Destination Dining, Food Experiences Drive Restaurant Leasing Momentum Across Macerich Portfolio of Class A Retail Properties
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SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Macerich (NYSE: MAC) is accelerating restaurant leasing across its Class A shopping center portfolio, bringing a growing roster of destination dining, international food brands and experience-forward concepts to top U.S. markets as the retail REIT leader continues to elevate and transform its top-quality properties.
New and upcoming openings include first-to-market locations for Eataly, Seafood City, Din Tai Fung, Telefèric Barcelona and other sought-after brands at Macerich properties nationwide, from Tysons Corner Center in metro Washington, D.C., to Scottsdale Fashion Square in Arizona.
As a leading owner, operator and developer of major retail properties in top markets, Macerich views dining as an increasingly important part of the tenant mix, creating more reasons to visit, stay longer and return more often while strengthening traffic and productivity for retailers throughout the property. The Macerich strategy reflects broader shifts in how consumers use shopping centers. In August 2026, indoor mall traffic rose 5.0% year over year while average visit duration also increased, with Placer.ai pointing to the growing role of dining, attractions, events and placemaking. Dining is particularly important to younger shoppers: CBRE reports that 33% of Gen Z consumers want to eat as part of a shopping outing.
“The strongest restaurant brands are looking for top-drawing locations where they can become part of the destination, not simply occupy a space,” said Guy Mercurio, Vice President of National Restaurant Leasing at Macerich. “Our portfolio gives restaurants access to high-quality markets at properties where dining, retail and entertainment work together to drive traffic and increase dwell time. That is helping us attract both established global names and distinctive emerging concepts.”
Scottsdale Fashion Square: A Magnet for First-to-Market Dining
Arizona’s luxury powerhouse Scottsdale Fashion Square continues to evolve as a dining destination, where Nobu and Ocean 44 have long drawn affluent guests. In just the past year, since September 2025, four exciting, high-profile restaurant concepts have opened at this jewel of a property:
- CATCH – First Arizona location of this seafood, sushi and steak concept
- Din Tai Fung – First Arizona location of the Michelin-recognized soup dumpling brand
- Society Swan – Inaugural location of new Sam Fox/Fox Restaurant Concepts American brasserie
- Telefèric Barcelona – First U.S. location outside California for the tapas/paella concept
Tysons Corner Center: Destination Dining Anchors Transformation
Tysons Corner Center in Northern Virginia is continuing to evolve to include additional mouthwatering food and dining experiences, including:
- Maggiano’s Little Italy – Opened June 2026 in a new 17,000-square-foot location
- Eataly – First D.C.-region location with two levels of seated restaurants, quick-service counters and an Italian marketplace, opening fall 2027
- Din Tai Fung – Cult-favorite Taiwanese dumpling concept is committed to the property (opening timing to be announced)
Chandler Fashion Center: Creating a New Dining and Entertainment District
Macerich is bringing fresh energy, bold flavors and reimagined gathering spaces to Chandler, Arizona, with a redeveloped outdoor district centered around dining and entertainment. New and coming soon:
- Seafood City – First Arizona location of the 66,000-square-foot Filipino supermarket/food hall opened July 2026
- Din Tai Fung – Second Arizona location coming in 2027
- La Popular Cocina Mexicana – First Arizona location bringing the flavors and energy of Mexico City in fall 2027
- Wagyu House – First Arizona location of the all-you-can-eat yakiniku and shabu-shabu concept coming in 2027
Restaurant Leasing Momentum Extends Across the Portfolio
Across Macerich’s portfolio, other notable additions include:
- Fogo de Chão has announced new locations coming to three Macerich properties: Freehold Raceway in Freehold, New Jersey; Green Acres in Valley Stream, New York; and Crabtree in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- The Cheesecake Factory is set to open at Green Acres in 2026.
- At HiFi at FlatIron Crossing in Broomfield, Colorado, Memoir – An American Grill, Blue Sushi Sake Grill and Shake Shack will join this all-new, all-outdoor, 25-acre live-stay-eat-play destination attached to the enclosed mall, along with the 40,000-square-foot Pindustry eatertainment concept and numerous other eateries. The mixed-use destination is set to open in phases beginning in 2027.
About Macerich
Macerich is a fully integrated, self-managed, self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). As a leading owner, operator and developer of high-quality retail real estate in densely populated and attractive U.S. markets, Macerich’s portfolio is concentrated in California, the Pacific Northwest, Phoenix/Scottsdale and the Metro New York to Washington, D.C., corridor. Developing and managing properties that serve as community cornerstones, Macerich currently owns 39 million square feet of real estate, consisting primarily of interests in 37 retail centers. Macerich is firmly dedicated to advancing environmental goals, social good and sound corporate governance. For more information, please visit www.Macerich.com.
MACERICH MEDIA CONTACT: Arun Khosla, VP Corporate Communications, Arun.Khosla@macerich.com
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