What the Super El Niño means for retail
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Atlantic Commercial Group (ACG) has been at the forefront of land acquisition, site development, and commercial real estate growth for nearly 26 years. We have played a pivotal role in developing commercial land parcels and have been Walmart’s exclusive broker, successfully completing 52+ transactions across South Florida.
We have worked with top national brands, including:
✔ Retail & Restaurant Chains – CVS, Walgreens, McDonald’s, Burger King, Mattress Firm
✔ Financial Institutions – PNC Bank
✔ Medical & Service Providers – DaVita Dialysis
✔ Fuel & Convenience Brands – RaceTrac
From site selection to feasibility analysis, ACG provides expert guidance at every stage of the land development process. Whether you’re looking to acquire land, develop outparcels, or build large-scale retail and office properties, we ensure efficient, cost-effective, and strategic development solutions.
✔ Deep Market Knowledge – We leverage insights into lease rates, construction costs, and site planning to maximize your investment.
✔ Expert Development Advisory – Our team has extensive experience in ground-up developments and property redevelopments across South Florida.
✔ Navigating Approval Processes – We streamline the zoning, permitting, and entitlement approvals required for seamless project execution.
✔ Proven Track Record – We’ve played a key role in major commercial projects across the region.
ACG has directly contributed to the success of numerous high-profile developments, including:
🏢 Kendall Mall
🏢 Northridge Shopping Center
🏢 Midtown Delray
🏢 Lauderhill Mall
🏢 Palm Aire Marketplace
🏢 Lake Park Shopping Center
🏢 Coral Palm Plaza
🏢 Royal Oaks Shopping Center
🏢 Somerset Shoppes
🏢 Catalina Center
The strongest El Niño weather disruption on record is destined to upset seasonal merchandising plans unless retailers prepare for it, with the phenomenon expected to peak between October and January 2026-2027. Brands that sell apparel for low temperatures or gear for winter sports face vulnerability to a potentially very warm winter, including retailers like Burlington, Deckers, Canada Goose, and VF Corp's The North Face and Timberland brands. Conversely, retailers selling warm-weather apparel and goods stand to benefit from extended warm-season purchasing windows that disrupt traditional fall and winter retail cycles. The largest retail implication may emerge through the food supply chain as El Niño adds a layer of volatility to already pressured commodities, with price impacts expected to reach retail shelves six to twelve months after the event peaks, likely in 2027. Over a quarter of consumers surveyed said that good weather leads them to spend more, and warm temperatures caused by El Niño will seem like good weather to many people.
Artificial intelligence-driven surveillance is rapidly expanding across the commercial real estate sector despite facing growing public scrutiny and privacy concerns, with property owners and managers increasingly deploying advanced camera systems and analytics to monitor tenant safety and secure buildings. These sophisticated tools can automatically detect suspicious behavior, unauthorized entry, and potential security threats in real time, significantly reducing the need for constant human monitoring by security personnel and lowering operating costs. Companies like Cloudastructure and Flock Safety are securing major contracts with real estate investment firms, with Cloudastructure recently landing its largest deal to provide exclusive surveillance solutions for a luxury high-rise property in Houston, including 24/7 remote guarding software, smart surveillance cameras, and integrated cloud platforms. Industry advocates argue these technologies are essential for modern risk management, though privacy concerns persist as biometric data collection and omnipresent video surveillance trigger regulatory scrutiny and civil liberties questions.
U.S. retail sales during the November-December holiday season are expected to surpass $1 trillion for the first time, with sales projected to increase 4.5% year-over-year, according to Bain & Company's 2026 holiday forecast. More than half of the expected nominal sales growth will be attributable to inflation, raising questions about actual purchasing power gains. While in-store retail sales are expected to grow 2.5%, online sales are expected to rise 9% year-over-year, with non-store sales expected to account for about 60% of total holiday sales growth versus 50% last year. Retailers are likely well-stocked for the holidays as the year's peak shipping season rounded out, with early peak season ordering occurring ahead of tariff changes in late July. U.S. Holiday Sales Expected To Top $1 Trillion For First Time. +4