Garrick Brown

New York -- Retailers’ growth plans are running about 5% ahead of year-ago projections, according to ChainLinks Retail Advisors’ Spring 2012 Retailer and Restaurant Expansion Guide. “Demand is being driven by discounters, grocery store chains, off-price apparel retailers, fast-food and fast-casual dining concepts,” said Garrick Brown, national retail research director, ChainLinks, one of the leading retail real estate advisory services organization in North America. “Growth from those players will help to lower vacancy for most shopping center types.” According to the report, some of the most active retailers currently include: Subway: Hoping to open as many as 2,500 stores

The nation’s capital tops a list of the healthiest retail markets for 2011. The ranking is based on the general overall health of a marketplace and includes such factors as overall economic indicators, income growth, ongoing construction, rental rate trends, and the amount of retail demand in the market.