Go Dark Clause Damages Calculator

Going dark hurts traffic. This calculator sizes co-tenancy cascade.

Dark anchor size SF

Adjacent tenants annual rent

Foot traffic drop %

Estimated recovery months

Total damages

$214,200

Monthly rent impact

$11,900

Cascade share of adj rent

16.80%

How the math works

Impact = adjacent rent × traffic drop × cascade factor (60%). Total = monthly × recovery months.

A 28% traffic drop on $850k adjacent rent for 18 months cascades to ~$214k damage via rent concessions, co-tenancy cures, termination losses. Why anchor operating covenants matter — losing anchor traffic doesn't just affect anchor economics.

How to Use

Enter dark anchor size (SF).
Enter adjacent tenants rent.
Enter foot traffic drop %.
Enter sales recovery months.
Read total damages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does dark hurt?

Anchor drives shopping center traffic. Dark anchor kills co-tenancy benefit. Smaller tenants see sales drop 15-35%. Triggers co-tenancy provisions: reduced rent, termination rights, marketing contribution demands. Anchor still pays rent but damage cascades outward.

Landlord response?

Enforce anchor operating covenant if lease has one (force reopening or damages). Accelerate backfill search. Offer temporary rent reduction to cascading tenants. Marketing push. Sometimes buy out remaining lease term to free space faster.

Anchor side?

Anchors push to remove operating covenants (go-dark freely). Sophisticated landlord insists: operating covenant through year X, then freely assignable. Or anchor pays premium rent after going dark (holds landlord harmless).