Craig Schmidt's questions to CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES (CBL) leadership • Q4 2019
Question
Craig Schmidt of Bank of America inquired about the sales volume impact of replacing apparel tenants with new uses and asked for an assessment of the leasing environment in 2020 compared to 2019.
Answer
CEO Stephen Lebovitz explained that new tenants like Dave & Busters and Dick's Sporting Goods are expected to generate three to four times the sales and traffic of the former Sears stores they replace. He acknowledged a near-term lag in results as these new tenants open. Lebovitz stated that the 2020 leasing environment feels similar to 2019, with positive sales trends offset by ongoing challenges for some retailers.