Presented at DMPED’s Downtown Defined summit on October 29, 2026.
DC’s retail corridors are changing. Some are thriving. Others are finding their footing.
The pandemic accelerated shifts that were already underway — in how consumers spend, where retailers choose to open, and what kinds of experiences generate foot traffic.
To help navigate what comes next, WDCEP and DMPED, in partnership with Streetsense, completed a comprehensive Retail Strategic Plan for Washington, DC. It assesses conditions across the District, identifies where the opportunities are, and outlines a coordinated strategy to strengthen retail outcomes for businesses and neighborhoods alike.
What the data shows
- The demand is there. Nearly 700,000 residents, about 743,000 jobs and more than 27 million annual visitors add up to a spending base of nearly $14 billion, or about 19.2 million square feet of supportable retail.
- Residents and visitors drive it. Residents account for about 47% of retail demand and visitors for 41%. Daytime employees make up 12%.
- Food and beverage is the biggest opportunity, at about 7.3 million square feet of supportable demand. Fitness and wellness has about 1.5 million square feet of demand against roughly 930,000 square feet of supply.
- DC is many retail markets, not one. The plan sorts the District’s submarkets into three types (Employment/Tourism/Destination, Large Market-Serving and Local Market-Serving) and builds its strategy around each.
Four strategic priorities
- Modernize and diversify the tenant pipeline
- Control the narrative
- Deliver unparalleled market intelligence
- Improve the regulatory and permitting environment
Download the executive summary to see what the data shows.
Working on a retail deal in DC?
WDCEP’s retail team works with brokers, landlords and retailers on market data, site selection and introductions across the District. Get in touch with Chad Shuskey, EVP, Retail Attraction & Market Intelligence, at (202) 661-8674.
