Midtown Alliance Engages Local Consultant to Attract More Retail Growth
06/10/2026
Midtown Alliance has enlisted Atlanta retail expert Todd Semrau of Urban Retail Advisors to lead the organization’s ongoing retail economic development strategy.
In this role, Semrau will serve as a connector between retailers, brokers, property owners, and developers, helping attract new brands to Midtown while identifying opportunities to strengthen the district’s street-level retail environment. His efforts will focus on cultivating a more dynamic shopping experience by aligning retailers with available storefronts and supporting the continued evolution of Midtown as a retail destination.
Opportunities to Serve a Fast-Growing Affluent Market
For years, Midtown Atlanta has been one of the region's most dynamic places to live, work, learn, and create. The sidewalks here are filled with students, professionals, residents, and visitors – with money to spend – moving between offices, apartments, restaurants, parks, and cultural destinations.
When it comes to the retail environment, the district has some individual bright spots. For example, Jamestown’s repositioned Colony Square has created a strong commercial anchor in the district. And local shops like Big Peach Running Company have become woven into the fabric of Midtown.
But there’s still more opportunity to create a retail environment that fully reflects the energy and lifestyle of the district itself. Midtown Alliance’s 2025 Community Survey found that while dining options remain a clear strength – cited positively by 87% of respondents – only 37% feel Midtown offers a strong range of shopping options, underscoring an opportunity for continued retail growth.
"Midtowners have made it clear that they want more retail choices," said Midtown Alliance Urban Design Director Ginny Kennedy. "The data confirms what many have suspected for years: Midtown possesses the density, spending power, demographics, and pedestrian activity necessary to support a much broader mix of lifestyle retail."
The Ingredients Are Already Here
Midtown boasts a growing residential population, a highly educated and affluent workforce, exceptional consumer spending power, and more than 100,000 people moving through the district on a typical day. These are the fundamentals that retailers seek, and few urban districts in the Southeast can match them.
Recognizing this opportunity, Midtown Alliance launched a comprehensive effort to better understand Midtown's retail future. Bringing together property owners, brokers, retailers, and industry experts, the initiative examined everything from retail inventory and consumer behavior to spending patterns and market demand, beginning in the Arts District, a geographic activity center that includes several arts and cultural venues between 10th Street and Pershing Point.
The Arts District alone is home to nearly 100 retailers, yet significant opportunities remain. Categories such as apparel, home furnishings, accessories, and specialty lifestyle goods continue to be underrepresented despite strong local demand.
According to Semrau, Midtown consumers are already spending with lifestyle and affinity brands—they're just doing it online or outside the district.
"Our goal," he said, "is to create a vibrant, street-level retail experience that captures that demand locally, drawing both shoppers and their spending into Midtown's storefronts."
Dozens of New Midtown Street-Level Retailers Have Opened Their Doors This Year
More than 20 new retailers have opened in Midtown this year, with more openings announced for the coming months, bringing additional neighborhood-serving businesses, food and beverage concepts, and new experiences to the district. And long-term strategic projects such as Midtown Green, a transformative four-acre public space now under development, will help strengthen connections between destinations and create new opportunities for retail activity.
At the same time, Midtown Alliance is developing a new suite of retail-focused resources that provide prospective brands with direct access to consumer demographics, spending trends, and market insights—making it easier than ever to evaluate Midtown as a retail destination.
The effort seeks to improve the alignment between Midtown’s retail offerings and the way people already live, work, and spend their time.
“For lifestyle brands targeting creative, experience-driven consumers, there is no stronger retail destination than Midtown Atlanta,” Semrau said. “The question for retailers isn’t whether Midtown is ready for them—it’s whether they’re ready for Midtown, because their customers are already here.”
Get in touch with us for more info about Midtown opportunities and a breakdown of available retail space.
Contact Todd Semrau
404-254-1379