Colliers Report: Columbia Retail Market Q1 2025

Colliers | South Carolina Market Report

Outward expansion driving grocery-anchored construction

Market Highlights

The Columbia retail market remains tight even as declining consumer confidence suppressed new leasing drastically, particularly among national tenants. Sales volume remained steady as investors continue to pursue retail options in a low-vacancy environment, though high financing costs are slowing capital deployment. Vacancy remains low in most retail nodes, while a late-2024 flurry of national retailer bankruptcies have had only a modest impact as all Columbia-area Big Lots stores will remain open.

Continue reading the full report.

Key Takeaways

• Grocery-anchored centers attractive to investors as the region’s population grows at 1.29% annually
• High development costs are pushing new-build shop space rents well above $30, though overall rent growth has slowed
• Pending tort reform bill could provide a measure of insurance
  relief to restaurant and bar users

About Colliers

Colliers | South Carolina is the largest full-service commercial real estate firm in South Carolina with 66 licensed real estate professionals covering the state with locations in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg. Colliers is an Accredited Management Organization (AMO) through the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and is the largest manager of commercial real estate properties in South Carolina with a portfolio of over 26 million square feet of office, industrial, retail and healthcare properties. Colliers’ staff hold the most professional designations of any firm in South Carolina. Colliers | South Carolina’s partner, LCK, provides project management services for new facilities and renovations across South Carolina.

Colliers is a global diversified professional services and investment management company. Operating through three industry-leading platforms – Real Estate Services, Engineering and Investment Management – we have a proven business model, an enterprising culture and a unique partnership philosophy that drives growth and value creation. With annual revenues exceeding $4.8 billion, a team of 23,000 professionals and $99 billion in assets under management, Colliers remains committed to accelerating the success of our clients, investors and people worldwide. Learn more at corporate.colliers.com, X @Colliers or LinkedIn.