Washington, D.C. — COVID-19’s impact on U.S. retail imports is easing, beating prior forecasts, says the National Retail Federation (NRF). The NRF and partner Hackett Associates released their Global Port Tracker on Monday, which showed that ports handled just over 1.6 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), beating expectations from one month ago. “Imports are erratic, with one month up and the next down,” says Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates. “Getting 40 million people back to work will take time, especially with many fearful of catching the virus and staying …
In the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, retail was an almost immediate victim as governors and mayors across the country issued stay-at-home/shelter-in-place directives, forcing many retailers to close their stores for a time and some eventually made the difficult to decision to furlough or layoff their employees. For the first time in history, all 50 states were simultaneously under a federal disaster declaration and 38.5 million jobless claims have been filed in two months, another historic figure. After the initial shock of stores and restaurants closing temporarily or pivoting …
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 …
Charleston, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice on Friday allowed movie theaters and casinos in the state to reopen. Theaters are required to operate with social distancing guidelines in place, including limiting the theater occupancy that will allow for proper distancing, adjusting common area layouts to allow for a six-foot distance between patrons who do not live together, encouraging all patrons and employees to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and encouraging patrons to purchase tickets in advance to limit cash transactions. For casinos, occupancy must be limited to 50 …
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 …
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 …
The impact of COVID-19 has forced retailers, restaurants and service providers in the Northeast to improve their digital channels and adapt social distancing policies to continue serving customers. With retailers struggling to pay rent, landlords could find mutual benefit in reaching a compromise with existing tenants before temporary closures become permanent. Unfortunately, for many small businesses the virus has activated a Darwinian battle of the fittest among retailers with primarily physical channels. Meanwhile, e-commerce giants like Amazon are thriving in market conditions tailored to their already digital-focused business plans. Grocery …
Lansing, Mich. — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed a new executive order rescinding her stay-home order and moving the entire state to Phase IV of the “MI Safe Start Plan” in response to COVID-19. The governor’s order will enable retailers to reopen June 4 and restaurants to reopen June 8 at 50 percent capacity. Day camps for children will be permitted to open June 8. Effective immediately, groups of 100 or less will be allowed to gather outdoors with social distancing. Office work and housecleaning services can resume. Gyms …