DALLAS/HOUSTON—Who says traditional retail is dead? As many retailers have found, the customer experience is one aspect that can't be replicated by an online-only retailer.

A recent survey by Retail Dive discovered that "the ability to see, touch and feel products ranks highest among the reasons consumers choose to shop in stores versus online". Customers seek the opportunity to interact with a product and ask questions before completing a purchase. There's a level of trust a brick-and-mortar location achieves that an online store can't quite reproduce.

And, in 2018, the US Department of Commerce estimated that only 14.3% of total retail sales occurred online. E-commerce sales have been growing year after year, and yet it remains only a relatively small portion of all sales.

With that said, traditional retail is far from dead, according to four specialty concepts that previously were either only online or online-wholesale. These concepts have now leased space, representing the first physical brick-and-mortar locations in the DFW metro, proving that clicks to bricks really does work.

The first is a pop-culture collectables store going into a Target-anchored center in Arlington. Fat Gandalf Inc. Toys & Collectables, a store specializing in pop culture collectables and consumer toys intended for both collectors and children, has leased 2,142 square feet of retail space in Arbrook Oaks, a regional-draw retail center at 3808-3810 S. Cooper St., for its first brick-and-mortar location.

"Moving from online Internet sales to a retail store is a dream come true," Paul Morales of FatGandalf tells GlobeSt.com. "Most people would tell you it's about margins and saving money, but personally I believe it's about showing success. Making the switch from a virtual store to a brick-and-mortar store is about image and visibility. I want customers to know that there is a real company with real employees pushing quality products right here in the USA. As I work to open the retail store, all I think about is 'brand'. What will people see? What will people think? I'm comforted knowing we finally have something to show."

FatGandalf Inc. was formed as an online store to create a market for hard to find toys and collectables. The store offers toys and collectables including action figures, Funko POP, Disney, Marvel and other brands.

Michael Sweet and Kevin Butkus with Weitzman handled negotiations as exclusive project leasing agents for the center.

The other three retailers are going into M-K-T, a mixed-use redevelopment project in the Heights area of Houston located at North Shepherd and 6th Street. The walkable project will feature an urban boardwalk and park space.

M-K-T, now underway, is transforming more than 200,000 square feet of former industrial buildings into a high-end retail, restaurant and office project. Houston-based Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners are directing the redevelopment, which is set for completion in 2020.

Burdlife jewelry, designed and handmade by Natasha Dadwani in her Heights apartment studio, plans to open its first retail location in 1,193 square feet of retail space in M-K-T.

Brett Levinson with Weitzman handled negotiations for the concept. Brittney Freed, Linda Rubiola and Christie Amezquita with Shop Companies represented the landlord.

Burdlife operates with a vision to provide quality jewelry and statement pieces. Burdlife was established in 2015 and, after achieving success with online sale and wholesale accounts including Anthropologie, Amezquita decided to open her first retail store at M-K-T in the Heights.

Elite Meals, offering healthy prepared meals that are locally sourced and made with organic ingredients, has leased 1,653 square feet of retail space in M-K-T. Elite Meals offers several specialized meal plans that follow a whole foods-based, dietician-designed program and offers ready-made paleo, ketogenic and plant-based meals.

The M-K-T location will be the first retail location for the brand, which also offers online ordering for delivery. Weitzman's Levinson handled negotiations for the concept.

Honeychild's Sweet Creams, handmade frozen custards featured at a number of well-known urban Houston restaurants, coffee shops and stores, has leased 1,311 square feet of retail space in M-K-T. Honeychild's Sweet Creams are handmade in Houston from locally sourced, all-natural ingredients.

The M-K-T Honeychild's Sweet Creams will be the first retail location for the brand. Levinson handled negotiations as exclusive tenant representative for Honeychild's.

Instant Insights /

E-tailers Transform Clicks for Bricks in Brick-and-Mortar Sites

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