EP57 – Driving retail real estate success through community anchors

10 Apr 2025

Christine Mastandrea, President and COO of Whitestone REIT, shares how a community-first mindset can drive long-term value in commercial real estate. From tailoring retail environments to local culture, to acknowledging and leveraging psychographics and generational shifts, Christine lays out Whitestone’s strategy of turning shopping centers into vibrant and diverse hubs for community.

We explore how retail spaces can serve as the “living rooms” of their neighborhoods, and why flexible, experience-driven developments are key to succeeding in today’s constantly changing landscape.

Tune in to better understand the value of building resilience and relevance into a retail property investment.

Resources Mentioned:

Whitestone REIT

ESRI

Placer.AI

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Key moments

• 01:07 Meet Christine Mastandrea: Background and early career

• 03:36 The rise of REITs

• 05:00 Teaching experience and generational Insights

• 06:32 Christine's role at Whitestone REIT

• 08:14 Strategic decisions and market focus

• 11:55 Whitestone's IPO journey

• 14:41 Wearing a lot of hats at Whitestone

• 19:51 COVID-19 response and adaptation

• 26:09 Entrepreneurial mindset and growth of the “small business”

• 28:45 Impact of high Interest rates and inflation

• 31:10 Generational shifts in consumer behavior

• 36:36 The role of retail in community building

• 42:44 Challenges and opportunities in retail development

• 49:03 Advice for breaking into the CRE industry

• 50:45 Redefining retail for the future