Earlier this year, Publix Super Markets purchased a portfolio of six Publix-anchored shopping centers in the Southeast for $130.4 million. The Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer has been aggressively growing its ownership portfolio of shopping centers as the company sees value in being its own landlord. Other large anchors like Walmart and Dillard’s have also purchased shopping centers and malls in recent months. Jason Donald, managing director of retail investment sales at Franklin Street, says that it’s not just the big box anchors that are getting in on the trend. Donald represents an undisclosed retail bank that is pursuing this strategy, which he says is becoming more popular as the capital markets make the ownership model more viable, especially for high creditworthy tenants. “With interest rates coming down and money being readily available, the propensity is shifting that tenants now want to own their own assets,” says Donald. “We’re seeing less leasing and more propensity to own, banks and gas stations especially are getting on that train. That’s the shift in the market we’re seeing more than anything else.” REBusinessOnline recently caught up with Donald to discuss the buyer pool for retail properties, as well as other investment sales trends including the …
