Tenant MIX

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GROCERY STORES Everyone’s gotta eat, right?

The lack of financing has put the kibosh on most new construction and development; banks no longer want to lend money to risky ventures. But banks are still agreeing to back tried-and-true retail shopping centers: the ones on hightraffic corners in good neighborhoods, the ones with credit tenants (such as McDonald’s, Starbucks and other megacompanies good for the money), and the ones with grocery stores.

“Grocery is doing well because people are eating out less,” Jean Smith says.

It also makes sense that a national grocer is more likely to move into our neighborhood than a large national retailer.

“Think about the number of Dillard’s [stores] — maybe 15 in Dallas-Fort Worth, and there are 120 Tom Thumbs,” David Shelton says. “If you’re a heavy Dillard’s

Covetedcorporations

They may be corporate chains, but these companies know how to make us want them.

TRADER JOE’S

FIRSTSTORE Pasadena, Calif., in 1967

COMPANY HOME Monrovia, Calif.

TOTALSTORES 354 in 29 states; eight more announced for 2011

CLOSESTSTORE Des Peres, Mo. (St. Louis area), 637 miles