As Macy’s Closes, New Opportunities Open for Irvine Spectrum

Thanks to Irvine Company’s $150 million investment, 20 smaller stores are planned to replace the closed Macy’s site at Irvine Spectrum Center.

As e-commerce sites overpower the retail market, the choice of what stores to bring to life could be one of the toughest commercial real estate decisions. OC Register’s Jonathan Lansner shares his opinion on what should replace Macy’s in the available space.

Amazon’s brick-and-mortar book-centric store, Crayola’s new concept to allow children to create their own crayon sets, and Google, and Trader Joe’s make the list, as his suggestions range from technology to food, and in between.

Perhaps the most important thread weaving through all his ideas is a focus on experience, which is what retailers will need in order to survive a world where consumer spending is shifting to the web.