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Welcome to Shopping
Center Solutions. Shopping centers have been an essential part of human civilization dating back to the first gatherings of
mankind. When early man chose not to grow his own crops or take responsibilty for hunting his own dinner, shops developed
to permit trading of essential goods. The desert caravans stopped at the oases, which developed a spacial structure incorporating
local merchants. The first villages had commercial shops centrally located along primary routes.
In recent history,
shopping centers have evolved into efficient merchandising pavillions. The rapid increase in new development distant from
core cities after World War II gave rise to the suburban neighborhood shopping center. In the 1950s, the regional mall was
developed. Subsequently, power centers populated with big box retailers evolved. More recently, lifestyle centers have become
the desired development format in higher income neighborhoods, while regional scale discount-anchored super stores increasingly
dominate moderate and middle income communities. In high density locations in Europe and Asia, multi story comparison shopping
complexes are developed, recognizing high land values. And in many older downtowns, a retail rennaisance is underway in response
to increased urban housing development or tourism.
Tenants are constantly changing, evolving, disappearing, and consolidating
in a fiercely competitive environment. Add the internet to the competitive mix, and retail tenants frequently struggle to
survive.
Continued changes in the shopping center industry have led to new store formats and merchandising space requirements.
Older centers often become functionally obsolete and cannot compete. Other locations evolve to newer formats but require substantial
restructuring and repositioning.
Scott MacDonald has spent over 30 years in the business of real estate development
and operations including the last two decades in the shopping center industry. He has served as CEO or President\COO of four
major companies and executed turn-around strategies at all four. Shopping Center Solutions is a vehicle to provide his insights
and knowledge to a select number of clients. Thank you for visiting this site.
If you desire to contact Scott, please
email him at scottm@shoppingcentersolutions.com.
You may also visit his blog, Essays on Life, at http://smacnotes.blogspot.com.
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