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By: Joe Miller, MAI, MRICS
In an era where traditional retail anchors are losing their gravitational pull, a new wave of lifestyle-driven concepts is stepping into the spotlight. Shuffleboard clubs, pickleball venues, and food halls tucked inside casinos are no longer fringe experiments. They’re becoming the heartbeat of retail revitalization. Casinos themselves are increasingly serving as multi-dimensional anchors, blending gaming, dining, shopping, and entertainment experiences that draw diverse audiences
These concepts are more than just novelties. They represent a strategic pivot toward experiential retail, a segment that continues to show resilience even as regional malls face mounting pressure from store closures and shifting consumer habits. While grocery-anchored centers and long-term net lease properties remain investor favorites, it's the unexpected rise of entertainment-infused retail that’s capturing attention in both media and client conversations.
One of the most compelling aspects of these new retail formats is their ability to drive foot traffic and increase dwell time. Shuffleboard clubs and pickleball courts offer social engagement and physical activity, while casinos drive consistent traffic and extend dwell time, creating a halo effect for adjacent tenants. These venues are targeted destinations, drawing visitors who may not be there to shop, but who linger, explore, and share their experiences online.
Although a surge in foot traffic doesn’t always translate into proportional spending, many of these concepts are designed to enhance the overall property experience, not necessarily to boost direct retail sales. That said, their presence can elevate the value of adjacent tenants and contribute to a more vibrant ecosystem.
Rather than replacing traditional anchors, landlords are increasingly backfilling long-vacant spaces with high-engagement concepts, especially in secondary markets where retail demand has softened. Successful conversions include casinos, medical offices, entertainment venues, logistics hubs, and select educational uses. While educational tenants can be hit or miss, others have proven effective in stabilizing occupancy and driving traffic.
In contrast, top-tier markets continue to favor more generalized retail tenants for backfilling, maintaining a conservative approach to tenant mix. In places where risk tolerance is higher and innovation is welcomed, these lifestyle concepts are thriving.
For landlords, evaluating the return on investment for these concepts requires a broader lens. It’s not just about rent per square foot, it’s about activation, engagement, and long-term viability. These venues often serve as anchors of experience, drawing consistent traffic and creating a halo effect that benefits surrounding tenants.
These concepts also generate indirect returns, enhancing brand visibility, driving social media engagement, and creating a differentiated identity for the property. Their presence often lifts the performance of nearby tenants, creating a synergistic effect that supports long-term viability.
As store closures reshape occupancy and valuation across the sector, landlords are turning to high-engagement concepts to stabilize assets. Zoning is generally flexible in large retail developments, with many adaptive uses, casinos excluded, already permitted.
Anchor transitions can trigger significant legal and financial ripple effects. Many tenants have co-tenancy clauses, and new experiential anchors like casinos or entertainment venues may not meet those terms. If other anchors are also vacant, tenants may opt to vacate or shift to reduced rent or percent-in-lieu arrangements, impacting property cash flow. These clauses often include sunset provisions, allowing tenants to exit entirely after a set period.
As retail evolves, unconventional tenants that bring energy, differentiation, and a sense of place will play a growing role in shaping the next chapter of mall performance.
Partner Valuation Advisors, LLC is a national commercial real estate valuation advisory firm that ranks as a top 10 appraisal firm. Partner Valuation Advisors has more than 100 valuation professionals nationally. Partner Valuation Advisors is led by Brandon Nunnink, CFA, and Eric L. Enloe, MAI, CRE, FRICS. Team members hold appraisal licenses in all 50 states and the firm has offices in Austin, Baltimore, Boise, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Gainesville, Grand Rapids, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Mobile, Myrtle Beach, Naples, New York, Northern New Jersey, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh, San Diego, Seattle, St. George, St. Louis, Tulsa, and Washington, D.C. Partner Valuation Advisors performs commercial real estate valuations nationally for investors, lenders, and real estate occupiers and is an affiliate company of Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. Please visit us online at www.PartnerVal.com.
