Report: US malls can’t rely on Apple and Tesla to increase foot traffic

New data out today about retail store closures in the US shows that “experiential” tenants like Apple and Tesla aren’t driving consumer traffic to malls like landlords expect.

As reported by CNBC, analytics firm Thasos says that foot traffic at US malls has been dropping since last August, except for a small uptick during the holidays. Meanwhile, data from Coresight shows that almost 6,000 retail stores have closed so far in 2019, more than the amount during all of 2018.

Notably, strong brands like Apple and Tesla are often believed by landlords to increase consumer traffic and are given better deals on leases. However, Thasos’ latest data shows that hasn’t been the case lately and that landlords are likely overpaying for brands like Apple and Tesla.

His firm found malls with so-called experiential tenants that aren’t just focused on selling products, like Apple, Italian food hall Eataly and Tesla, haven’t been drawing in extra traffic.

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“This suggests [real estate investment trusts] are overpaying to bring in Tesla and Apple, and others, in order to drive foot traffic to the property,” Collins said.

via CNBC

As noted by 9to5Mac’s Michael Steeber, while Apple’s flagship stores in major city centers have been refreshed with a more experiential focus (Today at Apple, display walls, etc.) a large percent of Apple Stores are ten years old or more.

As for Tesla, it is in the middle of a chaotic restructuring of its retail store strategy. Last month it closed 29 locations in the US and Canada, but then froze the process closures and layoffs.