To Mall or Un-Mall?

by | Apr 26, 2012

Old Town Alexandria, VA Crocker Park Shopping Center, Westlake, OH For some time I have wanted to compare a real town shopping district  to one of the fakes that are popping up around the country.    We humans have this acute sense of the authentic, leading me to ask,...

From Static Design to Dynamic Update

by | Apr 16, 2012

Theatrics in display merchandising can be very effective if applied in moderation and arranged for maximum impact.   So what has gone so wrong? Red and black plays to the idea of drama, but here it is overwhelming.  Students often fall into the trap of designing...

“Cafe Incognito”

by | Mar 19, 2012

<►>View from North West New shop owners, even those who are very successful, would do themselves a favor by looking at pictures of their storefronts taken from several directions.  When this recently opened cafe is put to such a photo test, it becomes...

It is all about visibility.

by | Mar 2, 2012

Shopping mall tenants are not the only ones who worry about site lines.  Strip mall owners know that positioning the storefront facade to optimize drive by visibility will surely impact whether the center succeeds on not.  It is even more important than maximizing...

The good location gone bad trap.

by | Feb 25, 2012

Even the most sophisticated retailers can get caught in the good location gone bad trap.  One potential mine field in this regard has to do with locations that are being leased in newly built or renovated centers.  The landlord’s leasing agent will show off the site ...