Robert Gibbs 
Principles of Urban Retail Planning and Development 

‘…Extraordinary: Gibbs has popped the hood and taken apart the
engine of commercial design and development, showing us each
individual part and explaining fit, form and function.’

–Yaromir Steiner, Founder, Chief Executive Officer,
Steiner + Associates

‘…the most comprehensive and expansive book ever written on
the subject of Retail Real Estate Development. Gibbs is by
far the most prominent advocate for reforming retail planning and
development in order to return American cities to economic and
physical prominence.’

-Stefanos Polyzoides, Moule & Polyzoides
Architects & Urbanists

The retail environment has evolved rapidly in the past few decades,
with the retailing industry and its placement and design of
‘brick-and-mortar’ locations changing with evolving demographics,
shopping behavior, transportation options and a desire in recent
years for more unique shopping environments.

Written by a leading expert, this is a guide to planning for
retail development for urban planners, urban designers and
architects. It includes an overview of history of retail design, a
look at retail and merchandising trends, and principles for current
retail developments.

Principles of Urban Retail Planning and Development
will:

* Provide insight and techniques necessary for historic downtowns
and new urban communities to compete with modern suburban shopping
centers.

* Promote sustainable community building and development by
making it more profitable for the shopping center industry to
invest in historic cities or to develop walkable urban
communities.

* Includes case studies of recent good examples of retail
development

Table of Content

Introduction.

Chapter 1. Retailing Fundamentals.

Chapter 2. Retailer Business Models.

Chapter 3. Retail Anchors.

Chapter 4. Downtown Commerce: Challenges and Opportunities.

Chapter 5. Economically Sustainable Commercial.

Chapter 6. Shopping Center Built-Form Types.

Chapter 7. Planning and Urban Design.

Chapter 8. Parking.

Chapter 9. Store Planning and Visual Merchandising.

Chapter 10. Retail Development Finance.

Chapter 11. Leasing – The Lifeblood of the Deal.

Chapter 12. Management and Operations.

Chapter 13. Branding.

Chapter 14. Platted Town Centers.

Chapter 15. Case Studies: Historic City Centers.

Chapter 16. Case Studies: New Town Centers.

About the author

Robert Gibbs (Birmingham, Michigan). Over the last two decades, Robert J. Gibbs has carved out a niche as one of the nation’s foremost urban retail consultants. President of Gibbs Planning Group (GPG), and a founding member of the Congress for New Urbanism, Gibbs is at the forefront of the industry in his ability to successfully distil retail and merchandising principles for reviving retail in moribund downtowns and for instilling successful commerce in new ones. GPG has provided residential and commercial development consulting services to more than 200 communities, helping to develop and redevelop over 400 cities and 300 new centers across North America, the Pacific Rim and the Caribbean. Gibbs is a frequent public speaker, and teaches an annual course on ‘Retail Planning and Design Principles’ for Harvard University’s Executive Education Program.