McDonald’s is shutting down all locations of its CosMc’s beverage-focused spinoff, less than a year after launching the concept. Named after a nostalgic alien mascot from the '80s, CosMc’s served as a testing ground for bold drink flavors and new tech—but now it's wrapping up as McDonald’s shifts focus. The fast-food giant says it’s taking what it learned and rolling those insights into upcoming drink offerings at its main U.S. locations. While the standalone CosMc’s experiment ends, its influence may soon show up at your local McDonald’s.

Consumers are still unsure about how tariffs will hit their wallets, but until price hikes show up on store shelves, their attention is fixed on persistent inflation. Retailers and manufacturers must prepare now, focusing on price sensitivity, especially since shoppers typically tolerate up to 12% increases without much resistance. Some brands are already using “no tariff pricing” to stand out, while others are pulling forward inventory or delaying seasonal goods to ride out uncertainty. Retailers with stronger inventory positions will have the edge, especially as families prioritize essentials like kids' items. Strategic scenario planning, supply chain agility, and close collaboration with suppliers and brokers will be key to weathering the storm—and possibly gaining market share.

Retail isn't just about selling products; it's about creating irresistible spaces that draw in both customers and top talent! Just like physical workplaces are evolving to become desirable destinations, retail has already mastered the art of transforming mere "space" into a "place" people want to be. After facing down the "retail apocalypse" years ago, the industry has seen five straight quarters of the lowest retail availability in history, proving its magnetic power. Now, the focus is on leveraging this expertise to attract and retain employees, recognizing that a great store experience for customers goes hand-in-hand with an engaging workplace for staff.

Retail real estate is making a comeback—but not in the way it used to. After decades of underbuilding despite booming population growth, rising demand and low vacancy rates are driving a renewed wave of development. Big-name retailers like Walmart, Target, TJX, and Chipotle are fueling this momentum, seeking new spaces and creative site solutions, especially those with existing drive-thrus and high-traffic visibility.

Construction costs are high, but strong sales are justifying premium rents, and investors are finally taking notice. Once overlooked, retail is now seen as a durable asset in a shifting real estate market. As consumer habits and communities evolve, so too does retail—proving once again that well-located, thoughtfully developed retail never goes out of style.

Retail real estate is entering a new chapter in 2025, as store closures open the door for opportunity. Despite sluggish new construction, available retail space surged by 12.5 million sq. ft. in Q1—marking the highest availability in two years—thanks to a wave of high-profile closures from Big Lots, Joann, Macy’s, and more. Larger spaces are leading the vacancy spike, especially in Class B and C properties.

But where some retailers exit, others are ready to move in. Grocers like Aldi, off-price apparel chains, restaurants, and fitness brands are snapping up space, particularly in growth markets like the Sun Belt. Still, rent growth is slowing in over-saturated areas, and lower-tier spaces are struggling to attract tenants.

While retail is facing a reckoning, the shake-up is also creating new chances for landlords and expanding brands to reinvent underused properties—and perhaps, redefine the future of retail.

Florida lawmakers have passed bills that give condo associations an extra year—until December 31, 2025—to complete structural reserve studies and offer more financial flexibility by allowing loans and lines of credit for funding. The move comes in response to mounting pressure from owners facing skyrocketing repair costs and special assessments following the 2021 Surfside collapse. While the bills don’t change core safety requirements, they do offer temporary relief by letting associations pause reserve contributions and prioritize critical repairs. Critics argue the legislation falls short of offering true financial relief or addressing the complex and often stalled process of terminating aging condo buildings for redevelopment. With 70% of South Florida condos over 30 years old and values expected to plummet, many owners are left with limited and costly options—if any at all.

The U.S. multifamily housing market is showing strong signs of a rebound, according to a new CBRE report. In Q1 2025, net absorption surged 77% to a 25-year high, driving down vacancy rates to 4.8%—the steepest first-quarter drop on record. Rent growth resumed, and investor confidence followed, pushing multifamily investment volume up 33% year-over-year to $28.8 billion, the highest since early 2022. With demand outpacing new supply in nearly every major market, and construction slowing, rents are expected to keep rising. Despite broader economic uncertainty, CBRE says the multifamily sector remains a resilient standout in commercial real estate.