Welcome to Melaniphy & Associates, Inc.

Melaniphy & Associates, Inc. is a firm of shopping center consultants, real estate counselors, site selection specialists, market analysts, retail experts, restaurant consultants, and international investment advisors, Melaniphy & Associates, Inc. has successfully advised thousands of national and international clients in both the private and public sectors for more than 50 years. We have advised mall owners around the country om how to revitalize their blighted mall properties. Melaniphy & Associates celebrated our 50-year anniversary in 2021. Melaniphy & Associates, Inc. was founded in 1971. We specialize in a variety of products including the following:

Shopping Center Market Feasibility Studies
Highest & Best Use Analyses
Restaurant Market Feasibility Analysis
Economic Impact Studies
Commercial Revitalization Strategies
Downtown Redevelopment
Sales Cannibalization Analyses
Comprehensive Site Selection Strategies
Regional Mall Redevelopment Programs
Lifestyle Center Development
Industrial Market Studies
Sports Stadium Impact Studies
Hotel Market Studies

John C. Melaniphy, company founder, has been a real estate economist and market analyst for over 50 years. During this time, he has been involved in almost every type of urban and suburban development and redevelopment problem and opportunity... Read more

Food Courts - the Food Operator's Perspective

Submitted by John C Melaniphy III on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 09:49

Much has been said and written about food courts from the shopping center developer and individual food tenant point of view. However, little has been written about collective concerns and the pros and cons of food courts. As a consultant to shopping center developers, retailers, and restaurants, I am uniquely qualified to respond to this topic. Additionally, I set up the original Kentucky Fried Chicken development department in the latter 60s. Finally, I have recently written a book entitled, Restaurant and Fast Food Site Selection which will be published by John Wiley & Sons by the end of the year. The book reflects my over 33 years addressing food location opportunities and problems. From both the developer/owner and food operator's perspective, food courts have not been a panacea.

It is important to understand that food courts were established, not to help the fast food industry, but rather to address the shopping center industry's desire to add fast food facilities to shopping centers. Developers and owners did not want to provide the space to individual operators to which they were accustom. Common seating was the answer. Furthermore, the objective was to capture more rent, and hopefully, overage percentage rentals. In some cases, they succeeded, while in others, they failed.

THE IMPACT OF STADIUMS AND ARENAS

Submitted by John C Melaniphy III on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 09:43

Originally published in CRE Real Estate Issues,Volume 21, Number Three, December 1996

The reality of the degree of positive and negative impacts of stadiums has been the subject lately of a great deal of controversy. Experts have lined up on both sides of the issue. Stadium opponents declare that the facilities, and the teams that play in them, have no immediate nor permanent economic impact. Further, they claim that all of the jobs created are minimum wage positions, and therefore the process is worthless and bogus.

All the while, the Chamber of Commerce, professional teams, the leagues, and the politicians claim that there is a positive impact on the economy and upon the image of a city. If the voters did not want a new stadium, the politicians would be hard to find. Much of the rhetoric has been based upon opinion; not hard data. However, some studies do indicate that the final impacts of new stadiums were far less than those promised. This is especially true of football stadiums that are being utilized by only one sports team.

WHY FOOD COURTS GIVE MANY FRANCHISE OPERATORS INDIGESTION - FRANCHISE OPERATOR VERSUS FOOD COURT MANAGEMENT

Submitted by webmaster on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 17:08

There is an old axiom in the food business that says that strong sales cure all. However, there are times when that is not entirely true. In the last several years, declining customer mall traffic and frugal shoppers have put this axiom to the test. Surprisingly, few have been tested more than the franchisee of a major franchise food company. Nationally known franchise units, with instant recognition, appear to be excellent for food courts. What you may not know is that flat or declining sales affect them more than the other non-franchise units, even if they have high sales levels. Many of our franchise clients are frustrated with food courts, while our mall clients are upset with franchise operator's menu changes. What is the cause of this deteriorating relationship?
The landlord, at the onset, is usually delighted to have a national or well-known regional franchise food operator in his or her food court. The name recognition, image, potentially high sales, limited menu, operating consistency, product quality, cleanliness, value, good service, trained employees and generally well-rounded operations normally make the franchise operator a good tenant. It is important to note that the franchise operator is answerable to both food court management and the franchise company. The franchise operator must meet operating standards set and monitored by the franchisor.

THE PRINCIPLES OF SPECIALTY STORE LOCATION SELECTION

Submitted by webmaster on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 16:04

Over the years of reviewing and selecting retail locations, it has became obvious that the industry needed a set of guidelines regarding location selection. Formulated over the last 25 years, these guidelines are intended to assist specialty type retailers to prepare, evaluate and select locations To select good locations, one needs to be aware of the following:

KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER 

THE PRINCIPLES OF RESTAURANT SITE SELECTION

Submitted by webmaster on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 16:02

Excerpted from Melaniphy's book - - The Restaurant Location Guidebook, a comprehensive guide to picking restaurant and quick service food locations (2007).

Over the years of reviewing and selecting restaurant locations, it has became obvious that the industry needed a set of guidelines regarding location selection. Formulated over the last 25 years, these guidelines are included in my book entitled, The Restaurant Location Guidebook; To select good locations, one needs to be aware of the following:

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