Real Estate TRENDS: Retail vacancies down, but national chain bankruptcies could change that this year By Holly Duchmann - April 27, 2023 The North Gates shopping center near LSU's flagship campus. (Photo by Don Kadair) FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailPrint The Capital Region saw its retail vacancy rates drop from 8.81% to 7.17% last year, following a national trend of lowering rates. Nationwide, retail vacancy rates are the lowest in a decade. Already an INSIDER? Sign in.