted resource for brands growing nationwide.

• National athletic retailer: Secured 13 opportunities in one state this year, making CRE 360 Partners a top-producing firm in the client's representation network.
  
  
• PickleRage: Delivered upwards of 20 site locations in three quarters, fueling PickleRage's rapid pickleball club expansion nationwide across corporate and franchisee locations.

"Being named a top U.S. producer in under a year shows the strength of our model," said Sam Collier, Managing Director at CRE 360 Partners. "By pairing analytics with execution, we give clients the speed and certainty to capture growth."

Data-Backed Decisions

CRE 360 Partners' research services are meant to provide the clarity leaders need for high-stakes decisions. Recent projects include:

• Identifying trade areas with untapped demand.
  
  
• Equipping municipalities with retail attraction studies to strengthen pitches to national retailers.
  
  
• Validating site viability with advanced demographic and competitive analytics.

"Our research focuses on taking the guesswork out of expansion," said Kevin Bissell, Senior Vice President of Real Estate Research at CRE 360 Partners. "We help clients avoid missteps and position properties for long-term success."

National Reach, White-Glove Service

Unlike firms tied to a regional footprint, CRE 360 Partners operates nationally, giving clients the scale to grow quickly while providing personalized guidance at every step. Each engagement is a strategic partnership with leadership involvement.

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CRE 360 Partners, a premier, full-service commercial real estate consulting firm, is pleased to announce the hire of Kevin Bissell as Senior Vice President of Real Estate Research, where he will lead research initiatives to help clients identify and capitalize on growth opportunities in retail real estate.

Kevin brings over 35 years of experience in real estate research and site selection, with a proven ability to assist clients across the retail real estate industry in maximizing growth potential. His career includes leadership roles at American Stores, Albertsons, Weingarten Realty Investors, and MTN Advisors. He specializes in market strategy, site selection analytics, and delivering actionable insights that drive success in retail and grocery sectors nationwide.

"Kevin's expertise in real estate research and analytics is unparalleled," said Fred Battisti, Managing Principal of CRE 360 Partners. "His ability to navigate complex market challenges and provide strategic guidance makes him an exceptional addition to our team. We are thrilled to have him join CRE 360 Partners as we continue supporting our clients' success."

In this role, Kevin will oversee a team of analysts dedicated to serving clients in the retail and grocery sectors. He will focus on providing white-glove, high-quality research and consulting to empower landlords, retailers and municipalities with data and insights to make informed decisions and achieve their business goals.

"I'm excited to join the team," said Bissell. "I look forward to leveraging my experience to deliver exceptional value to clients and help them turn market data into strategic advantage."

Focused on solving the complex challenges of the retail real estate industry, CRE 360 Partners delivers expert research, consulting, and transaction representation services. By leveraging data-driven insights and tailored strategies, it empowers clients to enhance site performance, refine market approaches, and drive long-term success.

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