Back in Business: Market Insights and Trends

Live from ICSC Las Vegas with Rob Franks

Rob Franks interviewed two special guests live on the floor at ICSC Las Vegas. Rob's first interview is with Melinda Nettlebeck - Head of Design and Real Estate at Nando’s Restaurant Group. Rob's second interview is with Trystan Halpert - Vice President, North American Restaurant Development at Northland Properties. Please note this was recorded on a busy show floor so there are some parts of the audio that might be a little inconsistent.

ICSC Las Vegas 2026 ReCap

Fresh off the floor from ICSC Las Vegas 2026, Jeremy Mercer, Will Narduzzi, and Rob Franks break down the biggest conversations shaping retail real estate right now. From packed developer meetings at the Wynn to evolving retailer demand, the crew dives into what they saw firsthand at the industry’s largest commercial real estate event. They discuss why Dallas continues to lead the country in retail growth, the return of institutional capital to the sector, and how rising rents, shrinking lease footprints, and experiential retail concepts are changing development strategies. The conversation also explores emerging trends across retail and restaurants, including the rapid expansion of chicken concepts, the impact of GLP-1 medications on food and alcohol sales, and why entertainment-focused retail continues gaining traction. Beyond retail, the episode takes a deep dive into how AI tools like Claude are beginning to transform underwriting, lease negotiations, operations, and even the future of prop tech itself. Jeremy and Will share how they’re integrating AI into their day-to-day business and why they believe the next generation of real estate professionals must become fluent in these tools. The group also shares behind-the-scenes stories from the week, including networking wins, memorable dinners, developer conversations, and lessons learned from navigating one of the busiest ICSC events yet. If you want an inside look at where retail real estate, development, and commercial investing are heading next, this episode delivers a candid, boots-on-the-ground perspective from the middle of the action. ⁠Rob Franks LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robfranks/] ⁠⁠⁠Bob Moorhead LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-moorhead-8515043b/] ⁠⁠Will Narduzzi LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-narduzzi-30196288/] ⁠⁠⁠Jeremy Mercer LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-mercer-sior-a3154358/]

FBF: ICSC Las Vegas 2025

In preparation for next week's episode release of Retail ReCap reporting back from ICSC Las Vegas 2026 - we are re-releasing last years episode. to get you warmed up! ⁠Rob Franks LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robfranks/] ⁠⁠Bob Moorhead LinkedIn⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-moorhead-8515043b/] ⁠Will Narduzzi LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-narduzzi-30196288/] ⁠⁠Jeremy Mercer LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-mercer-sior-a3154358/]

How Raising Cane’s Went From 100 to 1,000+ Stores with Jeremy Hudson

On this episode of Retail ReCap, hosts Rob Franks, Bob Moorhead, and Will Narduzzi sit down with Jeremy Hudson, VP of Real Estate at Raising Cane’s, to talk about what it actually takes to build a career in real estate. Jeremy Hudson has worked across major brands like RadioShack, Sally Beauty, and Starbucks, and now oversees national growth for Raising Cane's. His perspective is rooted in experience, execution, and long-term relationships. The conversation breaks down what really matters in this business: * Why relationships are everything in real estate * How to find your lane and stay focused * The importance of reputation and doing what you say you’re going to do * Negotiating hard—without burning bridges Jeremy Hudson LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-hudson-a9a29421/] ⁠Rob Franks LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robfranks/] ⁠Bob Moorhead LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-moorhead-8515043b/] Will Narduzzi LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-narduzzi-30196288/] ⁠Jeremy Mercer LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-mercer-sior-a3154358/]

How Restaurant Brands Actually Expand (with Hopdoddy’s VP of Real Estate)

Everyone wants to expand. Very few do it well. In this episode, Ryan Redus from Hopdoddy shares how they approach growth—from understanding the customer before the site, to building repeatable systems for evaluating new locations. The guys unpack what actually drives successful restaurant expansion—and why most brands get it wrong. A must-listen for anyone in retail, restaurants, or real estate. Ryan Redus LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-redus-3368197?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bh3pxXtCwTFSTwRERNZmpLQ%3D%3D] Rob Franks LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robfranks/] Bob Moorhead LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-moorhead-8515043b/] Jeremy Mercer LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-mercer-sior-a3154358/]