Chain restaurants are going into vacant box-store locations, Home Depot parking lots, and Sears stores as the struggling retail industry reinvents itself in the wake of the recession.
The Wall Street Journal reported Darden Restaurants Inc., owner of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and the Longhorn Steakhouse, has been opening Olive Gardens in closed supermarkets and old Circuit City stores. Buffalo Wild Wings has been moving into Sears stores. And Chipotle Mexican Grill chain has been taking over old Starbucks locations.
Industry watchers say some of this vacant real estate has made for deals too good for companies to resist — particularly given the absence of new construction options, liner buildings, and mall openings since the real estate market crash.
Repurposing commercial space comes with several challenges. New York business lawyers can best assist franchise clients in protecting their investments. How long is the lease? What considerations are made for leasehold improvements? When dealing with malls, a retailer must also look at the health of the entire enterprise — as that may impact the success or failure of your endeavor.
Considerations when Buying a Franchise
Buying a franchise also requires experienced legal help. As does dealing with a chain restaurant as a commercial landlord — these companies typically have very savvy legal counsel. Franchise considerations include:
-Initial Investment – Market Study
–Exit Planning – Business Value
-Financing Options
-Lease or Real Estate Ownership considerations
Statistics show the restaurant industry is once again growing — if not yet booming. Restaurant leases have accounted for nearly 16 percent of new leases signed thus far this year in U.S. shopping centers, according to CoStar Group Inc., a real-estate research firm.
Chipotle reports about 70 percent of new locations are going into existing commercial space. Five years ago, Darden rarely moved into retail space, but now, as many as one-third of recent locations are going into repurposed commercial space.
Restaurants can be excellent for shopping centers because they draw traffic — and with a record-high vacancy rate of about 10 percent, shopping centers need all the help they can get right now. However, restaurants can take up a lot of parking and their can be zoning and ADA compliance issues to resolve, among other legal considerations.
Utilities are another area where tenants or landlords may underestimate the work involved in repurposing commercial space. A department store does not often have the sewer, natural gas, and other utility requirements for operating a restaurant. Understanding your responsibility as a tenant or landlord is critical to protecting your investment.
The Wright Law Firm is a business law firm located in Midtown Manhattan. Call (212) 619-1500 for a confidential consultation.