5 Markets to Watch in 2026

Key Takeaways: 

1. Salt Lake City: Home-Centric Growth and Sustained Consumer Strength
   Salt Lake City continues to outperform thanks to a young, fast-growing population and a strong homeownership culture. Retailers in home goods, grocery, and improvement categories are seeing significantly higher YoY foot traffic than the national average.
2. Reno: A Tourism Hub Evolving Beyond Gaming
   The share of "Singles & Starters" among Reno's visitor base continues to climb – and this generational diversification is transforming the city into a year-round destination for dining, shopping, and entertainment while fueling traffic gains across Reno-area shopping centers. 
3. Indianapolis: Family Affordability Fuels Retail Momentum
   With strong employment, affordable housing, and a favorable cost-of-living ratio, discretionary retail and family-friendly dining concepts are particularly well positioned to thrive in this growing midwestern market. 
4. Raleigh: Young, High-Earning Consumers Drive Mixed-Use Expansion
   Raleigh’s relatively low median age and strong labor market are fueling demand for premium dining and retail, leading to foot traffic gains for upscale mixed-use developments.‍
5. Tampa: Urban Revival Powers Dining and Retail Gains
   In-migration of Gen Z and millennial workers, together with rising office attendance, has boosted commuter and visitor traffic across Tampa’s urban core – helping Tampa's dining concepts grow faster than the national average and underscoring Tampa’s role as a Southeastern consumer hotspot.