Fort Lauderdale Retail Market Report

Residential boom drives sector stability. Fort Lauderdale’s ongoing influx of affluent professionals is set to drive strong income gains in 2025, sustaining retail sales growth after last year’s gain was the third fastest of major U.S. markets. An expanding consumer base should bolster retailer leasing activity, which held steady in 2024 despite slowdowns in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach. Downtown Fort Lauderdale should continue benefiting from rising office occupancy, fueling demand for restaurants and boutique stores in mixed-use areas. A growing corporate presence near Plantation and Oakland Park should also drive leasing, with discount retailers and grocery stores anchoring local shopping centers, while dining and medical tenants target strip centers to be closer to residents. Traditionally tourism-reliant submarkets like Hollywood and Pompano Beach have lagged, but historic residential growth — evidenced by Hollywood’s record multifamily net absorption last year — is anticipated to drive future retail demand.