Episode notes
Retail demand in many U.S. markets is strong again. The challenge isn’t finding brands—it’s finding space.
In this episode of Behind the Lease, we sit down with Erik Christopher, a Denver-based retail real estate broker with decades of experience working across landlord, tenant, and national brand roles.
Erik shares how his career started leasing shopping centers in the Baltimore area, why working inside a retailer like Gap gave him a deeper understanding of store performance, and how that dual perspective shapes the way he advises brands and developers today.
We talk about what’s happening in the Denver retail market, why high-demand districts like Cherry Creek have almost no available space, and how some shopping centers that struggled when they opened are finally seeing their markets grow into them.
Erik also walks through the redevelopment of The Shops at Northfield, a large mixed retail center built on the former Stapleton airport site, where new ownership and population growth are helping reposition the project with major tenants and new brands.
Throughout the conversation, Erik explains how retailers think about market strategy—from the first store in a market to the second wave of expansion—and why patience and brand discipline often matter more than speed.
We cover:
- How Erik Christopher got his start in retail real estate
- What working inside Gap taught him about how stores actually perform
- Why understanding both landlord and tenant perspectives changes how deals get done
- The current supply shortage in top retail corridors like Cherry Creek
- How retailers decide whether to wait for the right location or expand elsewhere
- Why some shopping centers built decades ago are only now reaching their potential
- The redevelopment and leasing strategy behind The Shops at Northfield
This is a practical conversation about how retail expansion works in real markets—where growth is uneven, great space is limited, and the best locations are rarely available for long.
Erik Christopher's Areas of Expertise
- Denver retail real estate
- Tenant representation for national brands
- Shopping center leasing and repositioning
- Retail rollout strategy and market entry
- Mixed-use and lifestyle center merchandising
- Mountain West retail expansion
Check out Erik's profile on Brandmarch: https://www.brandmarch.com/user/erik-christopher
Markets Discussed
Denver
Cherry Creek
Boulder
Central Park (Stapleton redevelopment area)
Brands Mentioned in the Episode
Gap
Old Navy
American Eagle
Wayfair
Lifetime Fitness
MINISO