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Dark Store Carry Cost Calculator

Dark retail boxes burn cash monthly. This calculator sizes carry.

$/sf
$/sf
$/sf

Total carry cost

$780,800

Monthly carry

$65,067

Lost rent total

$576,000

How the math works

Total carry = lost rent + non-recoverable operating expenses, summed over dark period.

A 32,000 sf dark box at $18/sf rent and $6.40/sf operating burns ~$65-70k/month of total carry. Landlords underestimating this rarely survive a 12-18 month dark run on a second box in the same center without renegotiation pressure on the surviving tenants.

How to Use

  1. Enter box sqft.
  2. Enter market rent $/sf.
  3. Enter CAM/tax/insurance $/sf.
  4. Enter utility carry $/sf.
  5. Enter dark months.
  6. Read total carry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Carry components?

Lost rent (opportunity cost). Non-recoverable CAM (owner eats unless tenant paid). Property tax (continues regardless). Utility minimums. Marketing/maintenance. Property management. Insurance (often higher on vacant).

Vacancy insurance?

Insurers often require extra premium or limit coverage on extended vacancies. 30-90 days typical grace before rider required. Budget $0.10-0.25/sf/yr additional premium for vacant retail boxes.

Minimum operating cost?

Security patrols, HVAC minimums to prevent damage, exterior maintenance, sign maintenance. Typical $1.50-3.50/sf/yr beyond rent loss. 20-40k sf box runs $3-8k/month operating carry alone.

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