Coexisting Dichotomy

Restaurants and grocery stores typically compete for consumers' finite food dollars and discretionary income.

But these days, both appear to be growing along the Gulf Coast, thanks to updated concepts, new market entrants and heightened consumer interest in what they eat and a newfound appreciation for distinct tastes.

Though counterintuitive, that notion of mutual co-existence between the segments was one key takeaway from this year's International Council of Shopping Centers' annual Florida confab Aug. 21-23 in Orlando.