News
Dallas, Texas (August 19, 2024) – Well-known in the Dallas metro and nationally as a trailblazing force with more than 30 years of expertise in retail commercial real estate, Amy Maclaren has joined Foundry Commercial in the role of Senior Vice President. Foundry, a full-service real estate and investment firm focused primarily on the Sun Belt markets, has recently expanded its retail footprint with strategic hires throughout the southeast. In her new role with Foundry, Maclaren will help to lead the company’s growth in the retail platform for the Dallas area.
Maclaren will work closely with platform leaders throughout Texas and in the retail segment to collaborate on business opportunities in mixed-use development and redevelopment projects on a national scale. She joins Foundry with the retail curation at MidCity District – a 140-acre mixed-use development in Huntsville, Alabama – as one of her premiere projects.
“We are thrilled to welcome Amy to Foundry as she joins our Dallas office to help grow our retail business. With over three decades of unparalleled experience, Amy’s deep market knowledge will be instrumental as we strategically pursue growth opportunities in the retail sector. Her expertise aligns with our vision, and we’re excited to see how her contributions will elevate our efforts and drive success across the platform,” stated Foundry’s Texas Market Leader Steve Bassett.
Prior to joining Foundry, most recently, Maclaren served as a First Vice President at CBRE, within the company’s Retail Advisory & Transaction Services Group. Maclaren is a veteran working with project leasing for owners and developers of landmark urban retail destinations across the U.S. Throughout her career, she has executed transactions with widely recognized brands such as: Neiman Marcus, Kate Spade, Apple, Pottery Barn, REI, Sandbox VR, and Trader Joe’s, among others.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the retail segment has emerged as a surprising favorite among commercial real estate professionals. Despite initial setbacks, the sector has adeptly adapted to new consumer behaviors and technology, with retail vacancies falling to 4.7% in the second quarter of 2024, marking a significant improvement from the peak of 10.5% during the pandemic. This decline highlights the retail sector’s robust recovery and its successful adaptation to evolving consumer preferences and shopping habits. Foundry is bullish on the sector, recently launching a retail investment platform, also based in the firm’s Dallas office.
Licensed as a broker in Texas as well as Alabama, Maclaren is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and holds the ICSC designation of Senior Certified Leasing Specialist (CLS, CRX). She is also a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), where she is active on the ULI Retail Silver Committee. Her hire comes directly on the heels of another powerhouse retail addition to the platform; it was just announced that 20-year retail CRE veteran Liz Craig joined Foundry in Nashville.
“The retail sector remains poised for significant growth. Advancements in technology and an increased emphasis on experiential shopping are driving demand for innovative retail spaces. Additionally, strategic locations and adaptive reuse of properties are creating new opportunities for investors and businesses alike. We’re seeing a renewed energy in the market that underscores the resilience and adaptability of the retail landscape, so it’s a really exciting time to be leaning into this new role at Foundry,” said Maclaren.