Dealing with Too Many Tenant Restrictions? Here’s How I Navigate It | Episode 56: I Own a Shopping Center, Now What?

What happens when you’ve got a perfectly good vacancy—but exclusives are tying your hands? In this episode, I walk through one of my current leasing challenges: a second-gen restaurant space that should be a no-brainer to fill... except I’m bound by a long list of tenant exclusives. From chicken and bubble tea to even Middle Eastern food—I’m locked out of nearly every popular restaurant category.But here’s the truth: exclusives are common, and they don’t have to stall your leasing. I share the real-world strategies I use to work around them—like how I got a Latin restaurant in under a chicken-exclusive, and when it might actually make sense to challenge or negotiate a waiver. I also break down creative site planning tactics that can open doors to entirely new tenant types. If you’ve ever been stuck with a “hard-to-lease” space, this one’s for you.Key Insights:✔️ Exclusives are everywhere—but they’re not deal-breakers✔️ Strategic tenant outreach starts with knowing your approved categories✔️ Get creative with space planning to unlock better tenant matches✔️ Know the penalties for breaking exclusives—it might be worth it✔️ Waivers are possible—but often come with negotiation✔️ Encourage leasing agents to explore unexpected tenant formats