TUSTIN, CA—A lot has changed in the retail realestate market since Chris Hite, president ofTustin, CA-based real estate services firm CorelandCos. founded the firm with PatrickGalentine in the spring of 1990. Walmart rose todominance, recessions have come and gone, and the Internet is now adriving force in the industry. Throughout that time, the commercialreal estate services company has served clients throughout greaterSouthern California. With the annual RECon show inLas Vegas only a few weeks away, we spoke with Hite about thetrends he is sees in the current market and how things have (andhaven't) changed in retail real estate.

GlobeSt.com: You guys have been in thebusiness for about 25 years. How has the industry changed? I assumeyou've seen a lot of shifts in retail realestate?

Chris Hite: Back when westarted, perhaps with the exception of some larger dominant mallproperties, neighborhood-community strip centers were all verycookie cutter. It was typical to have a white stucco grocery- ordrug-anchored center with shop space and uninspired red letteringfor signage… that was the extent of the design quality.