Colorado-Real-Estate-Journal_494028

November 2025 — Retail Properties Quarterly — Page 13 www.crej.com A s the finish line to 2025 approaches, one thing is clear in Colorado’s retail construction market: Effi- ciency, collaboration and trust drive results. Rising interest rates, fluctuating material costs, and ongoing labor shortages con- tinue to challenge general contrac- tors, developers, lenders and ten- ants. Retail developers are shifting from “build it fast” to “build it right.” Success now depends on creating spaces that perform well over time by being adaptable, efficient, and durable. From converting underused retail pads to designing flexible ten- ant spaces, this focus on long-term performance is transforming how GCs, designers, and owners collabo- rate. What 2025 taught us: n Collaboration is a cost-saver, not a courtesy. Our 2025 projects con- firmed a simple truth: Collaboration isn’t a soft skill; it’s a crucial perfor- mance driver. “Whether it was the complex tenant coordination for The Picklr and Malibu Jack’s or the ground-up devel- opment behind Billy Birch, early alignment among project teams led to faster decision- making, fewer change orders, and more predictable results,” said Ryan Barrett, project executive with Catamount. (See our articles in CREJ’s Building Dialogue from June 2025 and CREJ’s August 2025 edition to learn more about these projects.) n Building smarter to beat the bottle- necks. Colorado’s construction labor remains tight, and retailers face similar gridlock, according to a report from the Colorado Chamber of Commerce in July 2024. This dual shortage has made efficiency the key advantage. In 2025, more clients prioritized value engineering, sus- tainable materials, and streamlined site logistics to stay on schedule and reduce dependence on hard-to- source materials. These strategies are no longer value-adds; they’re critical for maintaining predictabil- ity and controlling budgets. n Proven process equals predictabil- ity. Developers are cautious about risk, asking detailed questions about sequencing, buyout timing and costs. Transparent, consistent processes turn caution into con- fidence by establishing structure and accountability from the start. Clear expectations and communica- tion helped complex projects, such as The Picklr and Malibu Jack’s in Thornton, succeed. Early coordina- tion among developers, tenants and GCs identified challenges early. Barrett noted, “Today, success is less about the lowest bid and more about reliability. When trades and decisions stay in sync, projects stay on schedule with fewer surprises.” Efficiency starts with identifying the “first customer.” Catamount teams use a pull plan process that works backward from the store’s opening day to outline what needs to happen for a smooth transition. This method clarifies the respon- sibilities of the owner, tenant, and GC, including training, stocking, and coordinating owner-furnished or installed items. The process is most effective when the GC gets involved early. Early involvement provides essen- tial insights, sequencing and plan- ning that help align the whole team before the design phase ends. Start- 2025 lessons reveal Colo. retail construction trends contact@axiore.com L E A S E D Denver’s Premier Boutique Commercial Real Estate Company 1060 Bannock Street Suite 300, Denver, CO 80204 3 0 3 . 5 9 2 . 7 3 0 0 | w w w . a x i o r e . c o m Contact Axio to discuss how we can maximize the value of your retail assets. We specialize in delivering unique solutions to make the impossible projects possible. RESTAURANTS • RETAIL • MIXED-USE • SHOPPING CENTERS • ASSET SALES Brandon Moore Vice president, Catamount Constructors Inc. Please see Moore, Page 15 Green Valley Ranch Beer Garden is a 13,659-square-foot ground-up construction project. Catamount Constructors completed tenant improvements at Imagine Nation Books in Louisville.