The Number You Are Looking For
Retail space in Macomb County currently leases for between $14 and $37 per square foot on a triple-net (NNN) basis, based on MT Commercial Property Services' own active listings. The low end of that range is a second-generation storefront at 13 Mile and Ryan Road in Warren: 1,600 square feet at $14 per square foot NNN. The high end is brand-new construction at the Fountains of Macomb in Macomb Township: 2,440 square feet at $37 per square foot NNN.
That spread is not random, and understanding why identical-sized spaces can be priced $23 apart is the most useful thing a first-time commercial tenant can learn. The short version: building age, condition, corridor traffic, and how much of the build-out has already been done for you.
Real asking rates, not estimates: $14/sq ft NNN for second-generation retail in Warren, $37/sq ft NNN for new construction in Macomb Township. These are MT Commercial Property Services' current listed rates as of August 2026, not a market average.
What NNN Actually Means for Your Monthly Check
Those numbers are base rent. On a triple-net lease you also pay your share of property taxes, building insurance, and common area maintenance (CAM). So a 1,600 square foot space at $14 per square foot NNN costs $22,400 per year in base rent, about $1,867 per month, plus NNN expenses on top. Always ask what the NNN expenses ran last year before you commit; that is the difference between the rent line and what actually leaves your account.
What Drives the Price Variation Within Macomb County
Second-generation versus new construction. This is the biggest driver of price, and our own two listings show it. A second-generation space (one that housed a tenant before) often comes with HVAC, plumbing, and electrical already in place, at a lower base rate. New construction costs more per square foot, but you get modern systems, clean layouts, and no surprises hiding behind the drywall. Neither is automatically better; it depends on how much build-out your concept needs.
Road visibility and daily traffic count. The Ryan Road corridor at our Warren property carries roughly 19,800 vehicles per day. Spaces fronting a corridor like that command more than spaces set back on secondary roads, because that exposure is unpaid advertising every single day. MDOT publishes Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) counts by road segment; ask for the specific figure on any corridor you are evaluating, not an estimate.
Parking ratio. A salon, restaurant, or specialty retail shop lives and dies by how easy it is for customers to park. Spaces with dedicated, visible parking in front, not shared lots tucked behind the building, carry a premium. That premium is usually worth paying.
Condition and build-out. A raw shell at a lower base rate can end up costing more than a move-in-ready space at a higher rate once you factor in HVAC, plumbing rough-ins, and electrical panels. For restaurant operators especially, a space with an existing grease trap and hood system is worth serious money. Factor total occupancy cost, not just the base rent line.
Anchor proximity. Strip centers anchored by grocery stores, national pharmacies, or fitness chains generate consistent foot traffic that independent tenants benefit from directly. Spaces in those centers price slightly higher. For most retail and food service concepts, that trade is worth it.
"The cheapest rent in the wrong location costs more than premium rent in the right one. In Macomb County, you rarely have to choose: high-traffic locations here are still affordable by regional standards."
How Macomb County Compares to Neighboring Markets
In our experience as a Macomb County landlord, comparable retail space in Troy, Birmingham, and the trendier Detroit districts like Midtown and Corktown prices meaningfully higher than Warren or Macomb Township, and premium corridors there also tend to come with longer build-out timelines and stiffer competition for the good corners. We are not going to quote other markets' numbers here, because asking rates change and secondhand figures age badly. The honest framing: if your customers come to you for what you do, not for your zip code, Macomb County lets you buy more traffic and more square footage for the same dollar.
And the honest tradeoff, which most brokers will not say out loud: if a Birmingham or Midtown address is part of what you are selling, meaning the zip code itself carries your brand, then Macomb County probably does not fit your strategy. For everyone else, what drives revenue is customer volume and repeat visits, and on those measures Warren and Macomb Township compete with markets that charge significantly more.
Warren: Density You Can Bank On
Warren is Michigan's third-largest city, with 139,387 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020) packed into a dense grid of neighborhoods. That density matters for retail: customers live close to your front door, not 15 minutes away. Van Dyke, Mound Road, 8 Mile, and 12 Mile all run through or border the city, and the commercial stock that grew up along them, strip centers, standalone storefronts, and high-visibility corner lots, is exactly what independent retailers, salon owners, and food service operators need.
MT Commercial Property Services has active retail vacancies in Warren right now, starting at $14 per square foot NNN. See the available spaces at 13 Mile and Ryan Road.
Macomb Township: Paying More, Getting Growth
Macomb Township is the other end of our range, and the premium buys something specific: new construction in one of the fastest-growing communities in the region, where years of residential development have outpaced retail supply. New rooftops with limited local options is exactly the gap an independent retailer, restaurant, or wellness concept can fill, and being in a brand-new center means your build-out starts from modern systems instead of someone else's leftovers.
See the new construction spaces at Fountains of Macomb.
Before You Sign Anything: Questions Worth Asking
- What is the daily traffic count on the road frontage? (Ask for the MDOT AADT number for the specific segment and year, not an estimate.)
- What are the NNN expenses (taxes, insurance, CAM), and what did they run last year?
- Is the HVAC system per-tenant or shared? Who maintains it, and who pays for repairs above a threshold?
- What is the parking ratio (spaces per 1,000 sq ft), and is it dedicated or shared with adjacent tenants?
- Are there use restrictions in the lease that could limit your concept or a future pivot?
- What is the landlord's build-out contribution (TI allowance), if any?
A landlord who cannot answer these questions clearly is a landlord worth being cautious about. A landlord who answers them upfront is one worth doing business with.
Related reading: How to find affordable retail space for rent in Macomb County and Retail space for lease in Warren: best locations now.
MT Commercial Property Services has retail and storefront spaces available in Warren and Macomb Township. Call or email to schedule a tour and see the actual spaces, not just the listings.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Rates cited are MT Commercial Property Services' listed asking rates as of August 2026 and are subject to change. Consult a qualified broker, attorney, and accountant before signing any lease.