As Big Box Retailers Fade, New Uses Are Springing Up

The end of the era of the big box retailer is leaving landlords with the difficult task of finding new tenants for the large, empty storefronts.

1 minute read

May 23, 2017, 11:00 AM PDT

By jwilliams @jwillia22

Sergey Yechikov / Shutterstock

When Sports Authority left its headquarters in the Denver suburb of Englewood, a new opportunity opened up for an atypical tenant to take its place. As Jason Blevins of the Denver Postreports, Earth Treks took over the space to open the country's largest indoor rock climbing gym. Chris Warner, the founder of Earth Treks, sees the glut of empty big box stores dotting the country as an opportunity to expand his rock climbing empire.

Repurposing big box stores, which are fading at a breakneck pace, is a mounting challenge for the retail industry, where hundreds of the suddenly empty stores anchored thousands of peripheral businesses.

CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate investment firm, noted in its 2017 market report that 70 big box spaces are available for rent in metro Denver.

FULL STORY: Country’s largest climbing gym coming to former Sports Authority headquarters in Englewood

Monday, May 1, 2017 in Denver Post

Community / Economic Development Land Use Colorado Denver Englewood Big Box Retail Economy View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.