Page 18 - NBIZ Magazine December 2020

payments. Often these landlords have
mortgages and lenders to satisfy and The More Space Street
depend upon the income stream from Main Street ordinance
their tenants. To that end, there is allows bars and
more than one way to keep your tenant
and lender satisfied. restaurants to serve
customers food and
Allow use of Common Space drinks with more space
Landlords can allow restaurant
tenants to use large areas of available for no fees until
common space indoors or outdoors. March 31, 2022.
In malls, landlords have access to
plenty of common areas that can be
utilized for greater social distancing.
In the Galleria, the Simon Property
Group, allows the tenants to use the
common areas for the waiting lines
to provide greater social distancing.
Other landlords allow tenants to dis-
play some wares outside the store for
quicker access and to-go convenience.
Tenants can also engage clients using
text messaging to enhance social dis-
tancing and limit the waiting times.
In Schertz, Texas, Evo Entertain- Outside Dining for a Temporary Sidewalk Café Permit
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ment reconfigured its cinema, with Restaurants that offered spaced that is good for 1 to 5 years. Despite its
the help of its landlord, to a drive-in outside dining fared better than those inception before the pandemic, these
movie theater, allowing for social with limited space or lack of to-go street patios allow for social distancing
distancing to continue generating services. For example, Betsey’s Restau- and increased circulation to provide
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income. Unfortunately, the Gover- rant in Bellaire Texas, near Evelyn’s safer dining for customers and gener-
nor’s closure of all non-essential busi- Park, appeared to flourish. Customers ate income for tenants. These inno-
nesses applied to the drive-in theater of Betsey’s can eat outside with social vative ideas have buoyed struggling
as well. As the Governor loosened distanced tables. Alternatively, custom- restaurants and bars.
restrictions on businesses, Evo shift- ers can take their meals to-go and eat Other surprising landlord re-
ed to its original movie theater style at the park or elsewhere. sponses include purchasing tenants
but still has the ability to transform involved in retail businesses in
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to a drive-in, if necessary. Obtain Municipal Assistance bankruptcy proceedings. For example,
Likewise, other movie theaters uti- The City of Houston recently Simon Property Group and Brookfield
lized different methods to lure custom- passed an ordinance closing sections Properties combined forces to assume
ers. Several movie theaters, including of Main Street to traffic to allow $500 million in debt and purchase
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Alamo Draft House, Studio Movie Grill restaurants additional space to J.C. Penney for over 300 million.
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and AMC, offer customers the ability serve customers outside. The More Likewise, Simon Property Group
to rent an entire theater from $200 to Space Street Main Street ordinance purchased Brooks Brothers for $325
$300, depending upon the theater and allows bars and restaurants to serve million. While most landlords cannot
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movie. Allowing customers to rent an customers food and drinks with more purchase tenants to salvage the busi-
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entire theater assures the customers space for no fees until March 31, ness’s income stream, it reinforces
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of safety while allowing the tenant 2022. Other restaurants that offer the idea that innovative responses are
to generate income to pay operating outside socially distanced dining have crucial to retail survival.
costs, including rent. not merely survived, but thrived.
Taking a cue from Schertz, Texas, Likewise, restaurants in Houston and Encourage online presence for Tenants
landlords can also allow tenants access Austin, Texas, with distanced patios, Online presence and pick-up orders
to parking lots for extra space for fared better than those without patios are paramount in the age of COVID-19.
drive-in theaters. The novelty of the and to-go options. Lease amendments can encourage
drive-in theater compensates for the In 2014, Austin created its Street online sites. Parking lots can be config-
lack of premier movies. The alternate Patio or “parklet” (a sidewalk café in ured to allow quick pick-up access for
venue can ensure more reliable income areas previously allocated for parking). a window of hours. Pico’s Restaurant
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amidst the pandemic. Interested parties may apply and pay offers a quick to-go tamale bar in its
18 NBIZ ■ December 2020