Photo via Fast Company
While headlines continue to trumpet retail closures across the country, a more nuanced picture is emerging in early 2026. According to a report from real estate services firm JLL, discount dollar stores and restaurant concepts are leading a new wave of store openings, with Dollar Tree planning 400 new locations and Starbucks adding 175. This activity suggests that Charlotte-area real estate investors and landlords still have reasons for optimism, even as other retail segments struggle.
The reshaping of retail real estate reflects fundamental shifts in consumer behavior and market demand. As traditional apparel, accessory, and electronics retailers continue to lose ground to e-commerce, landlords are successfully backfilling vacant spaces with tenants in resilient categories—grocery stores, fitness centers, and dining concepts. Charlotte's dynamic Sun Belt market, similar to growth corridors in Atlanta and Phoenix, is positioned to benefit from this trend, particularly as the region's population continues to expand.
Geography matters in this new retail environment. JLL's analysis reveals a clear split between Sun Belt markets—where population growth is fueling retail expansion and rent increases—and coastal cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, where rents are declining. Charlotte's status as a Sun Belt growth hub aligns it with markets experiencing rent growth, potentially affecting lease negotiations and expansion plans for local retailers and landlords over the coming year.
The lesson from 2025, when early-year closures were offset by year-end growth, suggests that patience may be warranted. While the first quarter of 2026 shows continued closures, the overall trajectory points toward a reconfigured retail landscape. For Charlotte business owners and property investors, understanding which retail categories are expanding—and which are contracting—will be critical to making informed decisions about space and inventory in an increasingly selective retail market.
