By Catherine Reagor | The Arizona Republic
The big-box real-estate market in metro Phoenix is rebounding after several big retailers left storefronts and shopping centers vacant during the housing crash.
Retail expert Judi Butterworth with Velocity Retail said the lease and sale of big boxes in the region has been “robust” in the past six months, with traditional and non-traditional users moving into vacant space.
Large national retailers including Burlington Coat Factory, Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market and Ross are filling big spots again.
In addition, smaller companies are opening new stores and distribution centers in former big-box spaces. Baby Town is a new retailer that moved into a former Linens N Things store in Chandler’s Crossroads Towne Center at the Loop 202 and Gilbert Road. The company, started by Tracy and Ocean Zhang, grew out of an Internet-only business that began by selling children’s costumes.
