Lenox Square in Atlanta has signed 18 new leases with retailers and restaurants this year, including brands new to the market such as Mejuri, Good American and Panerai. Simon Property Group, which owns the facility, aims to attract younger shoppers, particularly Generation Z and millennials, and has introduced digitally native brands to the mall to maintain its relevance.

Macerich has sold nearly $150 million in properties in the Phoenix area over the past year as part of a plan to divest slower-performing assets. Its largest deal was the sale of its 50% share in Biltmore Fashion Park to Red Development for $110 million. Macerich's latest earnings report shows five Arizona properties were sold between July 2024 and June 2025.

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has agreed to sell the 1.6 million-square-foot Westfield Wheaton mall in Maryland for $136 million, down from a $402 million appraisal 10 years ago. The mall has been in special servicing since earlier this year after URW defaulted on a $235 million loan.

Major brokerages -- including JLL, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers and Newmark -- are pointing to positive signs for the commercial real estate market. JLL reported a 5.8% increase in active office space requirements, while CBRE forecasted a 10% rise in commercial real estate investment activity for this year.

Birkenstock is accelerating its brick-and-mortar retail expansion, with plans to reach 100 stores this year. The expansion is designed to capture rising in-person shopping demand and to showcase the full product range, complementing the brand's wholesale strategy, which is still the leading sales channel for the footwear brand. "We continue to see the shift to in-person shopping, which amplifies our brand," said CEO Oliver Reichert. "We are a touch-and-feel product, especially for consumers who are new to the brand."

Canadian underwear brand Knix has opened its first permanent US store in New York City as part of a broader plan to expand its physical presence. The direct-to-consumer brand also has opened an Ohio fulfillment center to improve logistics for US customers. The brand is leveraging strong ecommerce demand in New York to grow its physical presence in key US cities and increase customer acquisition, which is already rising by double digits.

Major US retailers, including Walmart, Target, Home Depot and Lowe's, are set to report earnings this week, offering insight into how consumers are coping with President Donald Trump's tariffs, weak job growth and persistent inflation. While retail sales rose in July, consumer sentiment has dipped and inflation expectations have increased. Analysts warn that the full impact of tariffs has yet to be felt, and economists expect consumer spending to moderate further later in the year as higher prices erode purchasing power.

Harry Grossman said he was 8 when he attended his first Cubs game in 1906. Here's Harry saying the line.