Digital Editions

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May/June 2025

The May/June issue includes a look at the evolving real estate market as available retail space reaches its highest level in two years.

Other articles in the issue include:

Profiles in Leadership: Gap CEO Richard Dickson discusses the apparel giant’s turnaround and reinvigoration;
Retail workers want better security amid rising in-store crime and customer aggression;
ICSC Las Vegas Show Scoop: Retail real estate leaders share their views on strategic leasing, mixed-use center management, creating great customer experiences and more;
SPECS Show Recap: Highlights of Chain Store Age's 61st SPECS event;
20 tech and supply chain innovations that have transformed retail during the past 100 years.

March/April 2025

The March/April issue continues the celebration of Chain Store Age’s 100th anniversary with a look at store design trends and elements that have stood the test of time.

Other articles in the issue include:

Retail brands to watch in 2025;
The important role phygital experiences play in brick-and-mortar;
Q&A with Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos;
Special section on Chain Store Age’s 61st annual SPECS Show;
Update on lighting rebates;
IoT technology enables proactive approach to maintenance;
Spotlight on 2026 refrigerant regulations;
Top tech real estate tools;
Combatting return fraud with AI;
Stabilizing the supply chain with automation.

The January/February edition celebrates Chain Store’s Age’s 100th anniversary with a special section dedicated to Retail Pioneers: Leaders that shaped the industry and transformed the way Americans shop.

Other articles in the issue include:

Major CEO exits in 2024;
Store Expansion: From discounters to specialty merchants, retailers investing in store growth in 2025;
Puma goes big in Las Vegas;
Exciting Builds: A look at seven new project and revamps currently underway;
Retailers scrambling for Class A retail space;
Tech trends to watch in 2025;
Five factors that will shape the evolution of supply chains.

November/December 2024

The November/December issue features a special section on how retail real estate developers are dealing with expansion in an era of limited space.

Other articles in the issue include:

Sam’s Club opens cashierless store — customers pay with app;
Walmart extends commitment to community solar;
A look at how physical stores can gain, inspire customers
Preview of SPECS 2025, Chain Store Age’s annual event for store development and facilities management;
Retailers leveraging AI to automate, personalize and simplify different workforce management tasks.

September/October 2024

The September/October issue features the annual CSA Top 100, a listing of the nation's largest retailers based on total revenue.

Other articles in the issue include:

Consumer Data Privacy Rules: What retailers need to know;
Digitally native — and Gen Z fave — Princess Polly plots U.S. brick-and-mortar growth;
Costco location in Mexico City is topped with sprawling green roof that doubles as an urban park;
Walmart makes history with a first-of-its-kind 3D-printed store addition;
Rents climb to new heights for spaces in grocery-anchored centers;
Amazon VP discusses expansion of company’s Just Walk Out technology;
Retailers are using AI to make stores smarter.

July/August 2024

The July/August issue features CSA’s annual Top 10 Retail Center Experiences report, with Mall of America topping the list.

Other articles in the issue include:

Profiles of CSA's 2024 Retail’s Top Women Award honorees
Walmart, Starbucks continue investments in clean energy
On-fire sneaker brand Hoka opens first U.S. flagship.
Digitally native Municipal has big plans for brick-and-mortar.
Circle K’s onboarding training program leverages gamified training software delivered via in-store iPads.

May/June 2024

The May/June issue includes a look at the winners of CSA’s 2024 Breakout Retailer Awards, American Freight, Lids, Chicken N Pickle and Yesway.

Other articles in the issue include:

Space Race: With retail space availability at an historic low, retailers are challenged as they expand. a year in advance and the cost of developer capitalization is high.
The ICSC Las Vegas SHOW SCOOP: Real estate thought leaders provide
their in-sights on what all deem as a transformational era in brick-and-
mortar retail.
SPECS Show Recap: Highlights of Chain Store Age's 60th SPECS event
Inside Amazon’s new robotic fulfillment hub

March/April 2024

The March/April issue features a look at the new store strategies that retailers are adapting to engage today’s demanding consumers.

Other articles in the issue include:

Construction trends for 2024
Walmart doubles down on brick-and-mortar growth
Tips for incorporating sound into the in-store experience
Lighting rebate update
Artificial intelligence tops list of facilities management trends
Special section on Chain Store Age’s 60 th annual SPECS Show features agenda and exhibitor listing
Retailers leveraging technology to promote sustainability across the enterprise
Grocery-anchored centers in the real estate spotlight

January/February 2024

The January/February issue features a look at the new challenges confronting today’s retail CEOs amid pressure for real growth.

Other articles in the issue include:

• Retail’s revolving door: Major CEO exits in 2023

• How store designers can help in battle against retail shrink

• Last-minute facilities prep for severe weather

• Improving Indoor Air Quality: Steps to take when outside air is unhealthy

• Generative AI takes center stage

• A look at how retailers will benefit from new federal supply chain action

November/December 2023

The November/December issue includes a look at retail expansion in the country’s fast-growing Sun Belt region.

Other articles in the issue include:

•More DTC brands make the move to physical retail

•ICSC New York Show Scoop: Leading retail retail estate developers discuss industry trends and challenges

•Preview of SPECS 2024;

•Dollar Tree offsets energy needs via community solar

•Generative AI, retail media networks and TikTok tops 2024 tech trends

•Free People embraces livestream commerce, and more.

September/October 2023

The September/October issue features the annual CSA Top 100, a listing of the nation's largest retailers based on sales volume.

Other articles in the issue include:

•Resetting store strategies for growth

•Popular online registry Babylist enters brick-and-mortar

•How The Home Depot gets store tech up and running after a disaster

•A look at how five retailers are enabling customer-centricity

•Best practices for offering EV charging

July/August 2023

The July/August issue features CSA’s annual Top 10 Retail Center Experiences report, with Mall of America topping the list.

Other articles in the issue include:

• Profiles of CSA’s 2023 Retail’s Top Women Award honorees

• Smaller-store formats require special planning and design

• Babies”R”Us makes U.S. store comeback

• New ASHRAE standard prioritizes indoor air quality with new requirements

• How retailers can integrate AI into their holiday tech prep

MAY/JUNE 2023

The May/June issue features a look at the building challenges — from material shortages to higher costs —confronting retailers and developers.

Other articles in the issue include:

• The ICSC Las Vegas SHOW SCOOP: A special section in which 11 of America’s leading center developers write about how retail real estate is changing for the better.

• 2023 Breakout Retailer Awards: Academy Sports + Outdoors, Boot Barn, Choice Market, Condado Tacos honored in annual program.

• SPECS Show Recap: Highlights of Chain Store Age's annual SPECS event

• Trending Stores: Nike flies high with World of Jordan, while Barbie is set to get her own “world.”

MARCH/APRIL 2023

The March/April issue highlights brick-and-mortar with a look at how retailers are reimagining their stores to keep pace with the fast-changing
retail landscape.

Other articles in the issue include:

• Going Bigger: Target and Sam's Club buck the smaller-is-better trend with larger store formats.

• What retailers need to know about electric vehicle charging stations.

• Update on lighting rebates

• Tax incentive extended for energy-efficient upgrades

• Open-air centers reconfigure with greenspaces, outdoor dining and events to keep traffic flowing all week

• Three tech-related steps retailers should take now...
and more.

January/February 2023

The January/February issue features an in-depth look at the retail C-suite, which is being transformed as it evolves to keep pace with industry and consumer changes and demands.

Other articles in the issue include:

• CFOs urged to think beyond immediate cost reductions when deciding tech investments.

• Five trends likely to influence retail in 2023

• Three hot-button issues for retailers

• Increase costs expected in retail rents, common area maintenance charges.

• Digitally native Herschal Supply Co. opens first U.S. store.

• Q&As with Build-A-Bear Workshop and Bob’s Discount Furniture …

and more.

November / December 2022

Retail real estate takes the spotlight in the November/December issue of Chain Store Age.

The November/December issue features a look at how developers are “citifying” affluent suburbs with new projects that combine office, residential, dining/entertainment, parks — and retail.

Other articles in the issue include:

• Target unveils larger-size store format with more space for fulfillment.

• Three emerging technologies that will play a major role in retail in 2023.

• Trending Stores: Direct-to-consumer brands Vuori, Beyond Yoga and Alpha Industries are expanding in brick-and-mortar.

• Top store picks for 2022.

The issue also includes a round-up of the retail real estate scene as written by the following leading developers:

• Joseph F. Coradino (PREIT) — on why malls are the intersection of life + commerce;

• Don Ghermezian (Triple Five Group) — on mall as medium;

• Brandon Isner (CBRE) — on whether the word ‘omnichannel” is losing its meaning;

• Stephen Lebovitz (CBL Properties) — on retail’s resilience;

• Geoff Mason (Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield) — on the mall’s new manifestation;

• Fred Meno (Woodmont Company) — on planning for the unknown;

• Josh Poag (Poag Development Group) — on the development of Poag Development Group; and

• Ken Volk (Macerich) — on the value of short-term tenants.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2022

The Sept./Oct. issue of CSA features the annual ranking of the nation's top 100 retailers, PLUS:

Walmart, Amazon lead CSA's annual ranking of the top 100 U.S. retailers based on annual revenue
The New Mall: Top mall managers weigh in on the future of malls in today's fast-changing marketplace
How machine learning technology can benefit retailers
New retail formats from Express, Nike
Update on construction costs
Lighting rebate bonus programs at all-time high

July / August 2022

The July/August issue features profiles of CSA's Top Women in Retail Awards winners, with honorees recognized in store development/facilities; real estate; supply chain and technology. Plus, Women of the Year.

May / June 2022

The May/June issue of CSA features the winners of our annual Breakout Retailers Awards: Burlington Stores, CAMP, Dutch Bros, and Raising Cane's honored for commitment to physical growth, innovation.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

The March/April issue of CSA features an exclusive survey of retail real estate executives and their plans for expansion.

Other articles include:

• Remodel Trends: Reimaging stores for the new era;

• Walmart unveils new store design;

• Special section on CSA’s 58^th annual SPECS Show includes agenda and exhibitor listing;

• Top construction technology trends to watch in 2022 — and beyond;

• Rebates for EV charging stations;

• How medical centers and other non-traditional tenants keep retail centers healthy;

• The Kroger Co. keeps employees engaged via its mobile training app;

• Insights on metaverse retailing from the CEO and founder of shopping platform Obsess;

• And more...

January/February 2022

The January/February issue features a look at how consumer trends are transforming the traditional fulfillment center model in three key areas.

Other articles in the issue include:

• Supply chain challenges to persist

• Retail Profile: J.Jill's retail reset includes a greater emphasis on full-price selling.

• Trending stores: Toys "R" Us, Glossier

• Meijer in eco-friendly parking lot pavement pilot

• SDI's Jim Owens on mitigating impact of supply chain disruption on facilities maintenance operations.

• The Changing Nature of Open-Air Centers

• Q&A with Lily Ai's Purva Gupta on the importance of knowing customers in real time.

November/December 2021

November/December issue features a special section, “Retail 2022,” on trends and insights for physical retail, technology and the economy. It also includes a round-up of top executives in retail real estate who discuss how the pandemic helped them re-make their relationships with their tenants and establish brick-and-mortar’s role in the omnichannel future.

Other articles in the issue include:

The retail resale market is booming — with no end in sight.

• Expert Opinion: Time for a retail reset, with focus on sourcing, fulfillment, talent, digital capabilities and data.

• Petco, Pacsun expand portfolios with new retail concepts.

• Recap of Chain Store Age’s X/SPECS, which put the spotlight on store design, construction and facilities management — and business ne

• Three ways connected lighting can help reimagine retail.

• A look at Gap’s five-year plan to build out its fulfillment capacity.

September/October 2021

Cover Story: Walmart and Amazon take the top spots on Chain Store Age’s annual listing of the top 100 U.S. retailers (by revenue).

Also inside:

• SPECS 2021 Recap: Wrap-up coverage of Chain Store Age’s 57 annual SPECS Show, the leading retail event for store planning/design, construction and facilities management.

• Profiles of CSA’s annual Breakout Retailer Awards winners.

• Technology innovations transform the construction process — from planning through execution.

• Retailers use artificial intelligence solutions to automate, streamline front- and back-end tasks.

• Effective business scenario planning by CFO’s crucial to retail success in 2022 — and beyond.

• Southwest Region Report: Retail vacancy rates going lower, rents getting higher.

...and more.

JULY/AUGUST 2021

Read all about the top 10 retail center experiences — and more — in the July/August issue of Chain Store Age.

In addition to profiles of the centers in CSA’ annual Top Ten Retail Center Experiences, the issue includes an interview with the CEO of women's plus-size retailer Torrid and a look at Dick Sporting Goods’ newest retail concept, House of Sport.

Other articles in the issue include:
•   Bed, Bath & Beyond’s dramatic makeover;
•   Rethinking Fulfilment — From start to finish;
•   Using automation and artificial intelligence to lower energy costs;
•   Lighting products with the highest rebates;
•   New Popeyes built in record time;
•   Midwest region retail real estate report;
•   Tech tips to help retailers prepare for the holiday season; and
•   Retail and restaurant brands enter the NFT market.

MAY/JUNE 2021

MARCH/APRIL 2021

January/February 2021

Fulfillment Centers Transformed — how robots, delivery hubs and automated systems are changing the traditional model

Also inside:

Quick-service chains launching new formats focused on convenience and the drive-thru experience;
Inclusion means making ALL employees feel welcome;
Bed Bath & Beyond's omnichannel strategy is foundation of its turnaround efforts;
Regional Real Estate Report: Northeast and Mid-Atlantic;
HVAC and COVID-19: Review of existing and emerging technologies that can be added to existing systems to improve indoor air quality;
New best practices in facilities management;
Walmart uses vast IoT network to help lower energy consumption, improve food quality; and more!

November/December 2020

Walmart's Redesign
Retail Real Estate's New Era
Making Indoor Air Safer

September/October 2020

Walmart takes the top spot on Chain Store Age's annual listing of the top 100 U.S. retailers (by total revenue).

Also inside:

Smartbuilding technologies can help retailers minimize exposure to a COVID-19 event
Center CEOs talk COVID and Holidays
Elements of a dark store strategy

JULY/AUGUST 2020

The Top 10 Retail Center Comeback Experiences and The New Playbook for Retail Stores are among the top stories in CSA's July/August issue.

Also inside:
•   Walmart tests self-checkout-only store
•   What to do when an employee refuses to return to work
• With limits on store capacity, retailers urged to extend customer experience to outside queues
•   Bob's Discount Furniture puts premium on safety as customers return
•   Prepping facilities for the winter months
•   Top Trends in Construction Technology
•   Raleys opens new store concept

MAY/JUNE 2020
Shopping Centers Take On COVID-19: The industry weighs in on the pandemic that shuttered centers and how they think the next few months will play out. Also, the 10 Under 40: Retail Real Estate's Rising Stars.

MARCH/APRIL 2020

Profiles of Chain Store Age's 2020 Breakout Retailers Awards recipients: Chicken Salad Chick, Deciem, Eyebobs, Neighborhood Goods and Outdoor Voices.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

See the top 10 female executives that are making their mark on retail technology.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

A look at what retailers can expect in 2020, with insights on brick-and-mortar, legislative developments, the economy, and technology. Plus, a special ICSC section: New York Show Scoop.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

The annual Top 100 Retailers: A ranking of nation's top 100 retail companies by annual revenue, and the State of the Industry Report. Plus, Philadelphia 's Retail Real Estate market is HOT!

July/August 2019

As the role of the retail CFO keeps expanding, Chain Store Age offers insights and examines trends to help CFOs make decisions in four critical areas: store design/remodels; facilities maintenance; energy management; and technology, specifically customer experience solutions.

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