Weekly Perl: A Commercial Real Estate News Recap

Marc Perlof • July 4, 2025
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Popular ice cream brand sold as nationwide chain closes hundreds of locations


WASHINGTON — Rite Aid's bankruptcy proceedings have led to the sale of Thrifty Ice Cream. 


Hilrod Holdings was named the successful bidder to acquire the ice cream brand from the nationwide pharmacy chain, according to recently filed court documents. The $19.2 million sale was approved July 1 by a federal bankruptcy judge, court documents show...

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

Is Wingstop on the Verge of Another Sales Tear?


Not many restaurant chains have surged at the pace of Wingstop. Same-store sales climbed nearly 40 percent over the past two calendars and average-unit volumes ended Q1 at $2.135 million. That latter figure was $1.9 million a year ago, $1.7 million the year before, and $1.6 million in 2022. If you stretch back to 2014—the year before Wingstop went public—AUVs were a shade over $1 million at $1.073 million across 693 restaurants...

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Jack in the Box takes poison pill as activist investor increases stake


Jack in the Box Inc. has made a move to defend itself against a potential hostile takeover.


The quick-serve chain has adopted a limited-duration shareholder rights plan, commonly referred to as a poison pill, after Biglari Capital Corp. bought additional shares of stock...


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

Nordstrom will leave Santa Monica Place in August


Nordstrom has announced it will permanently close its Santa Monica store located at 220 Broadway in Santa Monica Place on August 26, marking the end of operations at one of its Southern California locations despite the company reporting strong fourth quarter earnings that exceeded expectations...

Tacos Por Favor family flips fast food model with first full-service restaurant


After nearly 25 years running fast-casual taco joints across Los Angeles, the family behind Tacos Por Favor has opened their most ambitious location yet: a full-service restaurant and bar in Santa Monica...

Kirkland's Inc. to rebrand; 'move forward' with smaller footprint, store conversions


Kirkland’s Inc. is set to undergo a rebrand and corporate name change – as well as accelerate store conversions into new Beyond portfolio locations...

Mango hits 50 U.S. stores with more on the way


Mango has reached a new milestone in its U.S. expansion.

The Barcelona-based global fashion retailer has opened its 50th U.S. location with its new store in Portland, Ore., in the city's Washington Square shopping center...

Close-out retailer Ollie’s entering two new states; July store openings include…


Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is set for a busy July. 

The fast-growing close-out retailer opened its first location in Nebraska, in Omaha, on July 2. The store is located in a space that formerly housed a Big Lots outlet...

Retail sales slowdown does little to dent upward trend for store rents


U.S. retail sales faltered in May as the pull-forward of demand for durable goods and automobiles from the threat of tariffs waned. Headline retail sales fell 0.9% during the month, significantly more than the 0.6% drop expected from consensus estimates. However, most of the decline was driven by just a few retail categories...

Retail Real Estate in 2026: What Smart Property Owners Are Doing Right Now

By Marc Perlof • December 29, 2025
By Marc Perlof | MarcRetailGuy December 29, 2025 If you own retail real estate, here is what just changed for you. The New Year signifies more than just a new calendar. It marks the official reset point for tenant expectations, capital planning, and leasing strategy for retail property owners. Preliminary data for 2026 suggests that moderate but consistent growth is on the horizon. The Conference Board anticipates that consumer spending will increase by approximately 2% in Q1, primarily fueled by essential goods and neighborhood convenience retail.¹ The status of discretionary categories is still unclear. At the end of 2025, vacancy rates in neighborhood centers throughout the U.S. stood at 5.2%, marking the lowest level in over ten years.² While strong demand and limited new construction give landlords more leverage, it is crucial for them to use data to guide their decisions. The tone is set in January. Those tenants who ended the holiday period with a flat or negative performance are the most susceptible to cash flow stress in the early part of the year. This year, online commerce is projected to increase by another 7%, with mobile now leading the way in discovery and price comparison.³ Centers that facilitate easy access, smooth parking flow, designated pickup areas, and good visibility will attract tenants who are ready to pay higher rents for operational efficiency. It should now be simple for you to focus. Check year-end tenant sales or foot traffic counts, if they are available. Assess the recovery and operating costs of CAM. Determine areas that require repositioning. And begin discussions about renewal ahead of time with tenants who have done well. Powerful operators have already devised their strategy for 2026. Also, landlords should. Call or DM me. I can walk you through a New Year portfolio checkup that turns uncertainty into a strategy you can execute. Are you starting 2026 with clear data or just waiting to see what happens? #retailrealestate #CRE #2026retailoutlook #retailinvestment #leasingstrategy

Weekly Perl: A Commercial Real Estate News Recap

By Marc Perlof • December 26, 2025
Single-Tenant Retail Rebounds As Private Buyers Dominate The STNL retail market is rebounding as private investors take center stage amid easing inflation and improved pricing alignment, reports GlobeSt. According to Marcus & Millichap’s latest report, private buyers drove a 15% increase in their market share over the past 12 months. During the same period, institutional, REIT, and entity-level activity declined. Through Q3 2025, private capital made up 71% of dollar volume, followed by foreign buyers (10%) and REITs (9%)...

December Retail Sales Just Gave Landlords a Huge 60-Day Advantage

By Marc Perlof • December 22, 2025
By Marc Perlof | MarcRetailGuy December 22, 2025 If you own retail real estate, here is what just changed for you. The combination of Hanukkah and Christmas produces the most potent retail period of the whole year. At this moment, tenant performance becomes unmistakably evident. The latest data indicates that U.S. consumers intend to raise their spending in December by 2.5 percent, despite the tightening of household budgets.¹ Concurrently, holiday traffic is changing. According to NIQ, retailers focused on value are experiencing a 12 percent increase in foot traffic compared to the previous year, whereas premium brands are seeing their traffic stabilize.² Customers still wish to shop, but they are opting for less expensive options. This is important for property owners. A tenant's performance in December is often indicative of how they will perform in the first half of the following year. When spending slows down in January and February, retailers who fail to capture holiday dollars will find it difficult. The performance in December offers landlords a 30 to 60-day advantage for renewals, rent adjustments, and replacement planning before less effective operators experience the pressure. This month, online shopping is anticipated to increase by another 6 percent, with a significant rise in curbside pickup.³ This season, retailers focusing on value and necessity are surpassing discretionary categories in traffic and conversion rates by high single digits. Centers that cater to hybrid shopping behaviors will surpass those that do not. Owners should keep an eye on three aspects. Initially, examine the speed of tenant sales, if available. Secondly, examine the conversion of traffic. Third, verify if tenants made early enough adjustments to their inventory to remain competitive. When a tenant is losing momentum during the crucial retail period of the year, it is essential to consider repositioning or renewal adjustments immediately rather than waiting until after the holidays. Call or DM me if you want to dig deeper. I can walk you through how this holiday period can guide your leasing, renewals, and pricing strategy for 2026. Are your tenants winning the moments that matter most? #retailrealestate #holidayretail #CRE #retailinvestment #centerperformance
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