Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook

Where We Buy
  • 4.8 (70)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

James Cook and his fellow retail researchers visit shopping destinations around the world, interview retail and real estate executives and discuss market research in a fast-paced and fun setting. James researches retail and real estate for JLL.

  1. 5D AGO

    Managing the Mixx: Creating Successful Live-Work-Play Destinations

    Sean McNamara leads The Mixx at JLL, a specialized platform for managing complex mixed-use developments across North America. McNamara explains the unique challenges of managing properties that combine office, retail, residential, hotel, and entertainment uses on a single site. He discusses the importance of creating a sense of place through strategic merchandising, placemaking, and activation, highlighting projects like Plaza Coral Gables in Florida and OCVIBE in Anaheim, California. McNamara covers the rise of sports-anchored mixed-use developments, the role of technology infrastructure, and how successful mixed-use projects can command premium rents when properly managed and activated. James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify  Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com  YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail research here:  http://www.us.jll.com/retail Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.

    29 min

  2. FEB 6

    Arte Museum Expands from South Korea to NYC, LA and Orlando

    Julia Yook is General Manager of Arte Museum New York, a 52,000-square-foot immersive media art space at Chelsea Piers. Yook explains the museum's origins in South Korea in 2020, its expansion to locations worldwide including Las Vegas and upcoming sites in Los Angeles and Orlando, and the logistics of creating multisensory experiences that combine light, sound, scent, and spatial design. She covers the museum's 14 distinct zones, the proprietary technology behind interactive features like the sketch room and cafe experience, and how the creative team in Korea designs custom exhibitions for each location. Yook also discusses visitor demographics, corporate buyouts, and social media's role in driving attendance.   James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.    Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify  Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com  YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail research here:  http://www.us.jll.com/retail Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.

    33 min

  3. JAN 30

    Asana Partners' Clare Walsh on Authentic Neighborhood Retail

    Clare Walsh is Managing Director of Leasing Strategy at Asana Partners, a retail-focused investment firm with over $7 billion in assets under management. Walsh discusses the company's focus on neighborhood retail across the top 25 U.S. metropolitan areas, highlighting key properties in neighborhoods including Dallas Design District, Charlotte's South End, and Salt Lake City's East Bench. She covers current retail trends including the wellness economy, the rise of authentic Asian cuisine and beauty concepts, and the growing demand for small-format retail. Walsh also explains Asana Partners' active investment approach, the challenge of finding quality all-day cafes, and how experiential retail and AI-powered personalization are shaping the future of neighborhood shopping centers.   James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.    Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify  Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com  YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail research here:  http://www.us.jll.com/retail Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.

    32 min

  4. JAN 23

    The Gen X Shopper

    Stephanie Cegielski is Vice President, Research and Public Relations at ICSC, where she leads consumer research initiatives. Cegielski explains why Generation X—born between 1965 and 1980—represents a significant but overlooked opportunity for retailers and shopping center owners. Despite comprising only 19% of the U.S. population, Gen X accounts for a third of total consumer spending. She discusses Gen X shopping behaviors, including their preference for in-store experiences over online shopping, their resistance to social media influencer marketing, and their focus on high-dollar purchases like luxury goods. Joining the discussion are Ana Leon, Director of Retail Research at Nuveen; Mike Jordan, Director of Research at Big V Property Group; Gregg Katz, Director, Business Industry Solutions - Real Estate at Esri; and Meghann Martindale, Principal, Director Market Intelligence, Retail at Avison Young. The panel explores how Gen X's unique position as the "sandwich generation"—caring for aging parents while supporting their own children—drives their spending patterns, and why this generation's hybrid approach to technology makes them the ideal omnichannel consumer.   James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify  Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com  YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail research here:  http://www.us.jll.com/retail Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.

    51 min

  5. JAN 21

    Canadian Retail Property Investment with Matt Smith

    Matthew Smith is the leader of retail investment in Canada for JLL, with 29 years of experience in Canadian capital markets. Smith discusses the current state of Canada's retail investment market, explaining why grocery-anchored centers remain the top investment choice for both domestic and international buyers. He covers the dominance of private capital in the market, the concentration of institutional investment in Canada's six primary markets, and the recent surge of activity in Alberta. Smith also addresses the impact of US tariffs on Canadian consumers and cross-border shopping patterns, the expansion plans of major Canadian grocery chains, and the challenges facing enclosed malls following Hudson's Bay's closure of all locations. He explores why shopping malls remain more central to Canadian retail than in the US, the slowdown in new retail construction, and the ripple effects of Canada's residential housing crisis on retail real estate investment.   James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify  Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com  YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail research here:  http://www.us.jll.com/retail Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.

    24 min

  6. JAN 16

    CEO Alan MacKenzie: Canada Retail is (Mostly) a Landlord's Market - Where We Buy #364

    Alan MacKenzie is CEO of JLL Canada, overseeing all business lines including capital markets, work dynamics, leasing, and property management across the country. MacKenzie shares his journey from founding a retail real estate company in 2000 to leading JLL's Canadian operations, including his work bringing Lowe's to Canada and representing Walmart. He discusses the current state of Canadian retail real estate, explaining why vacancy rates at top-tier malls are below 2% despite economic headwinds. MacKenzie also covers the impact of Hudson's Bay department store closures, the bifurcation in consumer spending behavior, and why Canada has been slower than the U.S. in returning to office. He explains the unique characteristics of the Canadian market, including stringent zoning policies, limited new construction, and strong immigration-driven demand that's creating a landlord's market in premium retail locations.   James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify  Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com  YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail research here:  http://www.us.jll.com/retail Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.

    30 min

  7. JAN 9

    Inside Nando's US Expansion

    Kimberly Grant, CEO of Nando's PERi-PERi North America, and Ryan Welch, Director of Real Estate, join the show to discuss the fast-casual restaurant's expansion across the United States. Grant and Welch share the story of Nando's entry into the US market, the brand's unique approach to hospitality, and the challenges of scaling operations while maintaining authenticity. They cover site selection strategy, customer experience, and the importance of community connection. The conversation also highlights Nando's global cult following, menu adaptations, and the company's commitment to creating career pathways for team members. James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify  Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com  YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail research here:  http://www.us.jll.com/retail Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.

    36 min

  8. JAN 5

    Nando's and Beyond: Robbie Brozin's Path from Founder to Changemaker

    Robert Brozin is co-founder of Nando's, the global restaurant chain known for its flame-grilled peri-peri chicken. He left his corporate job to build Nando's from a single Johannesburg location into an international brand. He discusses the company's unique people-centric culture, the challenges and rewards of global expansion, and the importance of maintaining strong values and purpose. Brozin also delves into his philanthropic work, including the fight against malaria through Goodbye Malaria and his efforts to revitalize Johannesburg. The conversation covers Nando's approach to menu innovation, marketing, and community impact, offering insights into building a brand that changes lives—one chicken at a time. James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify  Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com  YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail research here:  http://www.us.jll.com/retail Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.

    52 min
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4.8
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James Cook and his fellow retail researchers visit shopping destinations around the world, interview retail and real estate executives and discuss market research in a fast-paced and fun setting. James researches retail and real estate for JLL.

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