Retail Space for Lease Los Angeles: What Big Brands Want—and How to Match It
When looking for a retail space for lease in Los Angeles, retailers have specific standards in mind.
Los Angeles is a top-tier target for national retailers—and for good reason. With over 10 million residents, a diverse population, thriving tourism, and a sprawling geography of submarkets, LA offers significant foot traffic and brand exposure. But for local landlords and businesses, competing for attention and leases in the same arena as national players can feel like an uphill battle.
Understanding what these national brands prioritize when looking for retail spaces for lease in Los Angeles—and how you can position your local space or business accordingly—can give you a strategic edge in this competitive market. This is also essential for a tenant representation broker when helping their clients to find their perfect retail space in Los Angeles.
What National Retailers Are Really Looking For
1. Prime Visibility and Traffic Counts
National brands want eyes on their storefronts. That means locations with high vehicle and pedestrian traffic—whether it’s along iconic corridors like Melrose, Abbot Kinney, or Ventura Boulevard, or in bustling suburban power centers. They rely heavily on location data and foot traffic analytics to choose sites that align with their customer demographics.
2. Demographic Alignment
Retailers use hyper-local population data to ensure their brand fits the neighborhood. They're looking at income levels, age distribution, education, lifestyle preferences, and even ethnicity to determine whether a location matches their target audience. For retail properties for lease in Los Angeles, this can vary significantly from one zip code to the next, which is why data-backed decisions are critical.
3. Co-Tenancy and Brand Adjacency
A strong tenant mix is a magnet for national brands. For example, a fitness anchor might attract health-focused QSR chains, while fashion retailers prefer proximity to complementary apparel stores. National tenants often request site plans and look for synergy with other reputable names that increase overall foot traffic.
4. Accessibility and Parking
Los Angeles’ car culture makes ease of access and parking crucial. A great space with limited ingress/egress or no dedicated parking might get passed over. Drive-thrus, curbside pickup zones, and proximity to transit hubs are also increasingly important for retail real estate in Los Angeles.
5. Long-Term ROI Potential
National retailers think long-term when it comes to retail real estate. They're looking at rent escalations, population growth trends, development pipelines, and infrastructure projects that signal rising value. They need reassurance that the location will stay viable for five to ten years or more.
How Local Landlords and Tenants Can Compete
1. Leverage Local Knowledge
Your competitive advantage is understanding the neighborhood on a granular level. You know where foot traffic is growing, which intersections are heating up, and where local preferences are shifting. Use that insight in your pitch for a retail space for lease—hyperlocal awareness can make your property more attractive than its national competition.
2. Invest in Visibility and Experience
Even small retailers can stand out with great signage, curated window displays, and clean, inviting storefronts. Landlords can enhance their value proposition by upgrading lighting, landscaping, or facades—small touches that make a big difference.
3. Highlight Demographic Fit
Use data to your advantage. Tools like Placer.ai, Esri, and CoStar can help you build a demographic case for your property. Show that your location attracts the exact profile national brands want—even if you’re not in a trophy retail corridor.
4. Offer Flexibility and Support
National tenants may expect TI allowances or longer lease terms, but not all will bite if there’s too much red tape. Local landlords who are flexible, responsive, and proactive can create strong tenant relationships that national REITs sometimes can’t match.
5. Tap Into Local Momentum
Promote what's happening nearby—new housing developments, zoning changes, planned transportation improvements. If your location sits in an emerging retail corridor, make that case. National brands often look to be early movers in trending markets, and LA has plenty of those.
In the fast-paced, ever-evolving landscape of retail space for lease in Los Angeles, knowing what national brands prioritize can help you position your assets and strategies accordingly. Whether you're a landlord trying to attract a household name, or a local retailer seeking to stand out, combining local expertise with data-driven insights is key.
Need more help in finding a perfect retail space in Los Angeles? Contact us, Commercial Brokers International, via info@cbicommercial.com or 310-943-8530.