Strip Centers Get in the Act

Entertainment retail has people dancing in the city streets. But what about the suburban by-ways?

Most suburban strip centers remain focused on tenants like grocery stores, dry cleaners, liquor stores, banks, barber shops and others that help people do their daily chores.

But some developers have begun to experiment with entertainment components, creating a sense of place with architectural themes, fountains, outdoor dining, stadium-seating theaters, bookstores, and retailers that bring flair and excitement to their offerings.

Updated lifestyle centers Today, a number of new retailers prosper by offering goods and services in an entertaining fashion. Johnny Rockets, for example, sells hamburgers with the help of singing waiters.