• Boulos analysis flagged retail as strongest-performing traditional real estate asset class in 2025, citing sustained leasing activity and investor demand despite weak office occupancy and a plateau in industrial demand.
• US retail vacancy estimated at 4.6%, near lowest level since 2005, with limited new supply as construction costs push new retail shells to $300-$500 per square foot, tightening availability for existing centers.
• Competitive leasing demand concentrated in 20,000-40,000 square foot spaces across northern New England, with value-oriented tenants backfilling closures such as Big Lots and Joann; Southern Maine rents seen under upward pressure.
• Landlords reported rising “med-tail” leasing, with health and wellness users favoring sub-10,000 square foot suites, particularly 3,000-6,000 square feet, supporting more stable tenant mixes.
• Grocery-anchored centers continued to lead performance and investment interest, with Market Basket planning a new-construction flagship at The Downs in Scarborough; Hobby Lobby slated for a Q2/Q3 2026 opening in Brunswick.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Boulos Co Inc published the original content used to generate this news brief on May 08, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.