Commercial real estate is looking up.

A national index of business-related real estate started improving about a year ago and now has a consensus of analysts predicting broad improvement over the next two years.

Savannah is mirroring those trends.

Large manufacturing suppliers have taken big industrial spaces and several chain stores have moved into high-profile downtown retail spots in the coastal city.

Jay Andrews of Savannah Commercial Real Estate says, a recently-opened first-ever McDonald's in the Historic District demonstrates the outsized role that chains are playing in the economic recovery.

"We're seeing a transition, I think, to more corporate and franchise type names in the downtown market and unfortunately, less of the local mom-and-pop type businesses," Andrews says.

There's also a new, downtown six-story office and retail building set to open in May.

It'll house primarily the offices of the U.S. Attorney. But on street level -- a Moe's burritos and a Seattle's Best coffee.

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