6 Retail Brands to Watch
in 2026
The brands leaning hardest into brick-and-mortar expansion — and what it means for retail real estate.
Despite a rocky start to 2026 marked by high-profile bankruptcies and layoff headlines, a new class of retailers is proving that physical retail is far from finished. From digitally native brands opening their first permanent locations to legacy labels accelerating aggressive store rollouts, these six companies are rewriting the playbook — and actively seeking quality real estate to do it.
“Gone are the days when brands could feasibly operate as pureplays. They must now continuously find ways to expand their distribution to reach customers — and brick and mortar is becoming necessary in order to stand out in an increasingly crowded market.”— Retail Dive, February 17, 2026
Who’s Expanding — and Where
FP Movement
Active / AthleisureThe activewear arm of Urban Outfitters has quietly become one of the industry’s most compelling growth stories. CEO Dick Hayne publicly declared FP Movement has the potential to become a billion-dollar brand — and the company is investing aggressively to get there.
After opening its first standalone store in Century City, CA in late 2020, the brand now operates around 75 locations, with approximately 20 of those opening in 2025 alone. A new pop-up partnership with Nordstrom’s NYC flagship further broadens their retail footprint.
With 20+ new stores per year, FP Movement is a serious expansion tenant. Target: 1,500–2,500 SF in lifestyle centers and high-traffic urban corridors.
SKIMS
Shapewear / ApparelPerhaps the most headline-grabbing name on this list, SKIMS has been on a trajectory from DTC darling to genuine omnichannel powerhouse. On track to reach $1 billion in net sales in 2025, the brand has stated its ambition to become a predominantly physical business.
After opening its first permanent store in Washington, D.C. in 2024, SKIMS has since expanded to Los Angeles, Atlanta, Nashville, Chicago, and Boca Raton — with new capital specifically earmarked for physical expansion and international growth.
SKIMS is actively seeking flagship locations in major metros. Premium inline and endcap positions in Class A malls and lifestyle centers are prime targets.
Tecovas
Footwear / LifestyleTecovas has turned western-inspired footwear into a mainstream retail phenomenon. The brand opened its first store in 2019 and has since grown to a network of approximately 50 locations — a remarkable pace for a brand that started as an online-only business.
Riding the sustained popularity of western aesthetics and an expanding customer base beyond traditional boot country, Tecovas continues to open in new markets with larger-format experiential store concepts that blend retail and brand storytelling.
Tecovas favors lifestyle centers and outdoor-adjacent retail. Flagship stores run 2,000–3,500 SF; strong draw for experiential shopping center leasing.
Mango
Fashion / ApparelThe Spanish fast-fashion giant is betting heavily on the U.S. market, treating physical retail as its primary growth vehicle. Mango has been accelerating its American store rollout at an impressive clip, targeting both flagship positions in major metros and lifestyle-center locations in key suburban markets.
As a legacy global brand with deep manufacturing and design capabilities, Mango brings strong brand recognition and loyal repeat customers — making them a high-quality anchor tenant for mixed-use and lifestyle center landlords.
Mango’s U.S. rollout is actively seeking mid-box retail space (3,000–5,000 SF) in high-traffic corridors. Strong consideration for tri-state markets including Long Island.
Homecourt
Home Care / LifestyleHomecourt has carved out a distinctive niche in the premium home care and body products space, transforming everyday household products into luxury lifestyle items. The brand is pushing deeper into physical retail, with a new sub-brand “Splash” targeting younger demographics while maintaining its upscale positioning.
As consumers increasingly seek out curated, experiential shopping for home goods, Homecourt represents a compelling format for specialty retail corridors and lifestyle centers looking to diversify their tenant mix beyond apparel.
Premium home care brands like Homecourt seek boutique-format space (800–1,500 SF) in experiential centers and alongside complementary wellness and lifestyle tenants.
Cyklar
Active Lifestyle / EmergingCyklar represents an emerging generation of brand builders who are using physical retail not just as a sales channel, but as a primary branding and community-building tool. The brand is leaning into experiential retail as a means to differentiate in an increasingly competitive active-lifestyle market.
Emerging brands like Cyklar signal where retail real estate demand is heading: immersive, smaller-format spaces that prioritize experience and brand storytelling over raw square footage — a format well-suited to mixed-use developments and reimagined suburban retail corridors.
Watch for emerging active brands seeking pop-up-to-permanent pathways in mixed-use and lifestyle properties. These tenants often become anchor draw long-term.
What This Means for
Retail Real Estate in 2026
Physical Retail is Winning
Every brand on this list is betting on physical stores as its primary growth vehicle. Landlords with well-located, well-maintained retail space are in a strong negotiating position.
Suburban Markets Are Key Targets
Brands like SKIMS, Tecovas and FP Movement are expanding beyond gateway cities into affluent suburban markets — including Long Island — where consumer spending remains robust.
Quality Tenancy Drives Value
Adding high-growth national brands to your retail asset creates co-tenancy synergies, drives traffic, and supports market-rate rents for neighboring tenants.
Looking to attract expansion tenants to your retail property? Schuckman Realty has been matching growing brands with the right real estate across the New York metropolitan market since 1978. Let’s talk.