Velocity Retail Group

The Pet Care Boom Is Reshaping Retail - Are You Paying Attention? In 2025, pet ownership is at an all-time high, and so is the demand for faster, more accessible veterinary care. With 87 million U.S. households owning pets and over $38 billion spent on vet services last year, the industry is shifting fast—and retail real estate is feeling the impact. Walk-in pet clinics like PetWellClinic, Banfield Pet Hospital, and PetSmart Veterinary Services are disrupting the traditional vet model, offering convenient, affordable, and appointment-free care. In Phoenix alone, PetWellClinic is scaling up from 3 to 16 locations, proving that demand for pet healthcare is skyrocketing. What does this mean for retail real estate? ? High-foot-traffic tenants that drive repeat visits ? Recession-resistant businesses with long lease terms ? Increased property values in shopping centers anchored by essential services At Velocity Retail Group, we’re seeing pet healthcare clinics become a core tenant category in modern retail developments. The first PetWellClinic in Phoenix Metro is now part of our Shoppes at 50C listing in Ahwatukee—further proof that this trend is here to stay. The pet healthcare revolution is just beginning. More locations, more investment, and more growth opportunities are on the horizon. Are you ready for it? Read more about the pet care boom and what it means for retail property and check out our listing for Shoppes at 50C: https://lnkd.in/gDAWpFkt #PetCareBoom #RetailRealEstate #VeterinaryTrends #CommercialRealEstate #RetailTrends #PhoenixRealEstate #PetIndustry #RetailLeasing #PetHealthcare

?????? ???????????????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????? Once a bustling shopping center at Scottsdale Rd and McDowell, Los Arcos Mall was a retail icon in the Valley from 1969 to 1999. But like many malls of its era, changing consumer habits and competition from Scottsdale Fashion Square led to its decline. What followed was a rollercoaster of redevelopment plans, from a Phoenix Coyotes hockey arena to a big-box power center - all of which failed amidst community opposition and political battles. Eventually, Arizona State University and the City of Scottsdale took over, transforming the site into SkySong, a thriving tech and innovation hub. How did one of Scottsdale’s most controversial redevelopment projects unfold? What lessons does Los Arcos’ transformation hold for commercial real estate today? Read the full history to learn more! #LosArcosMall #ScottsdaleHistory #RetailEvolution #CommercialRealEstate #RetailTrends #UrbanDevelopment #AdaptiveReuse #SkySong #ScottsdaleAZ #RetailRealEstate #ShoppingMallHistory

Retail’s Shifting Landscape: Closures, Openings, and What’s Next Retail is shifting fast, with store closures outpacing openings over the past year. Nearly 140 million square feet of space is hitting the market as more than 9,900 locations shut down, led by discount stores, drug stores, and apparel retailers - many due to bankruptcy. But it’s not all contraction. More than 7,700 new stores are set to open through early 2025, with restaurants, grocery stores, and select discount brands leading the way. Quick-service and fast-casual restaurants are expanding aggressively, and grocery chains are growing to meet demand. Experience-based retail is taking the lead, with food, fitness, and healthcare leasing more space than traditional retailers. As consumer preferences shift, landlords and developers will need to rethink how to repurpose millions of square feet of vacant space. Are you seeing similar trends in your market? Let us know in the comments below. https://lnkd.in/gUAMZ3eT #RetailTrends #CommercialRealEstate #RetailLeasing #RetailEvolution #ShoppingCenters #CREInsights #RetailRealEstate

Honoring Leadership and Vision this President’s Day Great leadership isn’t just about making decisions - it’s about having the vision to see what’s possible and the determination to make it happen. Today, we recognize the leaders who have shaped our nation’s history and those who continue to inspire progress in business, communities, and beyond. Whether in government, business, or everyday life, strong leadership moves us forward. As we reflect on the past, we also look ahead to the future and the opportunities that come with it. Happy President’s Day! #PresidentsDay #Leadership #Vision #Inspiration

Happy Valentine’s Day from Velocity Retail Group! Today is all about appreciation, whether it’s for your team, your clients, or the partnerships that help drive success. In commercial real estate, strong relationships are everything - built on trust, strategy, and a shared vision for growth. We’re grateful for the incredible people we work with every day, from tenants and landlords to brokers and developers. Your dedication and collaboration make all the difference, and we’re proud to be part of your journey. Wishing you a Valentine’s Day filled with gratitude, success, and maybe a little chocolate along the way! #ValentinesDay #Gratitude #RetailRealEstate

The Office Market is Moving Again - But Where is it Going? It’s been almost five years since COVID-19 upended office leasing, and while we’re not back to pre-pandemic levels, companies are finally making real estate decisions with more confidence. Leasing activity is picking up, and industries that had been on the sidelines, like tech, are stepping back into the game. ? In 2024, the average office lease size increased to 29,774 square feet, reversing a four-year decline. ? Tech leasing rebounded to 17% of total activity, the highest since 2019. ? Renewals still dominate, accounting for 40% of leases, as many companies choose to stay put rather than absorb the cost of a move. But what’s really interesting? Flight-to-quality is still the name of the game. The best office spaces are commanding record-high rents, while commodity office buildings continue to struggle. Companies want vibrant, mixed-use environments - 60% of the top 100 leases in 2024 were in these types of districts, even though they make up just 31% of total inventory. Will demand for premium office space finally trigger new construction? Some experts say it could, but only in fast-growing, highly stabilized markets like Miami and Nashville. Meanwhile, landlords of lower-tier buildings are using record-high tenant-improvement allowances and free rent to lure tenants. And with return-to-office mandates still shifting, the long-term impact on demand remains a big question mark. Where do you see the office market heading in 2025? More rate cuts? More relocations? A resurgence in new development? Let’s discuss. https://lnkd.in/gmEpzaHq #CommercialRealEstate #OfficeLeasing #CRE #WorkplaceTrends #RealEstateInvesting

Welcome Chris Evjen to Velocity Retail Group! We’re excited to welcome Chris Evjen as a Vice President and Account Manager at Velocity Retail Group! With over 25 years of experience in retail real estate, Chris brings deep expertise in market strategy, site selection, and transactions across multiple markets. Working closely with co-founder Darren Pitts, he will support major accounts, coordinate execution teams, and ensure seamless client service. Join us in welcoming Chris to the team! #RetailRealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RetailExpansion #SiteSelection #TenantRepresentation #VelocityRetailGroup #WelcomeToTheTeam

If you’ve spent any time in the retail architecture world, you’ve probably heard the name Robert Kubicek, better known as Kubi. He’s been shaping retail spaces since the 1970s, long before AutoCAD and when grocery stores were a fraction of their current size. His journey? It started with a chance encounter at an ICSC convention in New Orleans that led to a career designing for some of the biggest names in retail: Bashas', Fry's Food and Drug, Kroger, Walgreens, and more. We’re talking 993 grocery stores, 1,007 Walgreens, and over 245 shopping center facades. That’s not just experience; that’s industry-shaping impact. In a recent conversation with our own Chris Gerardo, Kubi shared insights on his career, his mentors, and why he still walks every grocery store he can find. Want to know the key to his success and his take on the biggest industry changes? Read the full article to find out. #RetailRealEstate #CommercialArchitecture #GroceryStores #RetailDesign #ICSC #ShoppingCenters #Development #Architecture

Phoenix's Big-Box Market is Shifting - Here’s What You Need to Know 40 new vacancies. 3.43M square feet available. 44% increase from 2023. Sounds dramatic, right? But there’s more to the story. Retail is evolving. While national closures made headlines in 2024, Phoenix remains a prime market for retailers looking to expand. With second-gen spaces offering cost advantages over new builds and leasing activity picking up in strategic areas, there’s opportunity for those who know where to look. ?? Which retailers left? ?? What regions are seeing the most leasing? ?? Where do we see the market heading in 2025? We break it all down in our latest Big Box Vacancy Report. If you’re in retail, leasing, or investment, this is a must-read. ?? Check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gND_yS-R #RetailTrends #CommercialRealEstate #PhoenixCRE #RetailLeasing #BigBoxRetail #CREInsights #ShoppingCenters #RetailOpportunities

In 2023, Arizona ranked 5th in the nation for net domestic migration, adding 62,533 new residents. Where are they coming from? No surprise—California led the pack with 54,222 newcomers, followed by Texas and Washington. Meanwhile, California and New York continue to experience major outmigration, losing 690,127 and 481,544 residents, respectively. High housing costs, taxes, and affordability concerns seem to be driving these shifts, while states like Arizona, Texas, and Florida attract residents with lower costs and strong economies. As migration trends shape real estate and business opportunities, Arizona’s role as a regional hub continues to grow. How do you see these trends impacting retail and development? Read more: https://lnkd.in/gW2MFiec #ArizonaGrowth #PopulationTrends #DomesticMigration #CRE #RealEstateDevelopment #EconomicTrends #MigrationPatterns