Weekly Perl: A Commercial Real Estate News Recap

Marc Perlof • October 3, 2025
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Japan's Konbini convenience stores coming to the U.S.

In Japan, Konbini convenience stores have become part of the country's infrastructure, offering fresh meals delivered several times a day, tickets to concerts and museums, and even services like bill payments. Now the model is coming to the U.S., where critics question whether it will resonate with American customers...

A blurry picture of a clothing store with clothes on display.

Inglewood’s multibillion-dollar makeovers: How major redevelopments transformed the multifamily market


During the early 2010s, the city of Inglewood, California, was experiencing significant financial difficulties. Following the Great Recession of 2008, the unemployment rate reached 17%, with 22% of residents living below the poverty line, per the 2010 U.S. census. Average market asking rents were 17% lower than in the rest of the Los Angeles metro area...

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Starbucks abandons some high-profile urban locations around the country


Of the hundreds of locations that Starbucks is closing, many are in high-profile and busy urban areas — prime retail real estate — as a post-pandemic drop in downtown foot traffic, competition from upstart rivals and a growing preference for drive-thru service take their toll on the coffee giant...

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

Dunkin', like other chains in the QSR Drive-Thru Report, is balancing technology and hospitality as the landscape shifts.

Let’s start with a debate on consumer behavior: Are fewer restaurant goers visiting the drive-thru?


From January 2024 through June 2025, there have been consistent gains in dine-in, delivery, and takeout trends—the latter spiked 25.8 percent alone in October 2024, according to Revenue Management Solutions. Yet drive-thru remained in negative territory month after month, falling as deep as 13.3 percent last summer and still hovering between minus 5 and 8 percent in 2025...

Spirit Christmas unwraps US holiday store expansion


Spirit Halloween, best known for its ubiquitous spooky holiday stores, is bringing back its other brand, the one that’s more steeped in elves and reindeer than witches and ghosts.

After a trial run last year, Spirit Halloween plans to once again open Spirit Christmas pop-ups. But this go-around, it intends to have 30 of the seasonal retail locations “across the Northeast and Great Lakes regions, nearly quadrupling its footprint from last year,” the Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey-based company said...

Meijer’s next stop will be Western Pennsylvania

Meijer is expanding into Western Pennsylvania, the grocer confirmed to Supermarket News on Wednesday.



The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer has begun purchasing land in a region currently served by Giant Eagle. Earlier this year, Wegmans also announced plans to enter Western Pennsylvania with a 115,000-square-foot location expected to open in 2027...

Billionaire's Los Angeles area purchase expected to clear way for surf park

A high-profile parcel once slated for an office and retail development to complement the new headquarters for the Los Angeles Chargers professional football team in El Segundo is now poised to make waves as a different property use.


A company tied to billionaire Vinny Smith’s Toba Capital has spent $54 million for a 9-acre slice of the former Raytheon Technologies Campus at 100 Nash in the city adjacent to Los Angeles, according to CoStar data...

Costco Q4 tops Street, to open 35 new warehouses; holiday mix to look ‘different’


Costco Wholesale Corp. reported another solid quarter amid strong e-commerce sales, and as it continues to attract new members. 



The retailer’s membership fee income rose 14% to $1.72 billion during the quarter. In September 2024, Costco raised its annual membership fee — the first hike since 2017 — by $5. On the earnings call, CFO Gary Millerchip said that the increase accounted for a little less than half of its membership fee income growth in the quarter...

By Marc Perlof September 29, 2025
Hey, Retail Real Estate Rockstars! City deficits are the hidden NOI risk most retail property owners aren’t watching. When cities go broke, service cuts, fee hikes, and tenant stress follow and that hits your bottom line. Let’s take a closer look. Cities Under Pressure Los Angeles faces a $1B deficit for FY 2025–26. Over 1,600 job cuts may slow permitting and inspections¹. Santa Monica declared fiscal distress from $229M in settlement costs ². Expect higher property taxes and fees. Inglewood reports a $24M deficit with small retailers hurt by event-day traffic near SoFi and Intuit Dome³. Beverly Hills looks stable today but is projecting $15–20M annual deficits soon⁴. Long Beach faces a $60.5M five-year shortfall , with permit and inspection fees already rising⁵. Why This Matters When cities are broke, retail property owners feel it: Cuts in police, fire, and street services can lower safety and curb appeal. Higher taxes and fees raise tenant costs, making rent harder to collect. Slower city approvals drag out leasing and redevelopment projects. Struggling small businesses mean more vacancies and turnover. For retail property owners, the real story is what this means for your bottom line. Rising city fees cut into tenant margins, which makes collecting rent harder. Service cuts and safety concerns lower customer traffic, reducing sales and weakening your rent roll. And when NOI drops, property values follow — meaning your asset could trade at a discount if you don’t stay ahead of these shifts. Redevelopment and Highest-and-Best Use If you’re holding property for redevelopment, city budget stress can make the process harder. Expect higher fees, slower approvals, and possible new costs tied to zoning. At the same time, weaker tenants can hurt your interim cash flow. But here’s the opportunity: budget stress can lead to discounted property sales and even city incentive programs. Smart investors who plan for longer timelines and extra costs can still win big. Key Data Points Los Angeles : ~$1 billion projected deficit for FY 2025-26¹. Santa Monica : $229 million settlement liabilities². Long Beach : $60.5 million shortfall over five years⁵. Now is the time to stress-test your leases, evaluate tenant strength, and model rising costs. If you wait until the fee hikes hit, it’s too late. Call or DM me today. Let’s make sure your property is protected and positioned to grow in this shifting market. What do you think, can city budget problems be the hidden risk most retail property owners aren’t watching closely enough? #RetailRealEstate #LosAngelesCRE #PropertyInvestment #CommercialRealEstate #LACounty
By Marc Perlof September 26, 2025
Petco thins its fleet with 25 store closings planned this year Petco is set to close 25 stores this year, on top of the 25 it shuttered last year, as it becomes the latest retailer to trim its store fleet. The San Diego-based company disclosed it was doing roughly two dozen closings when it reported second-quarter earnings recently. Petco's net sales of $1.5 billion decreased 2.3% compared with the prior-year period, and comparable sales dipped 1.4% year over year...
By Marc Perlof September 22, 2025
Hey, Retail Real Estate Rockstars! Property owners could lose tens of thousands in federal tax savings on building upgrades starting July 2026. The Big Beautiful Law (H.R. 1) ends the Energy Tax Deduction for Commercial Buildings (§ 179D) . If you’ve been counting on tax savings for energy upgrades like HVAC, lighting, or windows, here’s what you need to know to plan smart. What § 179D Gave You vs. What’s Changing Before, § 179D let building owners (including retail landlords) take tax deductions for energy-saving improvements, things like LED lighting, efficient HVAC systems, and better insulation or windows. These deductions often meant real money saved when making upgrades. Now, under H.R. 1: Starting July 1, 2026 , new construction or upgrade projects will no longer qualify for § 179D deductions¹. That means no tax savings for HVAC, lighting, or other energy upgrades if work begins after June 30, 2026 . Projects already started before that date may still qualify. Key Points The energy tax deduction (§ 179D) ends for projects that begin after June 30, 2026¹. Retail owners planning upgrades should move quickly to use the benefit before it disappears. Budgets, return on investment (ROI), and financial models need to be updated for this change. Data You Should Know § 179D savings were often measured in dollars per square foot of upgrades across lighting, HVAC, and building envelope systems². The repeal impacts all commercial building owners starting new projects after mid-2026¹. For example, a $250,000 HVAC upgrade that qualified under § 179D could deliver $25,000–$50,000 in tax deductions, savings that disappear once the repeal takes effect. Without § 179D, payback periods could stretch longer with ROI dropping by 10–20% on similar projects². What This Means for Your Property If you’ve been planning energy-efficient upgrades and counting on § 179D: Your ROI will be lower — you’ll need to depend on state programs, utility rebates, or direct energy savings. Any deals assuming § 179D must be re-checked and adjusted. Getting upgrades done before June 30, 2026 can help maintain property value since future buyers won’t have this tax break. If you’re a retail property owner looking at upgrades, whether for lighting, HVAC, windows, or insulation, this repeal changes the game. Let’s review your projects, see if they can begin in time to qualify, and adjust your cash flow plan. Call or DM me to map out your best move. With § 179D ending on June 30, 2026, what upgrades will you push forward now and will they still hold value once the tax break is gone? #179DRepeal #EnergyEfficientTaxDeduction #CommercialBuildingUpgrades #TaxSavingsForHVACLighting #HR1EnergyTax
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