Malls Survive With Alternative Uses

Since the industry has faced a rash of store closures in the last year, landlords are looking for other types of tenants to fill spaces.

In Scranton, PA, the local paper talks focuses on the Mall at Steamtown, which is operated by Fameco Real Estate and apparently 17% vacant. Management is now focusing on non-traditional tenants to fill up that space.

VIDEO: Malls Aren’t Dead

In the below video, Steve Forbes interviews Marty Cohen, co-chairman and co-CEO of Cohen & Steers about commercial real estate. He’s not big on hotels, but surprisingly, he thinks malls will hold up through the recession. “These are mainstays of the community. Who doesn’t like going to the mall?” We have a feeling some of you might disagree.

Watch Video

VIDEO: Simon on Buying GGP Malls

Simon Property Group CEO David Simon weighs in on possibly acquiring some of General Growth’s portfolio during a Bloomberg Television interview. “We’re a logical buyer,” he says. “There’s a lot we can do with those properties.”

Simon also says that the industry could see a recovery some time next year if job growth pics up. Click on the image below for the full interview.

Also, RIP Melvin Simon.

Watch Video

Graphic: A Look at (Mostly) Extinct Retail Concepts

The graphic below is a funny mall-directory-like map that shows retail concepts that have either gone out of business or are on the brink with descriptions of their situation. We especially like this statement about Spencer Gifts: “Specializing in all things unnecessary, Spencer’s is what Brookstone would be if it was run by a stoned 20-year-old.”

GGP Bankruptcy Gets More Complicated

Some of the entities that financed some of the General Growth Properties’ malls want those assets taken out of the REIT’s bankruptcy filing.

“The legal separation would give the lenders greater control over the fate of the malls and access to all the excess cash they generate,” according to Reuters.

Simon Interested in Some GGP Malls

This article about the health of Simon Property Group in the recession, reveals that the mall owner might consider acquiring some General Growth Properties assets when the latter’s bankruptcy proceedings mature.

Said CEO David Simon: “I don’t think we would be interested in the whole company. They have some assets that clearly would fit nicely with ours.”

General Growth Tries to Buy Time

General Growth Properties is asking its lenders for until the end of the year to refinance debt, so it can avoid filing for bankruptcy.

The mall owner has $1.18 billion in past-due debt and $4.09 billion that can be accelerated by lenders. It is giving lenders until March 16 to respond.

Would YOU Buy These GGP Malls?

We’ve been a little slow to report that General Growth is marketing three trophy properties in its portfolio that were originally acquired from the Rouse Co. The assets, being marketed by DTZ Rockwood, are Faneuil Hall in Boston; South Street Seaport in Manhattan and Harborplace and the Gallery in Baltimore.

We’ve been intrigued by the prospects of these three centers going to market because of their civic significance in each locale.

Target Not Biting? Why Not Buy GGP?

After proposing that Target’s real estate gets folded into a REIT and getting rejected, Pershing Square Capital Management has now turned its sights to General Growth Properties.

The website-less fund, managed by William Ackman, has now apparently acquired a 20% interest in the mall owner. In a Bloomberg article, Merrill Lynch analysts say it “is the first sign that any investor has expressed a strong interest in the company or sees significant value beyond the mountain of debt.”

Restaurants Prepare for a Tough Holiday

As retail centers brace for slower holiday traffic, so are their eatery tenants, says this WSJ article.

Sure, what chains aren’t suffering, restaurants or not? But one analyst, Oppenheimer & Co.’s Matthew DiFrisco points out something we hadn’t fully considered: “They live off the flow of traffic going to lifestyle centers and malls, and are trying to intercept you while you’re out shopping.”