Weekly Perl: A Commercial Real Estate News Recap

Marc Perlof • July 25, 2025
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CEO of American Realty Advisors elected to Downtown Santa Monica board


Stanley Iezman has been elected to the board of Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM), filling the vacant property owner seat left open after the resignation of longtime board member Julia Ladd.


The results were announced Thursday by DTSM CEO Andrew Thomas, who praised the caliber of candidates and the level of engagement from the downtown property ownership community...

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

Mid-Year Recap: Retailers continue to expand despite challenges


From C-suite shakeups and bankruptcies to sticky inflation, tariff threats and anxious consumers, it’s been a challenging year so far for the retail industry. Uncertainty seems to be the dominant theme, among consumers and retailers alike...

A car is parked in front of a sign that says 223

Friendly’s parent company Brix Holdings acquired by franchisee


Brix Holdings — the 250-unit parent company to Friendly’s Restaurants, Clean Juice, Red Mango, and Orange Leaf — has been acquired by Legacy Brands International, an investment group managed by multi-unit Friendly’s franchisee, Amol Kohli...

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

Trader Joe’s continues to crank out store openings


Trader Joe’s plans to open 30 new stores across 18 states in the coming months.

Texas, California, and New York are each expected to receive three locations. Louisiana, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Utah will get two stores each. Trader Joe’s also has plans for locations in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, and Virginia...

Del Taco to reopen 17 Colorado locations


The nation’s second-largest quick-serve Mexican restaurant chain is returning to a key market.



Del Taco is in the process of a phased reopening of 17 corporate-owned locations across Colorado. The rollout began June 21 and will continue throughout the next several months. With five locations now reopened and 12 more scheduled, the brand says it is reestablishing its footprint in communities “eager for its bold flavors and beloved menu items...”

Nordstrom Rack adds five new stores to 2026 lineup — here are the locations


Nordstrom continues to expand its off-price division.


The department store retailer, which in May closed on its deal to go private, is on track to open 21 Nordstrom Rack stores this year. It expects to open roughly the same amount in 2026, and has already announced a handful of openings, including a 30,000-sq.-ft. store at Turkey Creek in Knoxville, Tenn., and a 27,000-sq.-ft. store at Sarasota Pavilion in Sarasota, Fla...


Retailer At Home decides to keep open some US stores it previously planned to close


At Home has decided to keep two of its U.S. stores open despite initial plans to close them as the retailer seeks more time to assume or reject its real estate leases through a Delaware bankruptcy court.

The home goods retailer based in the Dallas area is also getting more funds as it navigates bankruptcy proceedings. Judge J. Kate Stickles granted At Home access to up to $600 million of debtor-in-possession financing, including $200 million of new funding and $400 million of prepetition debt...


Stater Bros. on a roll with new stores


It’s been a big summer for Stater Bros. Markets with the San Bernardino, Calif.-based grocery retailer opening a new store in Highland, Calif., and renovating another location in Twentynine Palms, Calif.

The grocery chain, which operates 166 stores, as of July 15, according to Scrapehero.com, announced on July 17 that it has completed the renovation of the Twentynine Palms store...


100 Days In, Church’s CEO Roland Gonzalez Has a Story to Tell


As CEO Roland Gonzalez explains it, Church’s Texas Chicken had to get its house in order. But now, the brand is no longer on the cusp; it isn’t a turnaround anymore. “We’re full steam ahead and we’re going to accelerate,” says Gonzalez, the chain’s former COO, who recently completed his first 100 days atop the brand...


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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