A&G Real Estate's Banner Year: Rescuing Retail and Pivoting to New Frontiers

NEW YORK, NY – January 06, 2026 – In a year marked by complex commercial real estate dynamics, A&G Real Estate Partners emerged as a pivotal force, orchestrating high-stakes turnarounds and strategic repositioning efforts that generated hundreds of millions of dollars in value for its clients. The New York-based portfolio-optimization specialist announced it had influenced 71.5 million square feet of property across the country in 2025, saving thousands of jobs and preventing widespread vacancies in the process.

The firm's impact was felt across 4,453 leases and properties, spanning retail stores, offices, warehouses, and even a New Jersey farm. A&G's Co-President Andy Graiser underscored the significance of these efforts. "By maximizing the value of our clients' real estate, we kept hundreds of locations open, saved thousands of jobs, and supported business performance and growth nationwide by connecting expanding operators with millions of square feet of newly available space," Graiser said.

Navigating High-Stakes Retail Bankruptcies

A&G’s expertise proved critical in some of 2025’s most prominent retail bankruptcy cases. A standout achievement was the firm's work with The Container Store, which faced a Chapter 11 filing. A&G engineered a rapid, prepackaged emergence from bankruptcy in just 37 days. "Our team executed 58 lease-restructurings and secured $109 million in occupancy cost savings for the retailer," explained A&G Co-President Emilio Amendola. This swift intervention allowed the specialty retailer to minimize store closures and stabilize its operations, with A&G continuing to advise on its go-forward strategy.

The firm also played a central role in managing the fallout from Rite Aid Corp.'s Chapter 11 filing in May 2025. Initially facing liquidation, the nation's third-largest drug chain presented a significant challenge. A&G was court-appointed to manage the disposition of its vast portfolio. The firm launched a strategic marketing campaign that attracted over 1,700 interested parties, a testament to the underlying value of the locations.

The result was a cascade of deals that kept commercial corridors alive. Leases were sold to a diverse group of expanding operators, including Dollar Tree, Five Below, Burlington, Ross, and Ace Hardware, along with multiple grocery chains. In addition to the lease sales, A&G sold 50 fee-owned Rite Aid properties. The total proceeds from the engagement reached $95 million. "Operators across the country bought leases in these sales," Amendola noted. "You're talking about continued operation of 2 million square feet of real estate that otherwise would have gone dark." A&G also handled real estate sales on major Chapter 11 cases for other national brands, including Party City, Big Lots, and Joann.

A Strategic Response to a Shifting Market

A&G's success in the retail sector occurred against a backdrop of a bifurcated market in 2025. While overall retail real estate fundamentals remained strong, with low vacancy rates driven by a decade of limited new construction, certain segments faced intense pressure. Rising costs and the relentless growth of e-commerce squeezed margins for many legacy brands, leading to an ongoing need for portfolio optimization and, in some cases, bankruptcy advisory.

A&G’s ability to find new tenants for vacated spaces reflects a broader trend of repurposing. Many former retail locations are being transformed into entertainment venues, service-based businesses, and medical facilities, breathing new life into established shopping centers. The firm's work with multiunit restaurant franchisees also highlights this trend, as rising costs and changing consumer habits force operators to seek occupancy cost reductions to remain competitive. "Reducing your occupancy costs can give you more flexibility to fund value-focused marketing and promotional strategies that can win back customers," said Joe McKeska, who leads the firm's Grocery, Restaurant and Pharmacy Practice.

Beyond Retail: Diversification into High-Growth Sectors

While its retail work grabbed headlines, 2025 also marked a year of "exponential growth" for A&G in non-retail sectors, according to Senior Managing Director Alexandra Graiser. The firm is increasingly applying its optimization expertise to the nuanced real estate needs of healthcare, life sciences, and education. "Sectors like healthcare, life sciences and education are more aware of the need to align their portfolios with their objectives and current performance," she stated.

This strategic pivot is well-timed. The healthcare real estate market saw a surge in activity in 2025, driven by the ongoing shift from large hospitals to smaller, more accessible outpatient facilities. A&G is currently engaged in optimizing the portfolio for a major national healthcare clinical practice, helping it adapt to this new paradigm.

Similarly, the life sciences sector, despite its rapid growth, faced its own challenges. An oversupply of laboratory space in key markets led to rising vacancies and a greater emphasis on cost control for biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Recognizing this need, A&G stepped in to deliver more than $50 million in real estate savings for a single Boston-based life sciences client by restructuring its leases.

Strengthening the Bench for Future Challenges

The firm's sustained success and strategic expansion were bolstered by internal growth and industry-wide recognition. In 2025, Global M&A Advisor named A&G "Real Estate Advisor of the Year" for the sixth consecutive year, a powerful endorsement of its leadership in a competitive field. This expertise is rooted in a team whose members bring an average of two decades of experience.

A&G also strengthened its leadership by promoting Douglas Bennett to Principal and Alexandra Graiser to Senior Managing Director. Bennett, who heads the Financial Reporting & Property Analysis Group, has been credited with contributing to over $4 billion in client savings since 2020. Graiser has been instrumental in managing advisory work for major clients and leading complex lease renegotiations.

Looking ahead, the firm shows no signs of slowing down. "We're on the cusp of announcing new hires that will further expand the resources and expertise we offer our clients," Amendola concluded. "That's important, because we've seen a significant amount of activity that will be rolling into 2026. We're excited to see A&G's momentum continue into the New Year."