Leawood, Kan. — AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. (NYSE: AMC) plans to reopen almost all of its U.S. and U.K. theaters in July. The Leawood-based movie theater chain has already reopened 10 theaters in Norway, Germany, Spain and Portugal, and expects to be fully open globally in July ahead of the release of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” on July 17 and Disney’s “Mulan” on July 24. AMC is working closely with local, national and international officials to coordinate timing and requirements of reopening. It is consulting with the Harvard University School of …
Canton, Mass. — Fast-food breakfast chain Dunkin’ (NASDAQ: DNKN) has announced plans to hire 25,000 new employees nationwide as the company looks to lead the charge out of nationwide coronavirus quarantines. Taco Bell recently made a similar declaration, vowing in late May to hire 30,000 workers this summer. With 55,000 planned hires between just two companies, quick-service restaurants could be an early sign of economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reliance on drive-thru and pickup orders makes fast food a natural type of restaurant to rebound first. On Friday, …
Woonsocket, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has added 55 COVID-19 testing sites in North Carolina and 15 sites in South Carolina. The tests are accessible through appointments only. Patients will be required to stay in their cars and will be directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window, where they will be provided with a test kit and given instructions. A CVS team member will observe the self-swab process to ensure it is done properly. Tests will be sent to an independent, third-party lab for processing and the results will be available in approximately …
Denver — As retailers continue to face uncertain times during the COVID-19 pandemic, Denver-based Baceline Investments has shifted its focus to providing support and creating tools, resources and personal guidance for the small businesses of its 73 neighborhood shopping centers under management nationwide. The boutique private equity real estate investment and management company’s national portfolio currently includes 900 small business tenants. “We’ve taken an all-hands-on-deck approach to supporting our small business partners,” says Todd Laurie, partner and executive vice president of fund services for Baceline. “We’ve mobilized our company into …
Plano, Texas — J.C. Penney released an update on its store optimization strategy on Thursday, announcing plans to close 154 stores around the country as part of Phase I of the plan. The closings of those stores are scheduled to begin Friday, June 12. The Plano-based retailer expects to announce additional closings after Phase I, which will feature store-closing sales at the shuttered locations that are expected to take 10 to 16 weeks to complete. A list of which stores are closing as part of Phase I can be found …
Indianapolis — Indianapolis-based mall owner Simon Property Group has sued Gap Inc. for refusing to pay rent for stores temporarily closed during the coronavirus pandemic, according to The Wall Street Journal. The retailer owes three months of rent amounting to nearly $66 million. The lawsuit was filed in Delaware state court. Both Banana Republic and Old Navy fall under the Gap umbrella of brands. Gap is one of Simon’s biggest tenant in terms of rent. Simon has 412 stores that are leased to Gap, Banana Republic or Old Navy within …
Leawood, Kan. — AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. (NYSE: AMC) says it has “substantial doubt” for its ability to remain in business after shutdowns due to the coronavirus. If the movie theater chain is not able to recommence operations within its estimated timeline, it will require additional capital. The Leawood-based company temporarily suspended operations at all of its theaters through June and is generating no revenue. Even if governmental operating restrictions are lifted in certain jurisdictions, AMC says distributors may delay the release of new films until operating restrictions are eased …
Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — Agree Realty Corp (NYSE: ADC), a retail real estate investment trust, received rent payments from 87 percent of its tenants in May, according to the company. Agree entered into May deferral agreements with tenants representing approximately 4 percent of its portfolio. All of Agree’s investment-grade tenants paid their rent for May. Acquisition activity in the second quarter through May 29 totaled $147.4 million. The acquisition of six properties occupied by Walmart comprised approximately 39 percent of acquisition capital deployed. Walmart remains the company’s top tenant, accounting …
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. — Brad Umansky has been named the new president of the Retail Brokers Network (RBN). Umansky is the owner and president of Rancho Cucamonga-based Progressive Real Estate Partners. In this volunteer role, Umansky will lead the RBN executive committee and work with the other committee members to grow the RBN brand, represent the organization at industry events, recruit new firms, facilitate education, lead internal networking events and share brokerage “best practices” between the 57 RBN member offices. Umansky has more than 25 years of retail real estate experience …
Jacksonville, Fla. — Regency Centers Corp. reported that it collected 58 percent of base rent from its tenants in May. The Jacksonville-based company released the data during its June 2020 presentation, which also reported that Regency collected 68 percent of base rent in April. The presentation broke its tenants down by category. Of the essential retailers, which includes grocers, drugstores, mass merchandisers, banks, pet stores, office supplies and medical tenants, 92 percent were able to pay May rent. Essential, quick-service restaurants paid rent at a 48 percent clip, while 31 percent …