# Calgary Retail Thrives with Low Vacancy, High Rents

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/toronto-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7593854/calgary-retail-thrives-with-low-vacancy-high-rents.md
Podcast: [Toronto News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!](https://stenobird.com/podcast/toronto-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7593854)
Published: 2026-05-13T11:22:49+00:00
Episode link: https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/cfd8495c-0009-4afa-b29d-e2e07ce6c332.mp3
Audio file: https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/cfd8495c-0009-4afa-b29d-e2e07ce6c332.mp3
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Duration seconds: 93

## Resource

Calgarys retail real estate market thrives with a minuscule 2.4% vacancy rate, one of the lowest in North America. Asking rents surged to nearly $30 per square foot in Q1 2026, according to JLLs report. Despite some store closures, net absorption remained positive at 360,000 square feet, driven by general retail. Construction boomed by 67% with over 2 million square feet underway, particularly in Airdrie and northwest Calgary. Developers are investing heavily, attracting anchors like Costco and opening new plazas. The market is robust, with stable sales and appeal for new entrants, particularly in groceries, dollar stores, and sweet treats. Downtown is experiencing a resurgence with more residents, return-to-office trends, and fast food expansions, positioning the city for future growth. Support the show: Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/0229d098425a810a

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