Lisa Palmer, president and CEO of Regency Centers Corp. (Nasdaq: REG), sat down for a video interview at Nareit’s REITweek: 2026 Investor Conference in New York, June 1-4.
Palmer noted that grocery-anchored shopping centers continue to outperform because they meet everyday consumer needs with convenience, value, and essential services. Demand remains broad-based, led by food and beverage, with strength also in service, fitness, and medical tenants. “Through all economic cycles, consumers are shopping at their local neighborhood and community centers. We are seeing demand strong across all uses,” she said.
A long period of limited new supply since the global financial crisis has tightened available space and supported strong sector fundamentals., Palmer noted. Retailers also now see physical stores and e-commerce as complementary, not competitive, with stores serving as a critical last mile touchpoint for customer acquisition, retention, and fulfillment.
On growth, Palmer highlighted how development and redevelopment provide a major advantage, with more than $600 million currently underway and returns that exceed acquisitions by roughly 150 to 200 basis points. “For a redevelopment, you're reinvesting back into the assets that we know so well and know what brings that success, and the returns are much greater than what we generate from acquisitions,” she said.
Looking ahead, Regency is tracking foot traffic, tenant rent collections, tenant sales, and consumer sentiment, while remaining optimistic because grocery-anchored centers have shown resilience across economic cycles.