WDCEP Markets DC’s Retail Opportunities at ICSC Mid-Atlantic

March 19, 2014

The WDCEP showcased the DC development market and available retail opportunities at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ (ICSC) Mid-Atlantic Conference and Deal Making last month, held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.

The ICSC Mid-Atlantic Conferences allow the WDCEP to attract retailers and restaurants to many available retail spaces in Washington, DC. During the conference, the WDCEP held over 40 meetings with various retailers, restaurants and retail brokers, including Aldi, SuperGirl, Giant, Safeway, CVS, Subway, Capriotti, and Dollar Tree.

WDCEP’s attendance at past ICSC conferences lead to deals that landed many of the popular retailers and restaurants seen in the District today such as Target, Harris Teeter, Apple and many more. By increasing the number of retail and restaurant establishments more options become available to District residents and tourists alike, while at the same time increases the District’s taxable retail and restaurant sales.

DC has become a major hotspot for retail investment due to its high population growth rate and an estimated annual retail leakage of $1 billion. Over the past 15 years, billions of dollars in investments in DC’s downtown and waterfront areas have attracted new retail, restaurants and entertainment establishments, resulting in national recognition of DC as a top retail investment market in the nation.

In May, the WDCEP will be leading the DC delegation to the 2014 ICSC RECon, a global retail real estate convention at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which attracts 35,000+ retail and real estate professionals.