Retail Mix Changes Drive Property Performance

By Courtney Rivera 30/08/2026 2 min read 8 views

Retail property performance is shifting as the tenant mix that defined success for two decades no longer reflects modern consumer behavior. Foot traffic data shows a structural, long-term decline in visits to apparel stores, while categories like fitness, med-spas, food and beverage, and off-price retailers are capturing that demand. These new anchor categories are building the consistent, repeat visitation that now underwrites the financial performance of retail properties.

What’s Changing in the Footprint

The shift in consumer habits is not a temporary blip but a structural change in how people move through shopping centers. Owners and operators face the challenge of adapting to this new reality, which requires a departure from traditional retail models. Placer.ai is hosting a complimentary webinar to unpack these fundamental shifts using full foot traffic data.

Attendees will explore what has changed, why it has changed, and what it means for their portfolios. The event will focus on identifying the three primary accelerants driving the structural shift in tenant demand and visit frequency. The session aims to provide a data-backed look at how different retail formats have successfully rebalanced their category mix to attract modern consumers.

Metrics for the New Era

Underwriting tenant success and overall center performance is moving toward visit frequency as the new anchor metric. Property owners are learning to leverage this data to build a profitable and realistic tenant mix. This includes utilizing format-specific playbooks and trade-area income thresholds to ensure long-term viability.

Implementing a clear set of actions over the next 12–24 months is essential for optimizing a property’s performance and value. The goal is to help owners avoid getting left behind with an outdated strategy. The webinar is designed to provide the insights needed to build a resilient and high-performing retail property for the future.

Joining the session is R.J. Hottovy, CFA, Head of Analytical Research for Placer.ai. He has covered the restaurant, retail, and e-commerce sectors for nearly 20 years. Prior to his current role, he held several analyst positions, including Global Consumer Equity Strategist at Morningstar and equity analyst roles at William Blair & Co. and Deutsche Bank.

Hottovy also brings a wealth of experience with early-stage investments as an investor and member of the investment committee for the IrishAngels Venture Capital group. He has worked with more than 100 early-stage consumer and technology companies, advising on more than $200 million in capital raises and other buy- and sell-side M&A transactions. Hottovy is also a member of the Chicago Seed Co. network, a group of Chicago-area investors focused on early-stage food & beverage companies.