Weekly Perl: A Commercial Real Estate News Recap

Marc Perlof • February 27, 2026
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Huey Magoo's to enter Texas, expand Alabama footprint


A growing chicken tender chain is plotting expansion in two Southern states.



Huey Magoo’s has signed a new development agreement totaling 12 restaurants, marking the brand's entry into Texas and expansion in Alabama. The deal includes eight restaurants across the north Dallas market and four in Birmingham, Ala., continuing the chain's nationwide expansion...


The front of an aldi store with a sign in front of it.

Canada’s Loblaw Companies to open 70 new stores, renovate 191 locations in 2026


Loblaw Companies Limited — one of Canada’s largest retailers — is making big investments in its brick-and-mortar network and supply chain.

The food and pharmacy retailer said it will spend $2.4 billion in 2026 to expand and renovate its store network, enhance its supply chain capabilities and create jobs for people all across Canada. Loblaw will open 70 new stores in 2026, including 34 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix pharmacies and care clinics, and 31 “hard discount” No Frills and Maxi stores...


Planet Fitness to bulk up with nearly 200 new clubs this year


Planet Fitness plans to open nearly 200 clubs this year, focusing on space once occupied by struggling retailers and targeting the next generation of fitness enthusiasts for its membership.

The expansion comes as health-conscious Americans are willing to ante up to improve their physiques. The industry has sprung back from the pandemic, when there was a shakeout of gym chains after they were ordered to close their doors during COVID-19 lockdowns...

Home Depot Q4 tops estimates; opening 15 stores in 2026

The Home Depot topped Wall Street estimates for the first time in a year in its fourth quarter, but reported a 3.8% sales decline amid a stalled housing market, ongoing economic uncertainty, high mortgage rates and cautious consumers...

Wonder plans more than 100 Texas locations by end of 2027

The delivery- and pickup-focused restaurant company founded by former Walmart executive Marc Lore is expanding far beyond its Northeast roots.

Wonder announced it will open for business in Texas in 2027, marking its next phase of growth as a multi-region operator...

Canada’s Aritzia acquires iconic LA brand Fred Segal


Aritzia continues to move on its long-term strategy to expand in the U.S. 



The Canada-based fashion retailer has acquired the Fred Segal brand and has leased 8100 Melrose Avenue — Fred Segal’s original flagship destination in Los Angeles (West Hollywood). The acquisition includes the Fred Segal brand, including intellectual property and trademarks. The purchase price was not disclosed...

Jack in the Box Targets Stability in 2026 as Value, Operations, and Tech Gain Traction

With Del Taco officially leaving the picture in December, Jack in the Box will now spend the rest of its 2026 fiscal calendar—and beyond—focusing on the core business.


And there is much work to do.

Systemwide same-store sales declined 6.7 percent in Q1 year-over-year, comprising a 7 percent decrease among franchises and a 4.7 percent drop among company-operated stores. The decreases resulted from softer transactions and negative menu mix, partially offset by menu price increases. CEO Lance Tucker attributed the performance gap between company and franchise units to corporate restaurants pricing lower and leaning more into digital promotions...


QSR Cap Rates Steady As Investors Shift to Quality

Globe St reports that the net-lease quick service restaurant (QSR) market closed out 2025 with average cap rates almost unchanged at 5.68%, according to B+E’s year-end report. Underneath that steady headline, the market showed a distinct shift: investors favored long-term leases with strong operators, driving tighter yields for top brands and spotlighting concept quality over broad sector movement...

16 Handles Proves Frozen Yogurt Category is Alive and Well


16 Handles CEO Neil Hershman has seen the news on frozen yogurt being a stale category.


He doesn’t entirely disagree. As he says, “Perceptions are based on some level of reality.”

Hershman saw legacy brands maintain the status quo. There was a refusal to evolve, meet cultural shifts, or deploy any engaging marketing. At the same time, they didn’t encourage franchisees to update stores or remain proactive in day-to-day management...

The second life of America’s shuttered pharmacies


The U.S. pharmacy sector is undergoing one of the most significant contractions in modern retail history, reshaping corners, intersections and neighborhood stores nationwide.

Since 2022, the unwinding of pandemic-driven demand and long-standing structural pressures has led to thousands of drugstore closings from the sector’s three primary operators...

Are Private Equity Deals Changing Risk for NNN Retail Owners?

By Marc Perlof • April 13, 2026
By Marc Perlof | MarcRetailGuy CA #01489206 April 13, 2026 If you own retail real estate, here’s what just changed for you. Private equity ownership changes the risk profile of your tenant. Strong brands can become more efficient, but also more sensitive to costs over time. When private equity takes over retailers, your rent may become less predictable. What is changing? Private equity firms are buying or investing in retail brands. After the purchase, they often change how the business is run. One common move is selling the real estate and leasing it back. The company becomes a tenant instead of an owner. This creates fixed rent payments. They also focus on increasing profit quickly. That can include cutting costs, simplifying operations, and shifting more stores to franchisees. These changes can improve efficiency and free up capital, but they can also increase pressure on store-level performance. Why this is happening? Private equity is focused on returns within a set time frame. They use debt and operational changes to increase profits. Real estate is often treated as a source of cash, not a long-term hold. What this does to your value? How does this affect your property value? Your value depends on stable income. Higher leverage and tighter margins make your income less predictable. Uncertainty leads to higher cap rates. Higher cap rates lower your value. A 100 basis point increase in cap rate can reduce your property value by 12% to 18%, depending on income and buyer demand. How are buyers underwriting this today? Buyers are looking past the brand name. They are focusing on unit-level performance and rent levels. If rent is too high compared to sales, they apply a higher cap rate or reduce their offer. What happens if the tenant’s costs increase? When rent, labor, and food costs rise at the same time, weaker locations start to underperform. That is when closures or lease renegotiations happen. Strategic Advice for Retail Property Owners What should you do right now? Review your tenant’s ownership structure. Know if the brand is private equity backed. Do not assume brand strength equals tenant strength. What should you review in your lease? Focus on rent relative to sales, if possible. Rent that gets too high as a percentage of sales creates risk. Also review lease term, options, and guarantor strength. What should you prepare for? Plan for more tenant scrutiny at sale. Buyers will ask deeper questions about store performance and long-term viability. Be ready to support your income with real numbers. Real Deal Insight In today’s market, buyers are underwriting rent relative to store performance or sales, franchisee versus corporate structure, and margin pressure. Deals that once traded aggressively are now being discounted when rent exceeds sustainable levels or when the tenant is more leveraged after a private equity transaction. This is showing up in pricing, cap rates, and buyer demand across Southern California. Owner Self-Assessment If your tenant’s costs increase, can they still comfortably pay your rent? Market Data and Sources Sale-leasebacks are widely used in restaurant and retail sectors to free up capital and create long-term lease obligations.¹ Private equity ownership often increases leverage, which can raise financial risk during downturns.² Restaurant margins are sensitive to labor and food costs, which have increased in recent years.³ If you own retail real estate in Los Angeles or Southern California, this is already showing up in how buyers evaluate NNN properties, strip centers, and single-tenant assets. If you are thinking about selling or refinancing in the next 12 to 24 months, now is the time to evaluate your tenant strength and pricing. Small shifts in cap rates can materially impact your exit value. Is your tenant’s business strong enough to support your rent long term? #RetailRealEstate #NNNProperties #FastFoodRealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #CapRates #LosAngelesRealEstate #CREInvesting #InvestmentProperty #NetLease #RetailInvesting

Weekly Perl: A Commercial Real Estate News Recap

By Marc Perlof • April 10, 2026
Retail Construction Slows Nationwide in 2026 Limited New Supply The Commercial Observer reports that retail construction is slowing significantly in the US, with just 64.2M SF underway in Q1 2026, per CoStar Group data. This marks an 8% decline from 2025 and falls far short of the 10-year average of 90M SF. Industry experts point to rising land prices, higher construction costs, and elevated interest rates as key headwinds for retail construction.

The U.S. can’t pay its bills? What That Really Means for Your Retail Property Value

By Marc Perlof • April 6, 2026
By Marc Perlof | MarcRetailGuy CA #01489206 April 6, 2026 If you own retail real estate, here’s what just changed for you. The U.S. is not running out of money. But debt is rising and keeping interest rates higher. That is already pushing down retail property values. Higher government debt is keeping borrowing costs high, and that lowers your property value. What Changed What is happening? A recent article from Yahoo Finance claims the U.S. is “insolvent” based on Treasury data.¹ The idea comes from comparing what the government owes to what it owns. What is causing it? The U.S. keeps spending more than it collects. Total debt keeps growing. At the same time, interest rates have gone up. That makes it more expensive for the government to borrow money. This does not mean the U.S. cannot pay its bills. It means the system is under pressure. That pressure affects interest rates across the economy. Why It Matters (Value Impact) How does this affect your property value? Retail property values are tied to income and cap rates. Cap rates follow the 10-year Treasury. When government debt keeps rates higher, cap rates stay higher. Higher cap rates mean lower property values. How are buyers underwriting this today? Buyers are using higher borrowing costs in their numbers. They are also assuming they will sell at higher cap rates later. That lowers what they can pay today. What happens if rates stay high? Your income becomes more exposed. Expenses like insurance and maintenance keep rising. If rent does not keep up, your net income drops. Lower income plus higher cap rates equals lower value. Strategic Advice for Retail Property Owners What should you do right now? Base decisions on today’s borrowing costs. Not past pricing. If you are selling, price to current cap rates. If you are holding, protect your income. What should you review in your lease? Look closely at what expenses you can pass through. Insurance, CAM, and repairs matter more now. If your lease does not fully protect your income, your value is already exposed. What should you prepare for? Plan for rates to stay higher longer. Build in margin for higher costs and slower leasing. Do not rely on rate cuts to fix your deal. Real Deal Insight Buyers are pricing retail deals today based on current debt costs and higher cap rate assumptions. A recent strip center owner in Southern California expected pricing based on a 5.25% cap rate from prior comps. Today, buyers are underwriting closer to 6.25% to 6.75% due to higher debt costs and exit assumptions. On a $1,000,000 NOI: At 5.25% cap → value ≈ $19.0M At 6.50% cap → value ≈ $15.4M That is a ~$3.6M difference, without any change in income. This is the gap sellers and buyers are working through right now. Deals are getting done, but only when pricing reflects today’s cap rates and financing reality. Market POV Pricing is a moving target right now. If you are thinking about selling or completing a 1031 exchange in 2026, looking at your property’s value sooner rather than later is optimal. Waiting for rates to drop may not bring values back to prior peaks. Buyers are already adjusting to a higher rate environment, and pricing is resetting in real time. Owner Self-Assessment If you had to sell today, would your current income support today’s higher cap rates? Market Data and Sources U.S. federal debt is over $34 trillion and continues to grow.² Interest on that debt is now one of the largest government expenses.³ The 10-year Treasury has been around the 4% range, well above prior lows.4 This shift is already showing up in pricing across Los Angeles retail deals today, and it is changing how buyers and sellers are negotiating in real time. If you own retail real estate in Los Angeles or Southern California, this is already showing up in pricing, negotiations, and deal structure across strip centers, shopping centers, and NNN assets. If you own retail real estate, I can show you what your property is worth today based on current cap rates, buyer demand, and real underwriting. Call or DM me for a current value analysis. What happens to your property value if cap rates increase 0.5% to 1.0%? Based in Los Angeles. Serving Southern California. Active across California. Advising clients nationwide. #RetailRealEstate #NNNProperties #CapRates #CommercialRealEstate #RetailInvesting #LosAngelesRealEstate #CREMarket #InvestmentProperty #StripCenters #ShoppingCenters #RealEstateStrategy
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