Key Insight: Execution will separate the winners.
We're back from ICSC Las Vegas 2026, and thanks to our attendees, Tom Custer, Executive Director, Growth Strategy; Mark Mockus, National Director, Business Development; and Sam Pena, Studio Director, we look forward with optimism. We were blown away by the 25,000+ decision-maker attendees, and we reflect on one clear signal: execution will separate the winners.
ICSC 2026 Key insights:
- Restaurants are still expanding: drive-thru optimization, smaller footprints, conversions, franchise growth, speed-to-market.
- Retail Centers are being reimagined: mixed-use, entertainment, F&B, healthcare, residential, and true community spaces, often via repositioning over new builds.
- AI is now operational: site selection, market analytics, demand forecasting, portfolio management, and lease abstraction are moving from pilots to playbooks.
- Growth is beyond major markets: secondary/tertiary markets and growth suburbs, where spending power beats density.
How FUSION can support decision-makers:
- Integrated delivery: Architecture + Engineering + Interiors + Branding + Environmental Graphics for faster, more impactful brand experiences and cohesive outcomes.
- Restaurant expertise: prototype evolution, drive-thru design and other formats with built-in flexibility, conversions, and franchise scalability to drive growth.
- Data-to-design: AI-enabled site screening, market analytics and demand modeling to de-risk and accelerate rollouts.
- Mixed-use and healthcare in retail: strategy-to-experience design that elevates value and NOI.
- National reach, local execution: multi-market permitting and speed-to-market at scale.
If we met in Vegas, or didn’t get the chance, let’s connect contact@fusion-ae.com
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