Weekly Perl: A Commercial Real Estate News Recap

Marc Perlof • March 22, 2024
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Joann Files for Bankruptcy, Plans To Keep Stores Open


Joann, the leading U.S. seller of sewing supplies, has become the latest retailer to file for bankruptcy this year, but in this case, the chain plans to keep its 815 stores open. The Hudson, Ohio-based seller of fabrics as well as arts-and-crafts merchandise, said on Monday it is seeking voluntary Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the District of Delaware. 


A steak n shake sign is lit up at night

The Complex and Evolving Story of Steak ‘n Shake’s Comeback

 

Sardar Biglari can get philosophical when reflecting on Steak ‘n Shake. In 2022, he shared a quote from Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo. “The sculpture is already complete within the marble block before I start my work. I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.”  Biglari’s point was the chain had to cut “superfluous elements” to sculpt a business model that worked. “We Michelangelo’ed Steak ‘n Shake,” Biglari said at the time.


A hamburger and a cup of french fries are on a table.

Freddy’s Sets Up Growth for Many Years to Come

 

There was a real person behind the name Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. He was a man who grew up in Wichita, Kansas, enlisted in the Army, and came back a war hero with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal.  After serving his country, Freddy Simon entered the hospitality business, meaning his entire adult life was in the business of serving others, said Freddy’s CEO Chris Dull.


Dick's Sporting Goods

Dick’s posts ‘incredibly strong’ Q4; plans 'significant' 2024 sq. ft. growth


Dick’s Sporting Goods reported the strongest holiday sales quarter in its history along with earnings that were far ahead of Street estimates.The nation’s largest sporting goods raised its quarterly dividend 10% to $1.10 per share and forecast another year of positive growth. 


A chick-fil-a restaurant with a circular table in the middle of the room.

Chick-fil-A’s First Mobile Pickup Restaurant Set to Open in NYC


In the summer of 2023, Chick-fil-A unveiled a four-lane drive-thru design with capacity to serve 75 cars at once. Naturally, it was a headline firehouse, and one that illustrated a couple of points: Firstly, digital orders had grown to more than half of the brand’s sales in some markets. And secondly, asset evolution, in general, had come a long way industry-wide toward meeting a shift in consumer preference ignited by COVID conditions. 


A container of food with chicken , tomatoes , cucumbers , onions and lemons on a table.

Naya Seeks 200 Locations and Elevation of Middle Eastern Cuisine

 

Hady Kfoury founded Naya Mezze & Grill in 2008 to create a casual, yet fine-dining restaurant platform for traditional Lebanese and Middle Eastern food. He was inspired by his hospitality management studies at Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne in Switzerland and work with celebrity chefs Daniel Boulud and Francois Payard.


A tray of fried chicken , french fries , coleslaw , pickles and sandwiches.

Angry Chickz Spices Up Chicken Franchise Segment


David Mkhitaryan was hooked the moment he tried Nashville hot chicken. As a spicy food fanatic since childhood, Mkhitaryan took his experience from working in his family’s restaurant and set out to popularize the dish along the West Coast.


By Marc Perlof October 31, 2025
Fed Cuts Rates Again, Boosting Confidence in CRE Recovery In a closely watched decision, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate for the second consecutive month. The new target range of 3.75% to 4% reflects continued efforts to ease financial conditions and stabilize capital markets, even as economic signals remain mixed...
By Marc Perlof October 27, 2025
If you own retail real estate, here’s what might change for you. The hospitality workers’ union UNITE HERE Local 11 is pushing a bold new initiative to raise the City of Los Angeles $30 minimum wage for all city employees by July 1, 2028¹. While the first ordinance covered hotel and airport workers, the union’s latest ballot measure would extend this wage citywide². As an expert in retail real estate, here’s what that means for your properties. Higher wages will immediately impact tenant affordability and rent-to-sales ratio calculations that drive lease viability. Many retailers operate with payroll costs at 25 to 35 percent of gross revenue, leaving little cushion for a wage that’s nearly double the current state minimum of $16/hour³. When margins tighten, tenants face a choice: raise prices, cut staff, or negotiate rent. For landlords, that translates into valuation pressure because commercial property values depend on stable rental income. The small business impact in Los Angeles could be profound. Independent restaurants, boutiques, and service operators, the lifeblood of local shopping centers, run on razor-thin profits. If forced to meet a $30 wage, some may relocate to cities like Burbank or Glendale, where municipal wage laws are lower, or close entirely⁴. That shift could spark short-term vacancy spikes and longer lease-up periods. Still, there’s a possible upside. When low-wage workers earn more, they spend more locally. For well-positioned centers with necessity-based tenants: grocers, pharmacies, quick-service restaurants, rising wages could strengthen revenue resilience. Key takeaways for retail landlords: Audit tenant financial health and exposure to rising payroll costs. Review lease clauses that address operating-cost pass-throughs. Model new rent-to-sales thresholds under a $30 wage scenario. Track tenant retention and market-rent shifts across nearby cities. Prepare for valuation adjustments as cap rates reflect greater income volatility. If you own retail real estate in the City of Los Angeles, now’s the time to stress-test your portfolio. Let’s review your leases before this wage shift hits. Call or DM me for more information. When the $30 wage arrives, will higher pay strengthen LA’s consumer base or hollow out the city’s small-business retail core? #LosAngeles30MinimumWage #RetailRealEstateInLosAngeles #TenantAffordabilityAndRentToSalesRatio #SmallBusinessImpactLosAngeles #CommercialPropertyValuesLosAngeles
By Marc Perlof October 24, 2025
Toys"R"Us opening 10 flagships, 20 seasonal shops — here are all the locations The brick and mortar comeback of Toys"R"Us is moving into high gear ahead of the toy industry’s busiest season. In September, the retailer said that, in partnership with Go! Retail Group, it was planning to open 10 flagships and 20 seasonal holiday shops in the U.S. by year's end...
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