How to Respond When Tenants Ask for a Rent Reduction | EP 77: I Own a Shopping Center, Now What?

Beth Azor

A broker from a national pizza chain asked me to extend their lease and lower their rent by $5/SF. But instead of panicking, I asked a better question: “Would they be open to leaving instead?” In this episode, I break down the full story—and why more landlords need to stop reacting from fear and start thinking strategically.From understanding tenant exclusives in the market to knowing when to call a bluff, I walk you through exactly how I handled this pitch, the math behind restaurant margins, and why you should never drop rent without seeing sales. If you're being hit with rent reduction requests—especially from nationals—this is a must-listen playbook for keeping your NOI strong.🔑 Key Takeaways✔️ Never drop rent without seeing a 3-year sales history✔️ Pizza tenants have infrastructure—leverage that✔️ Know your competition’s exclusives and vacancies✔️ If they won’t share sales, it’s likely not a real hardship✔️ Brokers often get paid based on rent reductions✔️ Don’t panic—do your homework before agreeing to anything✔️ National chains often bluff to secure better terms✔️ You have more leverage than you think—use itBECOME A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ROCKSTAR: https://www.bethazor.com/https://www.azoracademy.com/For more commercial real estate training: https://www.bethazor.com/training/FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/azoradvisoryservices/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethazor1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethazor/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/6315636/#retailleasing #commercialrealestateinvesting #retailleasingcoach #bethazor