New York-based national retail real estate advisory firm, RCS Real Estate Advisors has been retained to market a substantial portfolio of Eddie Bauer LLC retail store leases throughout the U.S. and Canada as part of the company’s ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Building on its role as exclusive real estate consultant to Eddie Bauer, RCS is now actively marketing approximately 174 store leases totaling more than 1.08 million square feet. The portfolio includes 150 locations across 40 U.S. states and 24 locations across six Canadian provinces, offering a broad range of footprints in established malls, lifestyle centers and high traffic retail corridors. The available stores average around 6,300 square feet and are located in strong retail markets. (RCS Real Estate Advisors – www.rcsrealestate.com)…………….
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop has announced that influencer and food critic Keith Lee has joined the company as an investor in a multi-year partnership, his first brand investment. Lee’s backing marks a significant milestone in the brand’s expansion and cultural growth. Brooklyn Dumpling Shop is a pioneering Asian-inspired fast-casual food brand with over 20 locations and counting across the U.S. and Canada. The brand is rapidly expanding through corporate and franchised shops, while establishing a growing presence in retail stores, online sales, and foodservice venues through its line of frozen dumplings. (Brooklyn Dumpling Shop – www.brooklyndumplingshop.com)…………
Toronto-based self-storage providers XYZ Storage has announced the grand opening of its newest, state-of-the-art facility located at 380 Bering Ave., directly across from Kipling Station in Toronto’s growing Kipling–Bloor community. This modern facility expands XYZ Storage’s footprint in the GTA and brings more than 1,700 accessible storage units to residents and businesses in Etobicoke and beyond. With a portfolio of more than 1.2-million square feet across 9,640 units, XYZ Storage is the largest privately owned, Canadian-owned and operated self-storage company in Toronto. (XYZ Storage – www.xyzstorage.com)………
Roots Corp. reports that its Board of Directors has initiated a review of strategic alternatives to identify opportunities to maximize value for all shareholders. The Board will analyze and evaluate a range of alternatives, including, but not limited to, a sale of the company. The company has decided to publicly announce this strategic review as part of its value-maximization strategy while continuing to execute its current business plan. Roots Corp has engaged J.P. Morgan Securities Canada Inc. as its financial advisor and Torys LLP as its legal advisor for the strategic review. (Roots Corp – www.roots.com)……………
Calgary-based cannabis retailer High Tide Inc. reports that Nitin Kaushal and Andrea Elliott have resigned from the Board, effective March 2, 2026, following which the Board announced the appointment of Kathleen Skerrett and Menashe Kestenbaum as directors of the company, effective March 2, 2026. High Tide has also announced the appointment of David Wallach, CCIM, and Filip Ernest as a member of the company’s Advisory Board, to provide strategic guidance to management on matters including real estate, business development, artificial intelligence, e-commerce technology and community and stakeholder engagement. Wallach is the owner and president of Barclay Street Real Estate Ltd., a Calgary-based commercial real estate brokerage and property management firm and Ernest is an entrepreneur and digital transformation strategist with more than two decades of experience building and scaling technology-driven businesses. (High Tide Inc. – www.hightideinc.com)…………
Starting next week, retail businesses in Quebec will be allowed to extend their opening hours in a pilot project by CAQ. It brings back memories of the early 1990s when Sunday shopping was being introduced. At their choice, retailers were free to remain closed on Sundays or open……..the choice was theirs. Needless to say, the smaller operators felt obliged to increase staffing and occupancy costs or lose that potential business by remaining closed on Sundays. Expect the same today. The smaller operators, with no leverage, can expect to see those later hours remaining in place and costs increasing.
Have a great week and don’t forget, Buy Canadian…………..