According to a report issued by RBC Capital Markets, demand for retail space in the U.S. hit a five-year peak at the end of 2012, with nearly 82,000 stores scheduled to open within two years. According to Analyst Rich Moore, many of the chains with expansion plans are national retailers looking to fill small shop spaces in open-air community and power centers.
The reports says that the retailers planning the most new stores are Subway, Dollar General, Five Guys and Family Dollar, in that order.