The Week In News, But Shorter
July 21 – 27, 2025

A Weekly PropTech Newsletter bringing you industry updates from across the real estate spectrum

In the Property Talk section below we’ve highlighted a few of the stellar articles published this week in Modern Retail as part of their State of the Mall series, which “checks in on the malls, developers and brands keeping the American retail dream alive.” The themes align closely with what we’ve been seeing (and writing!!) in recent newsletters. The future of malls lies in experience over transaction, and continued success depends on transforming into vibrant social hubs that emphasize community, discovery, engagement, and entertainment. We’ve highlighted a few of our favorite reads below, but it’s worth checking out the full series. Let us know on LinkedIn which ones stood out to you.

We also pulled a story from Glossy that explore what’s working in physical retail right now, along with a WWD piece on a unique concept headed for Times Square. There’s a strong AI use case in property management that feels especially relevant for mall owners. And yes, we have some feelings about Amazon’s latest purchase.

Digital Meets Physical

AI shopping assistants have a trust problem [RetailDive] Forty-three percent of Americans are aware of AI shopping assistants, but only 14% have used one, according to a new survey from YouGov. Trust remains a barrier to adoption, with 41% of survey respondents stating they have no trust in AI shopping assistants. Indeed, they are one of the least trusted sources of shopping information, according to YouGov.

Amazon snaps up AI wearables company Bee [RetailDive] Amazon has confirmed that it is acquiring AI wearables company Bee. The news was first revealed via Bee’s website and a social media post from Bee co-founder Maria de Lourdes Zollo. The deal, for an undisclosed amount, is signed but hasn’t closed.

A Showcase for Innovation Comes to Times Square [WWD] These and hundreds of other innovative, technologically driven items from such companies as Whoop, LG and Procter & Gamble are on display at an experiential new retail setting debuting in Manhattan’s Times Square, called Tm:rw. (Tm:rw is pronounced “tomorrow,” and the spelling evokes a digital clock.)

Walmart—yes, Walmart—says AI agents are its future [Fortune] Could Walmart become a leader in the burgeoning agentic AI race? After watching the retail company’s technology leaders discuss a host of new agents Wednesday at a New York City event, a yes might not be as farfetched as it might sound to some.

AI Won’t Fix Our Buildings, But it Will Change Maintenance Forever [Propmodo] Property managers used to pass tickets handwritten on carbon copy paper to the appropriate maintenance person, then tally these tickets up at the end of the week. Once, this was the best we could do. Now, the process has been digitized. But, as advanced as property maintenance has become, it is on the cusp of another jump in technology thanks to the unlimited potential of AI.

PropTalk

The next era of mall brands: Why Fabletics, Princess Polly and Primark are betting on American malls [ModernRetail] For years, the American mall has been seen as a retail relic — overshadowed by e-commerce, battered by store closures and often dismissed as a fading chapter in retail history. But a new wave of brands is challenging that narrative with ramped-up investments in malls across the U.S.

The Week in Shopping: Welcome to Miami [The Puck] One mystery of the Miami retail scene is that, with so many shopping neighborhoods wedged into about a 20-mile radius (Coconut Grove, Aventura, Bal Harbour, the Design District…), they somehow manage to keep from cannibalizing one another. This isn’t unique to the 305—the same puzzle is laid out in Dallas, Boston, Chicago, and beyond.

With Labubus and a Cat Cafe, a Shopping Mall Thrives in New York City [The New York Times] Nick A. Egelanian, a retail consultant, said he believed that only a few hundred malls would survive over the next decades. Roosevelt Field and the Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey are likely to last, he said, because they offer high-end shopping and attract a broad customer base.

The secrets of America’s thriving luxury malls: What’s working to attract high-end brands and high-net-worth shoppers [ModernRetail] Matthew Whitman Lazenby takes pride in being the third generation to run Bal Harbour Shops in Florida. The upscale mall boasts a culture similar to when his grandfather started it in 1960 — “It’s a special place to spend time with friends and family and enjoy the palm trees swaying in the wind,” Lazenby told Modern Retail. But the nature of luxury has also shifted.

Barnes & Noble opens three new stores — here’s where [Chain Store Age] Barnes & Noble is furthering its expansion as the brick-and-mortar bookstore resurgence continues. Open-air shopping center owner and developer Big V Property Group has announced the opening of three new Barnes & Noble stores at properties in Texas and South Carolina.

When it comes to winning at brick-and-mortar, store associates are the VIPs [Glossy] As a veteran fragrance consultant, Patience Anoe-Lamptey Battle has seen how perfume has grown from a niche interest to an obsession for everyone from teen boys to celebrity clientele. But there’s one question she finds perfume consumers always ask: How long does it last?