By MIKE BONTS
REAL ESTATE WIRE
The ICSC New York National Deal Making Conference is beginning to rival RECon in its importance to the retail real estate industry. About 8,000 attendees are expected at this year’s conference, which will be held at New York City’s Javits Center Dec. 8-9. The meeting is almost double the size it was last year, with 433 companies exhibiting.
The meeting will play a key role in the expansion plans of many retailers and real estate providers, particularly on the East Coast, says ICSC Chairman Robert F. Welanetz, CRX, CSM, who is global retail real estate advisor to The Blackstone Group. “People are starting to think about strategies for next year and beyond, and it’s a good time to come together.”
Rite Aid is one of nearly 50 retailers grouped together on and around Retailer Row, a destination for attendees hoping to meet retailers. “Retailer Row is brand-new to the New York National Deal Making event,” said Eddie Emeric, ICSC’s trade expositions director.
“We’ve done it in our regional shows with some success, so we decided to roll it out here. The advantage of it is that the retailers have a place that people can come see them, rather than just trying to find them on the floor.”
Dunkin’ Brands has been attending the New York event for about a decade and is back this year, promoting its Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins brands. “We have most of our New York development team on hand to talk to landlords, brokers and whoever else comes to our booth,” said Rita Fraser, a Dunkin’ Brands senior construction development assistant.
Some retailers will be out in force on the show floor, but without booth space of their own. One of those is Macy’s Inc., which uses the event as an opportunity to close deals, meet landlords and find new opportunities, according to Carl L. Goertemoeller, the company’s senior vice president of real estate. “This is one of only two conventions a year — the other being ICSC [RECon] in Las Vegas — where my entire team attends,” said Goertemoeller. “We wear out a few pairs of shoes each year and move from booth to booth with our development partners.”
The annual New York gathering plays a critical role in Macy’s real estate program, Goertemoeller says. He predicts that the event’s prominence in the industry will increase now that it has moved into a larger, more functional venue. “It will make the convention much more productive for my team and everyone else by virtue of being under one roof,” he said.
Among the companies that are out to showcase their plans and programs at the popular Retail Runway this year are Acustom Apparel, Aldi, Camille Albane, Dessange International, Forman Mills, Hobby Lobby, Lorna Jane, Orangetheory Fitness, Simply Fashion, Urban Outfitters, Vanilla Sky and World of Beer.
Top executives from around the industry will be on hand to discuss important issues facing retail development. Donald J. Trump, chairman and president, The Trump Organization, will be the opening keynote speaker on Monday, December 8. And CNBC Retail reporter Courtney Reagan will moderate a panel discussion with top CEOs including Acadia Realty Trust’s Ken Bernstein; DDR Corp.’s Dan Hurwitz; Federal Realty Trust’s Don Wood; and Simon’s David Simon. In another panel discussion Etienne Katz, vice president of global sales for The Wall Street Journal, will lead a conversation about the properties that are currently taking shape and are of top-of-mind for the industry.
Contact Mike Bonts at editor@therealestatewire.com or call 904.424/6641
REAL ESTATE WIRE
The ICSC New York National Deal Making Conference is beginning to rival RECon in its importance to the retail real estate industry. About 8,000 attendees are expected at this year’s conference, which will be held at New York City’s Javits Center Dec. 8-9. The meeting is almost double the size it was last year, with 433 companies exhibiting.
The meeting will play a key role in the expansion plans of many retailers and real estate providers, particularly on the East Coast, says ICSC Chairman Robert F. Welanetz, CRX, CSM, who is global retail real estate advisor to The Blackstone Group. “People are starting to think about strategies for next year and beyond, and it’s a good time to come together.”
Rite Aid is one of nearly 50 retailers grouped together on and around Retailer Row, a destination for attendees hoping to meet retailers. “Retailer Row is brand-new to the New York National Deal Making event,” said Eddie Emeric, ICSC’s trade expositions director.
“We’ve done it in our regional shows with some success, so we decided to roll it out here. The advantage of it is that the retailers have a place that people can come see them, rather than just trying to find them on the floor.”
Dunkin’ Brands has been attending the New York event for about a decade and is back this year, promoting its Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins brands. “We have most of our New York development team on hand to talk to landlords, brokers and whoever else comes to our booth,” said Rita Fraser, a Dunkin’ Brands senior construction development assistant.
Some retailers will be out in force on the show floor, but without booth space of their own. One of those is Macy’s Inc., which uses the event as an opportunity to close deals, meet landlords and find new opportunities, according to Carl L. Goertemoeller, the company’s senior vice president of real estate. “This is one of only two conventions a year — the other being ICSC [RECon] in Las Vegas — where my entire team attends,” said Goertemoeller. “We wear out a few pairs of shoes each year and move from booth to booth with our development partners.”
The annual New York gathering plays a critical role in Macy’s real estate program, Goertemoeller says. He predicts that the event’s prominence in the industry will increase now that it has moved into a larger, more functional venue. “It will make the convention much more productive for my team and everyone else by virtue of being under one roof,” he said.
Among the companies that are out to showcase their plans and programs at the popular Retail Runway this year are Acustom Apparel, Aldi, Camille Albane, Dessange International, Forman Mills, Hobby Lobby, Lorna Jane, Orangetheory Fitness, Simply Fashion, Urban Outfitters, Vanilla Sky and World of Beer.
Top executives from around the industry will be on hand to discuss important issues facing retail development. Donald J. Trump, chairman and president, The Trump Organization, will be the opening keynote speaker on Monday, December 8. And CNBC Retail reporter Courtney Reagan will moderate a panel discussion with top CEOs including Acadia Realty Trust’s Ken Bernstein; DDR Corp.’s Dan Hurwitz; Federal Realty Trust’s Don Wood; and Simon’s David Simon. In another panel discussion Etienne Katz, vice president of global sales for The Wall Street Journal, will lead a conversation about the properties that are currently taking shape and are of top-of-mind for the industry.
Contact Mike Bonts at editor@therealestatewire.com or call 904.424/6641