Marci Carl has worked in retail since the age of 14. She was largely inspired by her father who owned and managed temporary Christmas stores in malls and large format patio furniture stores located in strip centers. Together, they would spend hours walking through malls, looking for new locations. He often told her to pursue a career in shopping center leasing. Today, as vice president of leasing at Bucksbaum Retail Properties, it’s safe to say Carl pursued more than that, and she’ll be sharing her retail knowledge at Illinois Real Estate Journal‘s Retail Conference on Sept. 9.
At age 24, Carl started her professional career at General Growth Properties in temporary leasing. She got her start in permanent leasing two years later and Lori Pawley, who now runs shopping center leasing for Irvine Companies, took Carl under her wing and together they worked on the luxury mall portfolio for GGP. After 11 years and looking for change, she joined John Bucksbaum to lease and develop urban sites.
In her current role, Carl handles all the leasing for any of Bucksbaum Retail Properties’ assets, including New City, Addison Park on Clark, IMD (Medical District). She’s also in constant communication with national brokers/tenants, but also with Bucksbaum’s partners and lenders—all of which requires several reports, market analysis, and updates on leasing activity.
Some of the topics Carl will be covering at the Retail Conference include: changes in the food industry and what has remained the same; popular dining options, which she explained have gone from hamburger—Smashburger, Five Guys—to quick service pizza—Blaze, MOD, Pie5; and even the fitness industry.
“Fitness craze has gone from large gym formats, to smaller-sized spaces that can operate 24-hour operations,” Carl explained. “Boutique fitness classes are very popular, but when will this trend stop? How many studios are enough for one market? Will the barre classes remain relevant when cross fit gyms are expanding rapidly?”
But what is it about the industry that keeps her so invested? Just about every aspect—from store concept and design to seeing how tenants stay relevant to their customers through social media, web, advertising and even email.
“I truly love retail,” Carl shared. “It fascinates me to see what works where and why, beyond just location, location, location. I find it very rewarding to work on developments and help to change their merchandising and restaurant mix to best address their consumers.”
One of her most memorable experiences is even a recent one. Carl said seeing New City’s first tenant, Dick’s Sporting Goods, open last week was extremely exciting and memorable because New City has been ‘in the works’ for just about a decade.
As for the biggest lesson she’s learned from working in the industry, Carl explained it’s the challenges.
“Stay the course, the road can be difficult, but also rewarding,” she said.
Outside of work, she enjoys playing tennis, her favorite sport, and watching college basketball, which is her favorite sport to watch—she’s a proud Badger fan.
Carl loves spending time with her girls, Alexandra, 10, and Hayden, 7, whether it’s biking, swimming or just being outdoors.
