The primary resource for the information needed to determine not only how to adapt an old center to a revitalized one but who your prospective tenants will be, is membership in the International Council of Shopping Centers. It's almost always called the ICSC.
Landlords, management companies, all sorts of applicable vendors and tenants themselves are members.
Conventions are held annually, often times in Las Vegas at its huge convention hall. The Spring convention this year will be there and runs from May 20th thru May 23rd.
In addition to attending the conventions and the various conferences, the most important by-product is meeting and making personal face-to-face contacts and then nurturing them.
Secondly comes the membership directory. That's where you are kept up to date as to exactly what prospective leasing tenants are looking for space-wise and who the leasing representatives for the tenants are.
Some of my most favorite people have come from those I've met at ICSC conventions. Former Phillips-Van Heusen Attorney Bob Silverstein and leasing genius Shelly Gravino come to mind as do former Mikasa official Norman Higo and Pier 1's Marvin Girouard and Louise Spencer. And there was the resurrection of an old college friendship with Donia Garlington. But my Rolodex is full of ICSC friends -- friends that became longtime friends.
It is virtually impossible to properly revitalize and re-tenant any center of 300,000 square feet or more without active membership and attendance in the ICSC.
Apparently most who find themselves involved with centers with large vacancies and outdated architecture have ignored this very important resource.
BILL CHERRY REALTORS
DALLAS
214 503-8563
Copyright 2008 - William S. Cherry
All rights reserved
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