Web-Proof Services Are Attracting Landlord Interest as Some Retailers Falter
Last month I served on a panel at ICSC’s PA/NJ/DE Conference and Dealmaking event in Atlantic City. My group’s discussion focused on non-traditional tenants and their growing popularity in commercial retail leasing. On the four-person panel, I was the sole spokesman for the landlord side, with the rest of the members representing non-traditional tenants who lease space (or want to lease) in shopping centers. As might be expected, they were all attracted by the visibility, convenience and traffic a popular shopping center offers. They want to be where the customers are. No surprise there.
At Levin, we have many non-traditional tenants under lease – fitness centers, health services, day care providers, gaming centers, and, of course, restaurants. Not long ago, like most managers in the business of commercial retail leasing, we were reluctant to go with tenants other than more traditional retailers. That’s changed big time. I’d like to tell you why non-traditionals are now on our A-list.
Behind the Trend #1: Non-Traditional Tenants Are Amazon-Proof
While many retailers are struggling against branded online stores and behemoths like Amazon, service businesses face no web-based competition at all. WebMD can’t stitch up a cut. YouTube videos are no substitute for a Nautilus circuit or Spin class. You can’t leave your toddler with babytv.com while you work. You get the point. Services and experiences can’t be provided by the Internet (at least not yet). We in commercial retail leasing like that. We’re looking for tenants that are fiscally solid and likely to stay that way.
Behind the Trend #2: Service Businesses Drive Traffic
In our era of the time-starved lifestyle, people look to consolidate as many of their errands and activities as possible. A shopping center that offers the opportunity to combine a fitness session with grocery shopping and a prescription refill will draw traffic, benefitting multiple tenants and attracting new ones. Our grocery tenants, for example, report a substantial flow of customers from their fitness center neighbors. That’s a win-win-win for the tenants, landlord and shoppers.
Behind the Trend #3: Long Leases and Solid Financials
Non-traditional tenants typically seek longer leases, often because of the higher construction costs due to the more extensive build-outs they initially require. They also tend to be stronger financially and have better credit than many of today’s retailers. Both these qualities make them a highly desirable addition to the tenant mix.
Non-Traditionals Do Pose Some Challenges in Retail Leasing
Since nothing’s perfect, we have to consider the challenges that these businesses – appealing as they are – present. The most common is parking. A fitness center user, for example, may tie up two hours of parking space per visit. We’re always very careful to assure that there’s adequate parking before any new lease is signed. Another roadblock may be image. Some specialized medical centers, for example, can seem out of place among the existing mix of restaurants, boutiques and entertainment providers. We’re sensitive about overall image and have declined some prospective tenants that weren’t a good “fit.”
At Levin-Managed Properties Non-Traditionals Are Here to Stay
Our portfolio has many fitness centers, which are now considered mainstream uses in today’s shopping centers. Levin-managed properties are home to most of the major national brands, including Blink, Crunch, LA Fitness, Leisure, Snap and Planet Fitness.
More health services are coming on board with us. We just signed a lease for 2,500 square feet at our Mayfair Shopping Center (Commack, NY) with GoHealth, a walk-in clinic. This medical services model is growing rapidly, with a third of the new establishments situated in shopping centers. We expect to see more of them as Levin tenants in the near future. Physical therapy services are interested in shopping center space, too. A Kessler rehab is located in our Aldrich Plaza (Howell, NJ).
Daycare (Apple Hill Academy and C2 Education Center), postal services and even a vet, along with restaurants and the popular gaming chain Dave & Buster’s evidence Levin’s interest in cultivating this new segment in commercial retail leasing. Non-traditional tenants meet the needs of today’s consumers – and even boost business for our traditional retailers. A combination that works quite well
