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

safer HVAC chemicals
Stronger Training Pipelines and Smarter Social Media Can Help Solve HVAC’s Talent Shortage
June 9, 2026

The skilled trades are at a crossroads. By some industry estimates, for every five experienced technicians retiring, only two new ones are entering the field—highlighting a growing HVAC talent gap. At the same time, buildings are becoming more complex, more connected, and more dependent on high-performance mechanical systems. The stakes are real: without a…

Read More
design
Where Design Meets Durability: Why Commercial Surfaces Must Support Safety, Cleanability, and Long-Term Value
June 8, 2026

When a commercial space fails, it often fails quietly: a lobby floor that becomes slippery when wet, a hotel bathroom that is difficult to clean, a healthcare surface that cannot withstand constant disinfection, or an office finish that looks great until afternoon glare makes the room uncomfortable. These are not purely aesthetic problems; they are…

Read More
creative career
Crafted Journey How To: Building a Creative Career Across Scripts, Stages, and Sound
June 8, 2026

Creative careers rarely move in a straight line, especially for writers working across stage, screen, audio, books, and independent film. Sustaining that kind of life often means finding opportunities wherever they appear, building a strong network, staying open to different formats, and saying yes to collaborations that can lead somewhere unexpected. The stakes are…

Read More
EMR
EMR Strategy, Consulting, and Career Pivots with MedSys Co-Founder Mark Embry
June 8, 2026

Electronic medical records (EMRs) have moved from a back-office upgrade to a frontline determinant of care quality, clinician burnout, and hospital economics. With U.S. hospitals often spending tens to hundreds of millions—sometimes exceeding $100 million—on EMR implementations, the stakes have never been higher for getting both the technology and the human adoption right. As…

Read More