As designers and architects, we often are asked what can be done about the so-called “retail apocalypse.” After all, brands are closing stores right and left, the list of “dead malls” continues to grow, the coronavirus pandemic will continue to transform retail in ways that have never been seen. The truth is that people are going to want to shop more than ever, but each year they are doing more of it online. With the convenience, competitive pricing, and increasingly experiential process of shopping online, how can retail stores and malls possibly compete? The answer is they cannot. But lest you think we are being defeatist, let us explain how thriving brands are combining their online and brick-and-mortar experiences to keep foot traffic high and regenerating communities in the process.

There has been—and likely will continue to be—a correction in the shopping center real estate market, but this correction was inevitable. Shopping Centers we have been fortunate enough to work on are thriving. Scottsdale Fashion Square in Arizona, and Bal Harbour Shops and Aventura Mall in Florida are all breaking revenue records. The fact is: the best malls are just getting better.

For the centers that must change, mixed-use planning is often required. Each location is unique and a one-size-fits-all method will not work. Developments are taking longer to execute and the competition is fierce. Our team of architectural planners has done it all. And, while focusing on the grand scheme, we don’t forget the little things like where the trash goes. Planners today need to solve challenges and help create visions that tell a compelling story. At JPRA, we thrive on planning and helping sell each vision.