The retail industry has been a rollercoaster, and since 2017, Retail Dive has been tracking every twist and turn of major bankruptcies. We've seen titans like Sears fade, others like Lord & Taylor vanish surprisingly fast, and even some, like Gymboree and Payless, face bankruptcy not once, but twice! It's a fascinating look at which retailers adapt, which ones pivot to digital, and which seemingly disappear only to resurrect in new forms, like Toys R Us finding a new home at Macy's. Keeping an eye on these bankruptcies reveals the ever-changing health of the retail world and offers clues about evolving consumer trends.

Despite initial stability in the commercial real estate sector, a mixed picture is emerging regarding the impact of rising tariffs and global uncertainty. While major players like Blackstone acknowledge the influence of tariffs on their investments, experts like MSCI's Jim Costello suggest that early warning signs—such as widening credit spreads and a drop in hotel deal volume—indicate potential trouble ahead. The slow nature of commercial real estate deals means the full effects might not be visible until late 2025, but a potential reduction in global liquidity could significantly impact the market.

Think malls are dead? Think again—Class A malls are quietly thriving.

Despite the doom-and-gloom around retail real estate, top-tier malls are holding strong, according to Newmark’s latest report. While Class B and C malls have struggled with declining foot traffic and occupancy, Class A malls saw a 1.7% increase in visits from 2023 to 2024, and are maintaining 94% occupancy—right in line with open-air shopping centers.

The trend reflects retailers consolidating into high-performing locations and shifting expansion to open-air formats like strip centers with modern conveniences. With limited new mall development since 2010, rents at Class A malls have jumped 36% over the last decade. Newmark says the key to staying ahead is continued innovation, tech adoption, and reinvestment to keep shoppers coming back.

Big tax break coming for Florida commercial tenants—if the Governor signs off.

Florida’s legislature has passed HB 7031, a game-changing bill that would fully eliminate the state and local sales tax on commercial real estate leases starting October 1, 2025. This move builds on years of gradual tax reductions and, if signed by Gov. DeSantis, would make Florida the first state to completely remove this tax burden.

However, not all rentals are off the hook—short-term residential stays, parking, boat slips, and aircraft hangars remain taxable. Also, any rent tied to pre-October 1 occupancy will still be taxed, even if paid later. And buyers of commercial properties must still watch out for successor liability unless the seller obtains a certificate of compliance from the Florida Department of Revenue.

Bottom line: This is a win for landlords and tenants, but smart planning is key to maximize savings and avoid future tax headaches.

Kroger is closing stores—but it's far from shrinking.

The grocery giant plans to shutter around 60 underperforming locations over the next 18 months to streamline operations and boost efficiency. While this might sound like a step back, Kroger insists it’s all part of a bigger growth strategy—reinvesting the savings to enhance the customer experience and opening new stores in high-growth markets by 2026.

The move comes months after the company nixed its $24.6B merger with Albertsons and saw the departure of former CEO Rodney McMullen over ethics concerns. Despite these shake-ups, Kroger reported a strong first quarter with $866 million in net income and a 15% surge in e-commerce sales. Interim CEO Ron Sargent says the company is now laser-focused on store performance, digital growth, and delivering value to shoppers.

Kirkland’s Inc. is undergoing a major transformation, rebranding as The Brand House Collective, Inc. and shifting from a single-brand retailer to a multi-brand powerhouse. Pending shareholder approval in July, the company will streamline its store footprint and convert many Kirkland’s Home locations into Bed Bath & Beyond Home and Overstock stores, with the first openings planned for the Nashville area in 2025. This bold move includes the launch of Overstock’s first-ever physical store and the development of new concepts like BuyBuy Baby. With a refreshed leadership team and a strategy focused on efficiency, innovation, and growth, the company is positioning itself as a reinvented, performance-driven retail collective.

South Florida condo boards are under pressure to comply with a sweeping safety law passed after the deadly Surfside collapse, requiring structural inspections and reserve studies for buildings 30 years or older. But these evaluations, which can cost upwards of $35,000, are creating tension between cost-conscious condo associations and cautious engineers who risk legal and professional liability. Many engineers are reluctant to take on the work unless they trust the client, fearing lawsuits or disciplinary action. With nearly 90% of Florida’s condos falling under the new rules and only a limited number of qualified professionals, the state faces a growing bottleneck in condo safety compliance.

Major U.S. drugstore chains are in crisis mode as economic pressures and fierce competition have slashed profitability. Walgreens and CVS have already closed hundreds of underperforming locations, with more closures planned in 2025. Rite Aid’s situation is far more dire—it has filed for bankruptcy twice in two years and is now on track to shut down all of its approximately 1,240 stores. Rising costs, high interest debt, and competition from retail giants like Walmart and Amazon’s online pharmacy services are reshaping the pharmaceutical landscape, leaving long-standing chains scrambling for survival.