3 Ways to Design a Strip Mall for the 21st Century

Strip malls are a ubiquitous part of most American towns and cities. But many of them also fail to attract sufficient customers and tenants in the modern and competitive world of retail and entertainment.

What can you do to ensure that your new strip mall will thrive? Try these three tips.

Strip malls were originally designed to drive retail store traffic as people passed by. But with the advent of modern shopping options, fewer people need to physically go out to do their shopping. As a landlord, then, you need to update your rental efforts to reach out more to other tenants and non-retail customers.

Think about ways to draw in other types of businesses. Can you make your space appeal to professional services, such as dental or legal providers? What about restaurants - fast food, casual dining, and traditional restaurants? Consider small, independent churches or clubs that might draw in visitors during non-traditional business hours.

Look at your community's general population, income, and interests. Would you do well to add health and beauty offerings (like day spas or alternative medicine providers), a gym for younger or busier customers, or a dollar grocery store to attract the lower-income consumer?

Because Americans can get many of their goods and services online, your mall needs to provide interest in other ways than simply selling something. To get people out of their homes and off their phones, a strip mall should bill itself as a destination people will enjoy. Some of these destinations may not even bring in income themselves, but they can help you stay relevant.

Look for unique and creative ways to add value to your space. For example, you could add an outdoor venue for providing entertainment on weekends - local bands, games for kids, or free space for non-profit groups to meet or hold fundraisers.

As you support the local community in various ways, you set up your business as a key part of it.

What about the greenery and outdoor assets? Will your property appear beautiful and refreshing, making people want to come to get refreshed? How can you make it more welcoming? Perhaps you include unique options like rooftop dining or overhead door entrances.

Work with your designer to include inviting landscape, places to sit down, and attractive elements like water features.

Strip malls often lack charm and individuality. All the stores or restaurants look the same, with their signs as the only way to differentiate between them. Just like you, small businesses - which typically inhabit most strip malls - also want ways to make themselves more visible and appealing to modern shoppers. How can you help them do that?

Most landlords design their units with the ability to customize the interior for each future tenant. But work with your commercial designer to customize aspects of the exterior as well. Materials overlays and faux finishes give your tenants the ability to customize the walls, color scheme, and window designs.

Your contractor can also help identify ways to use the layout to provide appealing features for future business. Restaurants and microbreweries thrive on outdoor seating areas, for instance. How can you utilize the space in front of, behind, or beside some spaces to make them appeal to dining establishments?

Cochran Construction Company has provided commercial property owners in the South with high quality design and construction services for more than three decades. We can help you find ways to build a modern strip mall that meets the needs of today's market. Call today to make an appointment.