LAS VEGAS—When we asked Bradley Bailey, a VP of business development, at Bayer Properties, what he thought would be a big topic at the recent ICSC RECon 2017 conference, he said that retail earnings and department stores, particularly Sears would be a topic of conversation.

“Negativity in retail will likely continue until Sears falls,” he tells GlobeSt.com. “It's not a matter of if, it's when,” noting that the retailer has significant debt and bonds through October 2018 .

And he adds that everyone knows that. “A lot of retail owners and operators are waiting for Sears to fail, so that they can focus on redevelopment and something creative at those assets such as hotels, restaurants or multifamily.”

Bailey, who leads the new opportunities for JVs and third-party services at the firm, which has 9 million square feet under management, also noted that retail is not currently a popular product type with Wall Street, and many REITs are selling retail properties, particularly in secondary and tertiary markets.

“As changes continue to occur in the market, Bayer is aligning with potential buyers to create plans for leasing, management and marketing that maximize return,” he adds.

For other thoughts from experts who attended the ICSC RECon event here in Las Vegas and to learn more about panel coverage from the event, check out the articles below.

Welcome to ICSC's RECon 2017

How Foodie Culture Has Changed the Way Brokers Think

Attract the Retail Store of the Future to Your Community Now

Retail Expert: The Future is the Carful Curation of Space

What Brick and Mortar Retailers Need to Do

Caruso's Key to its Success, What Retailers are Looking for

A Closer Look at Retail Lending, Investment

Retailers Now Have Tremendous Options in “New Submarkets”

Experts at ICSC's RECon Say It's All About Fitness, Beauty, Food and Service

Will Food Halls be Retail's Hottest Growth Story?

Food and Beverage's Role in New Real Estate

Authenticity Is Critical to Food Hall Development