Skittish Retailers May Put Work on Hold

More than 30 retail design leaders gathered at Richter + Ratner Contracting Corporation's roundtable conference on Oct. 3, 2001, at The Cornell Club in New York, to address the question foremost in everyone's mind: “How is the retail design world reacting to September 11?”

The consensus: “There is a 'wait and see'attitude — work is on hold — retailers are a little skittish about things they haven't signed.”

On their part, retailers are concerned about both the economy and the availability of construction trades to finish projects in New York (since so many are involved in the recovery effort, which will go on for months).

President Michael Ratner (Cornell and director of construction Ron Weiss facilitated the discussion, as it moved on to other areas, including: retail design opportunities; design trends in 2001 (is minimalism dead?); change orders (how to avoid them); the project design team (working with in-house designers); educating clients; and using the internet as a tool.

Among the responses: “strip malls have had a renaissance;” “we've done a lot of hospitality work, and that's over!” and “walnut is back.”

Participants earned continuing education credit from the AIA.