Thinking outside the big box : retailers look to America's inner cities

Abstract

Recent studies have shown there is a considerable retail opportunity in established but historically underserved markets in the United States. The goal of this thesis is to investigate to what extent national big box retailers are entering historically underserved markets in America's inner cities. This thesis will study the reasons for retail in underserved markets, determine to what extent retailers are willing to change their prototype formats to enter these markets and determine what measures must be taken by retailers and developers to allow for success. Six case studies will analyze recently completed and proposed projects where big box retailers entered urban markets.