Retail real estate continues to send mixed signals.
Interest rates remain a major topic of conversation, investors are becoming increasingly selective, and consumer sentiment recently fell to one of its lowest readings in decades. Yet vacancy remains low, retailers continue expanding, and demand for quality shopping centers remains strong.
At this year’s ICSC Las Vegas conference, the Criterion team met with brokers, lenders, retailers, and investors from across the country. While every conversation was different, several themes surfaced repeatedly.
In this month’s Criterion newsletter, we break down what we’re hearing in the market and what it could mean for commercial real estate moving forward.
In This Issue:
• Key takeaways from ICSC Las Vegas 2026
• Why grocery-anchored shopping centers continue attracting record demand
• How population growth is shifting beyond major cities
• What investor caution may mean for future opportunities
• Where AI is gaining traction across commercial real estate
• Why retail fundamentals continue outperforming expectations
• Portfolio updates, leasing activity, and projects moving through the pipeline
The most interesting takeaway from ICSC wasn’t a new trend. It was the consistency of the message. Retail fundamentals remain healthy, retailers are still growing, and capital continues looking for quality opportunities despite ongoing uncertainty.
Markets may be changing, but the fundamentals driving long-term retail performance remain largely intact.
Read the full June Criterion Newsletter:
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The Criterion Fund focuses on necessity-based retail real estate investments across growing and secondary markets. By targeting opportunities with strong in-place cash flow and clear value-add potential, Criterion provides investors access to commercial real estate opportunities designed for long-term performance and stability.