Weekly Perl: A Commercial Real Estate News Recap

Marc Perlof • February 23, 2024
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A person is inserting a discover card into an atm machine

Capital One-Discover merger could put a bigger squeeze on credit card users, experts warn

 

Capital One’s $35.3 billion deal to buy Discover is a long way from being completed. But consumer advocates and some lawmakers are already raising questions about how the proposed merger could affect credit-card users — many of whom are already under pressure from high interest rates and record debts. 

A shoe store with a round bench in the middle of the room.

Philly Could Snag First Michael Jordan-Branded World Of Flight Store In The U.S.


Nike has targeted Philadelphia as the first known U.S. market for a retail concept store dedicated to its Michael Jordan brand.The activewear giant is eyeing 1617 Walnut St. as the site of a Jordan World of Flight, the Philadelphia Business Journal first reported. The report was backed up by city records indicatingMBH Architects had applied for final permission to change signage and the facade of the building to make way for the retail venture. 

A man is standing on a stage in front of a large screen that says go to foods.

Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon parent company Focus Brands rebrands to GoTo Foods


Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, and Jamba parent company Focus Brands announced Tuesday morning the company’s rebranding to GoTo Foods. GoTo Foods’ new name and identity represents its “continued transformation into a platform company,” and will also be the start of a new era of growth and change for the Atlanta-based foodservice company. 

A mcdonald 's sign against a blue sky with clouds

Fast-Food Franchising Stands Up to Economic Headwinds


It’s been a common theme in recent years for franchising to prove resilient during whatever rocky backdrop was in order. Last year, the International Franchise Association’s annual Economic Outlook report revealed job and unit growth outpacing 2019 levels. And of the myriad franchising fields, quick-service restaurants, along with “service-based industries,” projected as the highest-growth vehicles going forward.

A mcdonald 's sign next to a cosmos sign

McDonald's vs CosMc's: 5 Major Differences


If you've been at all tuned in to the world of fast food in the past six months, you've probably heard lots of talk about a chain called CosMc's. This brand-new spinoff concept was created by one of the world's preeminent fast-food chains: McDonald's. So, as you can probably imagine, the buzz around CosMc's has been pretty wild.

A billboard for popeye 's wings go is above a building

Popeyes Sets Sights on 800 New Locations, and a Lot More Wings


Restaurant Brands International last Thursday became the latest group to outline a massive growth agenda. In this case, the Burger King, Popeyes, Firehouse Subs, and Tim Hortons owner shared it would reach 40,000 restaurants, $60 billion in systemwide sales, and $3.2 billion in adjusted operating income by 2028. That suggests average annual same-store sales growth of 3 percent-plus, over 5 percent net unit growth, and systemwide sales expansion north of 8 percent.

A grocery outlet store is now open in the rain.

Grocery Outlet Holding to buy United Grocery Outlet


Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. is acquiring United Grocery Outlet, a discount grocer operating in the Southeastern United States, the company reported on Friday. United Grocery Outlet’s 40 stores and distribution center will enable the grocer to expand into Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Virginia.

A man in a wheelchair is standing in front of a counter in a restaurant.

Starbucks Creates New Store Design to Aid Guests and Workers with Disabilities


Starbucks on Friday announced new store design standards that provide better access to employees and customers with disabilities. Called the Inclusive Spaces Framework, the guidelines will become the norm for all new and renovated U.S. stores. “At Starbucks, we have challenged ourselves to imagine what’s possible when we take a closer look at the many ways our partners and customers interact with us and experience our stores every day,” Katie Young, senior vice president of store operations, said in a statement. “Building and scaling an Inclusive Store Framework is central to our mission of connection and will lead to greater access for all.” 

A shoe carnival store with cars parked in front of it

Shoe Carnival acquires Midwestern shoe retailer


Shoe Carnival has acquired a Midwest footwear chain, expanding its store presence. The footwear retailer has acquired Rogan Shoes, a work and family footwear company with 28 locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. The purchase price was put at $45 million, subject to further adjustments, with the transaction funded entirely with cash on hand. 

An aerial view of a bank building with a lot of windows.

PNC Bank To Invest $1 Billion To Expand, Revamp US Retail Network

 

PNC Bank plans to open more than 100 retail banking centers, primarily in the nation's Sun Belt, as well as renovate more than 1,200 existing locations in its national real estate portfolio through 2028.The proposed expansion by the Pittsburgh-based bank, expected to cost about $1 billion, comes as other banks have exited some of its less desirable retail branches throughout the United States.

By Marc Perlof September 18, 2026
10-year Treasury yield hits highest level since 2007 ahead of Fed rate decision New York — The bond market sell-off is raising the stakes for the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy meeting this week and putting a spotlight on the central bank’s commitment to reining in inflation. Traders widely expect the Fed to raise its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday for the first time since 2023. Traders are pricing in a 92% chance of a rate hike, according to CME FedWatch, a real-time forecasting tool...
By Marc Perlof September 14, 2026
By Marc Perlof | @MarcRetailGuy CA #01489206 September 14, 2026 If you own retail real estate, here’s what just changed for you. Why CASp Reports Matter A Certified Access Specialist (CASp) report can help a California retail property owner understand accessibility issues before they become a bigger problem. It may identify concerns involving parking, paths of travel, entrances, doors, restrooms, signage, counters, slopes, and common areas. The value of a CASp report is clarity. It helps an owner understand what issues exist, what may need to be corrected, what may affect a lease or sale, and what requires legal guidance. But owners should be careful. A CASp report should not be ordered casually with no plan. If a report identifies issues and the owner does nothing, the owner may create a record of known problems without a strategy to address them. For retail property owners, the real value of a CASp report is not the report itself. It is reducing uncertainty before that uncertainty turns into buyer leverage, tenant demands, settlement pressure, or a lower sale price. What Is a CASp Report? A CASp inspection is performed by a trained accessibility professional who reviews a property for construction-related accessibility issues. For retail owners, a CASp report may review customer-facing areas such as parking, access aisles, ramps, walkways, entrances, doors, restrooms, counters, signage, slopes, and common areas. The exact scope depends on the property, the tenant use, and the purpose of the inspection. That matters because many owners do not know where the problems are until someone else points them out. That someone may be a plaintiff, attorney, tenant, buyer, lender, or inspector. Why Timing Matters Timing matters with CASp reports. In some situations, getting a CASp inspection before a claim may provide more options than waiting until after a lawsuit is filed. Owners should confirm the timing, legal effect, and any potential benefits with an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) attorney before relying on a CASp report. This is one reason retail owners should think about accessibility before there is pressure. Before a lawsuit, sale, refinance, major lease negotiation, tenant turnover, or remodel, an owner may have more control. The owner can speak with an attorney, decide whether a CASp inspection makes sense, evaluate the findings, budget for work, and create a plan. After a lawsuit or during escrow, the owner may have less control. Deadlines are tighter. Buyers may use the issue as leverage. Tenants may resist responsibility. Repairs may need to be priced quickly. That is when unknown risk becomes expensive. Can a CASp Report Create a Problem? Yes, if the owner handles it poorly. A CASp report can be helpful, but it can also create pressure if it identifies issues and the owner ignores them. The problem is not the report itself. The problem is having knowledge of potential issues with no plan to address them. That is why owners should speak with an ADA attorney and a qualified accessibility professional before ordering inspections, making written statements, or starting repairs. The right sequence matters. Get the right guidance. Define the purpose of the report. Review the findings. Create a realistic plan for what can be corrected, what may need more review, and what should be documented. How CASp Reports Can Affect Property Value CASp reports can affect value because they reduce uncertainty. Buyers do not only look at rent, Net Operating Income (NOI), lease term, cap rate, and tenant strength. They also look at risk. If a buyer sees unresolved ADA concerns with no report, no explanation, and no plan, the buyer may assume the worst. That can lead to a lower offer, a repair credit, a price reduction, a holdback, a longer due diligence period, or stronger seller protections. A CASp report can help shift the conversation from guessing to facts. That does not mean every buyer will ignore the issue. It does not mean the property is perfect. But it can help the owner show that the issue has been reviewed and that there is a plan. In real estate, fear often creates bigger discounts than facts. If a repair costs $20,000, the owner wants the discussion to be about $20,000, not a buyer guessing the issue could cost $100,000. That is how clarity can protect value. How CASp Reports Can Affect Leasing CASp reports can also affect leasing. A restaurant, medical tenant, dental tenant, franchise operator, or service tenant may care about accessibility before signing a lease or opening for business. If the owner understands the property’s accessibility issues before lease negotiations, the owner can better decide what work belongs to the landlord, what work belongs to the tenant, and whether the issue should affect rent, tenant improvement money, free rent, or delivery condition. Without that information, the owner may negotiate blind. That can cost money. What Retail Property Owners Should Do Retail owners should not treat CASp reports as a box to check. They should treat them as part of a risk and value strategy. Speak with an ADA attorney before ordering reports or making written statements. Use a qualified CASp professional who understands commercial properties and retail access issues. Define the purpose and scope of the report before the inspection begins. Create an action plan for items that may need correction and consider how the findings could affect a sale, refinance, lease negotiation, or tenant relationship. The goal is to avoid surprises. A surprise during escrow can become a price reduction. A surprise during a lease negotiation can become extra landlord work. A surprise after a lawsuit can become settlement pressure. Final Thought A CASp report is not magic. It does not eliminate every risk, replace legal advice, or automatically protect property value. But it can give a retail property owner something valuable: clarity. For retail property owners, the real value of a CASp report is not just knowing what is wrong. It is knowing what to do next. If you are considering a CASp report before a lease, refinance, or sale, I can help you think through how the findings may affect value, timing, and buyer leverage. In next week’s blog, “Readily Achievable ADA Repairs: What Retail Property Owners Should Understand,” we will discuss why some accessibility fixes may be more manageable than owners think, how year built can matter, and why current property condition matters more than assumptions. Based in Los Angeles. Serving Southern California. Active across California. Advising clients nationwide. #RetailRealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #CaliforniaRealEstate #RetailPropertyOwners #ADACompliance #CASp #PropertyValue #CommercialProperty #MarcRetailGuy
By Marc Perlof September 11, 2026
Morning Consult: Five Below, other retailers among 25 fastest-growing brands Five Below is one of the fastest-growing brands in the U.S. The tween and teen extreme value retailer is the No. 10 fastest-growing brand overall and the only retailer to crack the top 10 in Morning Consult’s “Fastest Growing Brands 2026” report. The study ranks the top 25 brands according to year-over-year purchasing intent. A re-launched, decades-old soda brand, Mr. Pibb, ranked No. 1. Five Below’s purchasing consideration increased 3.2 points this year, according to the report. (The retailer recently reported that its second-quarter sales r ose 22.9% to $1.26 billion...)
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