Whenever urban renewal is planned the presence of retail, integrated with other uses, is an essential element; it would however be deceptive to believe that the fabric of retail may develop spontaneously without planning for the aggregation of retail outlets in adequate premises. Both when considering the renewal of whole urban areas and when focusing on the re-use of individual buildings, the creation of new retail venues, conceived, planned and built as a whole, is fundamental for success, both economic and social.