You can usually tell it's abandoned just by looking at what they left behind (junk furniture, old mattresses stripped of linens, empty closets, trash, old food but not new food, etc.).After the deadline passes, dispose of it as you see fit.

Food for thought.

My background was in pharma, transitioned to biotech start ups, moved into food technology and work as a Senior Program Manager.

What about food, utilities, transportation, etc?

Depends on your market, I'm in a military town and can cater to GI's who need short term housing stay.

If you have a fast food restaurant in there now (BK, Taco Bell, KFC, etc.) and the next tenant will be a sit-down restaurant there will be a considerable cost to convert it (also, highly dependent on the overall SQFT of the place)Overall, my advice would be to check your numbers and see if you can live with lower rent, if you do, then go back to the current tenant and ask, "at what rent will you stay and even consider extending the lease?"

Prices of goods, services, food, and energy were climbing at an unhealthy rate.

I looked online but the only options are restaurants and fast food.

There are many companies that cater to this these days. 

Additionally, I would find out what your raw personal expenses are in order to survive (Rent, food, insurance etc).