Bed Bath & Beyond shuttering 41 Florida stores might benefit landlords

Landlords across Florida woke up the morning of April 24 to news that Bed Bath & Beyond, a major, sometimes even anchor, tenant at more than 40 shopping centers had filed for bankruptcy and would begin winding down and closing 41 stores statewide.

The bankruptcy and the planned closings, which affect 14 stores from Pasco County south to Collier County, may not have come as a total surprise given the retailer’s recent history. But the departure, on the surface at least, does present a challenge for property owners who will soon be left with vacant spaces and the possibility rent payments will be missed.