Retail Retold · 2026-06-25 · 8 min
The market has evolved. The questions are just as relevant. A Retail Retold Replay looking back at retail in 2024. We're throwing it back to ICSC 2024 with James Cook , Americas Director of Retail Research at JLL and host of the Where We Buy podcast. From the DLC booth in Las Vegas, James and Chris Ressa shared a quick and impactful conversation on the trends shaping retail real estate, from the continued strength of open-air centers to the challenges created by historically low vacancy. While leasing activity has slowed, Cook explains why that's more a reflection of limited supply than weakening demand, and why he remains optimistic about the health of retailers and the consumer. The conversation also explores where artificial intelligence could have the biggest impact on the industry. As AI tools become more sophisticated, the opportunity isn't a lack of technology. It's finding ways to apply it to an industry built on private data, complex lease structures, and physical assets. They also touch on one of retail's more unexpected growth stories: celebrity-backed restaurants.
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