ICSC Las Vegas 2026 ReCap

Fresh off the floor from ICSC Las Vegas 2026, Jeremy Mercer, Will Narduzzi, and Rob Franks break down the biggest conversations shaping retail real estate right now. From packed developer meetings at the Wynn to evolving retailer demand, the crew dives into what they saw firsthand at the industry’s largest commercial real estate event.They discuss why Dallas continues to lead the country in retail growth, the return of institutional capital to the sector, and how rising rents, shrinking lease footprints, and experiential retail concepts are changing development strategies. The conversation also explores emerging trends across retail and restaurants, including the rapid expansion of chicken concepts, the impact of GLP-1 medications on food and alcohol sales, and why entertainment-focused retail continues gaining traction.Beyond retail, the episode takes a deep dive into how AI tools like Claude are beginning to transform underwriting, lease negotiations, operations, and even the future of prop tech itself. Jeremy and Will share how they’re integrating AI into their day-to-day business and why they believe the next generation of real estate professionals must become fluent in these tools.The group also shares behind-the-scenes stories from the week, including networking wins, memorable dinners, developer conversations, and lessons learned from navigating one of the busiest ICSC events yet.If you want an inside look at where retail real estate, development, and commercial investing are heading next, this episode delivers a candid, boots-on-the-ground perspective from the middle of the action.⁠Rob Franks LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bob Moorhead LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Will Narduzzi LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeremy Mercer LinkedIn⁠