Shopping/Mall Space Directory A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
August 23, 2019
Retail evolves with centers emphasizing one-stop-shop designs by Michelle Leach
Retail stores and malls are being repositioned with an emphasis on conveniently located services and entertainment and recreation options. “Retail everywhere has changed dramatically in the last 10 years,” said Colliers International Vice President Cindi Incontro. “There are countless factors for these changes.” Among those changes, as people place more demands on their time and try to fit more into their day, Incontro said everything needs to be a little more efficient. “Going to a large regional mall to spend Incontro the day strolling from shop to shop is a time luxury most people can no longer afford,” she said. “Shoppers who visit a large mall these days tend to head to an anchor store or favorite boutique, grab a sandwich and move on to the next item on their to-do list.” As 24/7 online shopping is faster and a good price on the exact products can be found in a click, Incontro noted shoppers looking for assistance tend to visit neighborhood malls near their homes or businesses, where they may find someone who has the time to help them. “As unique quality boutique retail has become rarer, shoppers go out of their way to support these small local businesses,” she said. Berkshire Hathaway HS/Ambassador Real Estate Commercial Division Manager Michael Blackmon said the retail sector, currently driven by continued job growth and low unemployment, is broken into two parts: e-commerce/online and the physical shopping experience at local retail stores. “Ecommerce has and continues to have some devastating effects on the ‘big box’ physical retail stores, as more and more big box shoppers are turning to online shopping — and almost unlimited choices in that ‘big box’ — thereby reducing the trade in big box stores,” he said. “And many big box facilities are being removed from the retail markets, and repurposed or repositioned entirely.” Grocery-anchored and neighborhood retail centers are “favored,” and “mixed-use” combining retail, office and habitational such as apartments and townhomes, are doing well. “A substantial amount of new develop-
Mike Blackmon, commercial division manager at Berkshire Hathaway HS/Ambassador Real Estate, at a retail/warehouse space at 3630 S. 144th St. ment is focusing on the mixed-use approach, happening, and big box retailers are ultimately which appears strong for the future of retail in trying to figure out how to reach the consumer those neighborhoods,” Blackmon said. “Our and keep the consumer, while fighting off the commercial division is seeing a great de- Amazons of the world.” mand for both existing and new construction Agarwal said his team is seeing many retail space in neighborhood areas, and little big box formats consolidate to online madedemand in the mall locations. The interest to-order. is for expansion via needing more space, to “Obvious retailer bankruptcies are causexpansion into additional locations.” ing a lot smaller rental pool for new and exAs malls get repurposed, some retail will relocate — further filling up the available space. “We are seeing food and beverage as a major player in the neighborhood strip centers, plus entertainment and fitness as major users, which many times can and are filling by Gabby Christensen some of the big box locations, because of their Retailers that are remodeling store demand for huge spaces,” he said. “Although spaces to appeal to prospective customers there is substantial new retail development must keep in mind that comfort and client going on in the Omaha market, maybe around experience should always be at the fore1 million square feet under construction or front, experts say. the development approved, the market should Dan Goaley, partner at OMNE, said absorb this growth as the economy continues that while trends have transformed over with strength in job growth and low unem- the years, Amazon doesn’t rule the world ployment.” in retail sales. White Lotus Group CEO Arun Agarwal “If you truly dive into the sales numdescribed “heavy anxiety” among a lot of bers, you will find that their impact is brands at present. not as what is perceived,” Goaley said. “Everyone is still trying to figure it all “While it is true that they have an imout,” he said. “There is just so much evolution pact, the impact is creating a mindset of
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isting retail spaces, and although it’s a lot of change and anxiety, it just means traditional retail needs to evolve and become all about the consumer experience versus the products they are selling,” he said. “The entertainment value of the mall/development and the tenant mix has to be far more thoughtful than ever before, and become very service oriented; for example, consumers that have to stop at their dentist or physical therapist appointment within a malllike development, will probably walk a few shops down and pop into Scheels.” Agarwal said White Lotus Group is excited to see what Agarwal will happen at the 144th Street and West Dodge Road development and the possible Oak View Mall redevelopment. “White Lotus Group is also working on our plan for our mixed-use development at 180th and Maple Street,” he said. “We feel confident we will find a tenant mix that will support and engage the rapidly growing area, and the new high school right next to us.” Ultimately, Agarwal said, it’s about who is really excelling at integrating interesting retail with service-based businesses. “Village Pointe and Westroads do a good job of having a tenant base of restaurants mixed with relevant programing, plus they have movie theaters and are adjacent to health care,” he said.
Reap!
Latest trends include open concepts, easier navigation for store shoppers a ‘good deal’ which plays into the hands of the off-priced retailer. This is the group of retailers that have brick and mortar stores and continue to show annual growth in sales.” As far as the department store layout goes, which includes several rooms divided into areas, he said it went out of style years ago. “A customer needs to enter a store and quickly see all that is offered,” Goaley said. “What has not changed are the simple subtle tricks of a retailer such as music and various scents from offerings that keep the Continued on page 24.
Shopping/Mall Space Directory — inside AUGUST 23, 2019
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
$2.00
VOL. 45 NO. 34
BAT Logistics finds creative answers to client pain points by Michelle Leach
Beyond the Vine secures growth by specializing in one-of-a-kind products. – Page 2
r eu ren p tre ar En Ye ng f the u Yo o
Johnson learns, teaches as she grows LifeLoop. – Page 3
t en em e v pro nc Im tena e i m an Ho /M
Low-maintenance, high-reward improvements take center stage when adding functionality, value. – Page 4
When Ashley Jankowski joined BAT Logistics in 2008, the transportation solutions provider based in Council Bluffs had nine employees. Eleven years later, its 33-member team is poised for further growth by specializing in clients’ “pain points.” “We don’t make any product; we match the shippers of the world with the drivers of the world,” said Jankowski, general manager. “The conversations we have with a new potential customer or carrier are about, ‘Where are you struggling?’ and ‘Where do you find it hard to manage business?’ and we go into an investigative process to clear the pain points.” From its headquarters at 20 Arena Way, BAT Logistics has helped customers of various sizes with their third-party logistics and transportation brokerage needs, from full and less than full truck loads, to refrigerated and intermodal, and drayage, government, and flat bed/step-deck/RGN [reContinued on page 7.
General Manager Ashley Jankowski … Rigorous hiring practices and machine learning converge to drive third-party logistics provider’s solutions-based growth. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)
American Hearing & Audiology’s focus on customer experience propels growth by Richard D. Brown
American Hearing & Audiology, a three-year-old business with 18 offices — four of them in Nebraska — is growing in its three state service area by placing a strong emphasis on the experience of its customers. The firm, with two locations in west Omaha, plus stores in Papillion and Lincoln, uses an independently operated philosophy at each of its company-owned outlets.
Dr. Angela Grasse, a licensed doctor of audiology with her practice at 14473 West Center Road, said she places a strong emphasis on the first impression made with each customer who shows up for an appointment. While a warm smile, greeting by name and a cup of coffee are important, there’s a differentiating factor she points to. An innocuous black metal chair aside her desk in a Continued on page 8. Owners, from left, Ken Cai and Steven Cai … After persuading franchise leadership to bring concept to Omaha, franchisees are off to a promising start.
Region’s first Pokéworks opens to reach consumer demand for Hawaiian staple by Michelle Leach
Dr. Angela Grasse … Enhanced hearing aid technology coupled with customer experience focus opens doors for growth.
The first Pokéworks in the Northern Great Plains is now a reality, with the opening of the Omaha store celebrating highly-customizable bowls and pioneering poke burritos, located at One Pacific Place. “Chicago is the next closest [store],” said Ken Cai, who opened the store with his brother, Steven. “They’re not even in Kan-
sas City or Minneapolis.” The brothers noted leadership behind the brand, which features a twist on Hawaiian staple, poke (pronounced “po-kay”), required some persuading to bring one of the latest stores to Omaha. “We had initially reached out to Pokéworks the middle of last year, and Omaha wasn’t even on their radar,” said Steven Cai. “It Continued on page 8.