Live from the Wisconsin Retail Conference

Episode Title: Is Retail Real Estate Just About Retail: Keynote with Garrick Brown

Guest Speaker: Garrick Brown, Vice President of Real Estate Intelligence & Business Development, Gallelli Real Estate

Episode Overview:
In this special edition of the CARW Podcast, we bring you the full keynote presentation from the 2025 Wisconsin Retail Conference in Milwaukee. Our featured speaker is Garrick Brown, one of the nation’s leading voices in retail real estate, with more than 25 years of experience analyzing market trends and consumer behavior.

Key Topics Covered:

• Economic headwinds and retail resilience
• Growing and shrinking retail sectors
• Bankruptcy trends and what’s on the horizon
• The evolving definition of "retail real estate"
• Why restaurants, healthcare, and services are redefining the space
• The American consumer’s continued impact on retail

Quote to Remember:
"Never underestimate the American consumer." — Garrick Brown

About the Speaker:
Garrick Brown is Vice President of Real Estate Intelligence & Business Development at Gallelli Real Estate. His insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, NPR, and other major media outlets.

Downtown Milwaukee has experienced significant growth in recent years, with Business Improvement District (BID) 21 playing a pivotal role in its development. As of 2024, the district is home to approximately 42,000 residents, reflecting a 26.5% increase since 2010, according the City of Milwaukee website.. The area also accommodates over 90,700 workers and attracts more than six million annual visitors, underscoring its status as a vibrant urban center. ​city.milwaukee.gov

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Dorner, who has been with BID 21 since 2014 and is slated to become the organization's CEO in June 2025. With a background in urban planning and economic development, including previous work with the Village of Menomonee Falls, Matt has been instrumental in driving initiatives that enhance Milwaukee's downtown district.​

Join us as Matt discusses the purpose of a BID, how BID 21 is unique to others across the country, and how BID 21 leverages public-private partnerships to foster economic growth, enhance public spaces, and solidify downtown Milwaukee's status as a premier destination for business, culture, and community life as well as a resource that benefits the entire State of Wisconsin.

In this episode, we speak with Andy Hunt, Director of the Vieth Institute for Real Estate Leadership at Marquette University. He shares many insights including his perspective on the following:

• How the ACRE Program is driving meaningful commercial real estate development in Wisconsin;
• What’s motivating today’s students and how education is evolving to meet market demands;
• Best practices from real estate programs across the country—and how they’re being implemented in Wisconsin;
• The power of collaboration and partnership in shaping the industry’s future.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or just beginning your journey in commercial real estate, this conversation is packed with valuable insights on talent, trends, and the future of the industry—plus ways you can be part of its continued success.