COVID-19 Continues to Change the Retail Real Estate Landscape 

 

On this episode of Dirt Work, we were joined by Austin Clinkscales, Principal at Ladera Properties, a real estate developer, investment firm and operator focused on the retail sector in Texas and Oklahoma, to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted that already ever-changing retail real estate market. Retail is a tough business because of inherent limitations to control consumer behavior and has been impacted by many market shifts in the last several decades including the dot-com boom, the 08/09 recession and the emergence of retail alternatives such as e-commerce.

Clinkscales believes that the silver lining of the coronavirus disruption is opportunities created by reduced competition going after new development opportunities as others in the market are working to control pandemic-related damage to their existing portfolios.

COVID-19 has continued to change the retail landscape across malls, power-centers (e.g. shopping centers anchored by a Walmart, Target, etc.), neighborhood retail and restaurants. While the nuances impacting each vertical differ Clinkscales believes that liquidity, technology, health, and general ability to increase consumer confidence will separate the winners and losers following the pandemic. For listeners interested in learning more about changes in the retail section, Austin recommends CBRE’s Global Retail Research channel.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Engineering
Engineering Education Needs to Be Human-Centered, Purpose-Driven, and Grounded in Real-World Problem Solving
May 11, 2026

Student disengagement, the rapid rise of AI, and shifting workforce expectations are pushing higher education to rethink how it prepares graduates. Engineering programs—long defined by rigor and technical depth—are now under pressure to stay relevant, improve retention, and produce graduates who can actually solve real-world problems, not just theoretical ones. And the numbers back…

Read More
Solo Stove
From Fire Pits to Outdoor Rituals: How Solo Stove Is Building a Lifestyle Brand Through Differentiation and Design
May 8, 2026

The backyard has become more than a place to grill, sit, or pass through on the way back inside. Increasingly, it is being treated as an extension of the home itself: a gathering place, a design statement, and a stage for the small rituals that bring people together. Solo Stove has leaned into that…

Read More
faith
Crafted Journey How To: Aligning Faith, Leadership and Career Purpose Without Losing Sight of What Matters Most
May 5, 2026

Professionals are increasingly questioning whether career success alone can deliver meaning, identity and long-term fulfillment. Coaching has moved beyond productivity hacks into deeper questions of purpose, faith and human flourishing, especially for leaders who want their work to create impact without becoming their entire identity. Research has consistently found a strong business case for…

Read More
AI adoption strategy
The AI Reality Check: Why AI Adoption Strategy, Not Tools, Will Decide the Winners
May 5, 2026

Artificial intelligence has moved from novelty to necessity almost overnight. Since generative AI tools entered the mainstream just a few years ago, organizations across every industry have felt pressure to “do something” with AI—often before they fully understand what that something should be. Research shows that while most companies are experimenting with AI, very…

Read More