LYRRA Supports Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Greater China in Launching Real Estate Strategic Report
In-depth Analysis on the Evolution of China’s Retail Real Estate
Recently in Beijing, LYRRA collaborated with Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Greater China to complete a new bilingual strategic article titled Elastic Spatial Structure: What China’s Malls Can Learn from the U.S. Retail Collapse. As an important part of JLL’s communication program, this report centers on urban functional rhythms, the evolution of consumer behavior, and demographic shifts. It introduces for the first time structural innovation concepts such as retail redundancy, tempo mismatch, and elastic spatial strategy. As the publisher and lead analyst of Lyrra, Angelina Saiyi Li provided in-depth structural analysis and strategic insights on consumer behavior evolution, urban functionality rhythms, and the future elasticity of retail spaces.
By deeply analyzing the structural reasons behind the decline of American shopping centers, the article provides structural insights and actionable recommendations for the future development of retail spaces in China. The report was officially released through JLL's corporate communication channels and was widely republished by leading business and finance media outlets, including an official reprint by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce. As one of the most dynamic and open provincial commerce authorities in China, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce leads national initiatives in digital economy, cross-border e-commerce, and private-sector trade innovation, holding significant authority and industry influence.
Since the beginning of the year, although the U.S. economy has shown steady signs of recovery, the traditional retail sector has fallen into deeper structural difficulties. Meanwhile, signs of retail overbuilding have begun to appear in certain second-tier Chinese cities, raising concerns about whether China's retail industry might encounter a similar real estate crisis.
Analyzing the U.S. retail collapse, the report highlights key examples such as the shutdown of all 450 stores of the sporting goods retailer Sports Authority in May 2016, each with an average area exceeding 3,700 square meters. Alongside at least nine other major retail bankruptcies in 2017, these events contributed to a sharp rise in mall vacancy rates. The immediate causes identified include an oversupply of shopping centers and the disruptive impact of e-commerce giants like Amazon, leading to a decline in traditional mall foot traffic and relevance.
However, the report stresses that the deeper-rooted cause of the U.S. retail crisis lies in shifting consumer behaviors. Most traditional malls were built in the 1970s and 1980s, but as certain regions experienced population loss, income decline, and generational changes in consumption patterns, these aging malls lost their competitive edge, causing anchor tenants to withdraw and triggering the "death spiral" of shopping centers.
Turning to the Chinese market, the report notes that retail expansion has been rapid in recent years, with more than 100 new shopping centers opening annually. In cities like Beijing and Shanghai, the per capita retail space is comparable to that of mature Asian cities such as Singapore and Bangkok, generally supporting the current pace of retail development. However, in second-tier cities like Suzhou, Changsha, and Shenyang, the per capita retail space has already exceeded that of Asia’s primary urban centers, indicating potential risks of overbuilding. Despite these challenges, the report emphasizes that China does not face the same demographic decline seen in the United States. Instead, Chinese shopping centers are exploring a sustainable growth model by integrating online and offline retail strategies and developing experience-driven consumption, offering valuable lessons for the global retail industry.
This collaboration further demonstrates LYRRA’s expertise in cross-cultural structural communication, strategic narrative construction, and high-precision bilingual content production, solidifying its leadership in the intersection of international business and cultural discourse.
Moving forward, LYRRA will continue to drive the convergence of business intelligence, cultural trends, and strategic communications from a global perspective.
About LYRRA
LYRRA is dedicated to exploring the aesthetic systems, structural orders, and symbolic capital underlying the global elite lifestyle.
The brand’s content spans fashion, fine dining, travel, architecture, automobiles, and the intersections of technology and culture, providing in-depth analysis of the forces reshaping global cultural and business landscapes.
About LYRRA
LYRRA is dedicated to exploring the aesthetic systems, structural orders, and symbolic capital underlying the global elite lifestyle. The brand’s content spans fashion, fine dining, travel, architecture, automobiles, and the intersections of technology and culture, providing in-depth analysis of the forces reshaping global cultural and business landscapes.
