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.

Retail Real Estate 2026: Why Some Properties Stay Strong While Others Struggle

By Marc Perlof • February 2, 2026
Retail Real Estate 2026: Why Some Properties Stay Strong While Others Struggle By Marc Perlof | MarcRetailGuy February 2, 2026 If you own retail real estate, here is what just changed. Retail real estate in 2026 is no longer one market. It has split into clear winners and clear losers. Owners who understand this are protecting value. Owners who do not are feeling pressure. The biggest change is how people spend money when things feel uncertain. Interest rates are higher. Costs are up. Households are more careful. That shift shows up first at the property level. Some retail feels stress faster than others. Lifestyle centers, nightlife areas, entertainment districts, and tourist retail depend on optional spending. When people cut back, visits drop. Sales slow. Tenants push back on rent. Vacancies last longer. This is not a crash. It is a pressure issue tied to spending people can delay. Other retail performs differently. Grocery anchored centers, pharmacies, medical and dental, quick-service food, auto service, and personal care are built around daily habits. People cut wants before needs. That makes income steadier and easier to support in a cautious market. Recent retail market reports show this split clearly. National retail vacancy stayed fairly stable through late 2025, mostly in the mid-5 percent to high-6 percent range, with necessity-based centers performing better than discretionary locations¹. Leasing slowed in 2025, with longer decision times and more rent pushback, especially from non-essential tenants². Buyers are still active, but they are more careful. They now focus on tenant quality, lease length, and operating costs more than rent growth³. What retail owners should focus on right now • Daily-needs tenants reduce risk. Properties with grocery, medical, pharmacy, and quick-service food see more stable rent and fewer concession requests. That helps protect sale price and lender support in slower markets¹. • Grocery-anchored centers sell faster. Buyers still want these assets because traffic is predictable and costs are easier to pass through. These deals tend to fall apart less often³. • Discretionary retail carries pricing risk. Properties tied to optional spending face longer vacancies, rent resistance at renewal, and wider gaps between buyer and seller pricing. Waiting too long to adjust can hurt value, not just cash flow². One thing is becoming clear in early 2026. The market is not pricing retail as one category anymore. It is pricing risk. Two properties with the same income can be worth very different amounts based on tenant mix, lease terms, and rising expenses. Owners who understand this protect equity. Others only see the gap after a buyer or lender points it out. The takeaway is simple. Retail real estate in 2026 is about quality, not hype. Stable income matters. Lease terms matter. Tenant mix matters. Insurance and operating costs matter. Owners who match strategy to how their tenants actually perform stay in control. Owners who rely on old assumptions end up reacting. If you want a clear, property-specific review of how buyers and lenders would view your retail asset today, I can prepare a short market positioning summary. No templates. No guesses. Just how your property would really trade in this market. Ask yourself this. Is your property built around spending people can delay, or spending they rely on every week? #RetailRealEstate2026 #RetailMarketOutlook #EssentialServicesRetail #GroceryAnchoredRetailCenters #DiscretionaryRetailProperties

Weekly Perl: A Commercial Real Estate News Recap

By Marc Perlof • January 30, 2026
Smoothie King plots 90-plus new openings for 2026 The world’s largest smoothie franchise isn’t planning on slowing down its growth after a strong 2025.  Smoothie King says it plans to open more than 90 new store openings in 2026, in addition to launching a targeted franchisee incentive program spanning several key states, including Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia and more. Through the program, Smoothie King says it is offering financial incentives to “growth-minded franchisees,” designed to accelerate brand awareness and density in these markets...

Retail Real Estate in 2026: What Commercial Owners Need to Know Right Now

By Marc Perlof • January 26, 2026
By Marc Perlof | MarcRetailGuy January 26, 2026 If you own retail real estate, here’s what just changed for you. 2026 is shaping up to be a year where retail property owners need to pay attention. Not to fear. Not to headlines. To real signals in the market. There is more global and domestic uncertainty right now. Conflicts overseas, trade tension, higher government debt, and political changes in the U.S. all affect interest rates, insurance markets, and investor behavior. This does not mean panic. It means owners need clear, reliable information. Here is where the retail market stands today. Local retail remained steady through late 2025. In Los Angeles County, vacancy ranged from about 5.6 to 6.9 percent in the second half of the year¹²³. That tells us demand is still healthy, even as some tenants adjust space needs or renew leases at new rent levels. Leasing activity slowed in some areas. Spaces are taking longer to fill, and asking rents softened slightly as owners and tenants reset pricing². This is a normal market adjustment, not a collapse. On the investment side, commercial real estate transactions increased nationally through mid 2025. Both the number of deals and total dollar volume rose, showing capital is still moving⁵. Buyers are active when pricing reflects today’s risks and returns. This is exactly what I am seeing in live pricing discussions and negotiations right now. Insurance remains one of the biggest issues for retail owners. Property insurance markets became more stable in 2025, and rate increases slowed in some areas. However, insurers are still selective. Coverage terms matter more than ever, especially for properties exposed to wildfire or coastal risk⁴. Insurance costs directly affect net income, lease negotiations, and buyer interest. Retail Outlook for Q1 and Q2 2026 In early 2026, the retail market is likely to stay steady but measured. Vacancy is expected to remain near current levels. Leasing will be deliberate, not rushed. Rents should hold close to where they ended in 2025 as owners and tenants continue to agree on realistic pricing. Capital will remain active for properties with solid income, strong tenant credit, and durable lease terms. Buyers are selective, but they are still moving forward when risk and return are properly aligned. Insurance markets will stay selective in the first half of 2026. Owners need to plan renewals carefully and understand how insurance affects operating costs, tenant negotiations, and future sale value. Here is a simple retail risk check for 2026: • Local vacancy around 6 percent, stable but uneven by location¹ • Leasing takes longer than peak years, making pricing discipline critical² • Capital remains active, but underwriting is conservative⁵ • Insurance coverage is improving in some areas, but terms still matter⁴ Not all retail performs the same. Discretionary-driven destinations like lifestyle centers, nightlife districts, and tourist-focused shopping streets feel more pressure when consumer spending slows. Retail that serves daily needs and essential services tends to perform better during uncertain cycles. The best strategy now is disciplined and data-driven. Focus on tenant credit strength. Protect lease term and income stability. Price based on real market data. Understand insurance risk clearly. This is how value is protected in changing markets. I help retail property owners position assets based on real tenant behavior and real buyer demand. Not headlines. Call or DM me if you want a clear view of how your retail property should be positioned for 2026. How will you adjust your leasing or investment strategy this year based on what the market is actually telling us? #RetailRealEstate #LosAngelesCRE #CommercialRealEstateOutlook #RetailInvestment #CRE2026 #MarcRetailGuy
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