@Joseph D Chapman Investors don't pay retail (especially in hot markets.)

I have been applying to retail and restaurant jobs and they have not been responding back. 

You can't get a property like that without paying near retail.

I'm considering offering to buy this retail property instead of rent. 

According to FOX News, four in ten retailers have filed for bankruptcy thus far in 2020.

I'd further customize the response highlighting some of those repair areas as having added risk once you get behind walls, etc.All retail buyers will want inspections and I'd explain to the seller that properties like this can tend to sit with greater days on market and if a quick sale is appealing, you can guarantee it.

Walgreens builds these (and sometimes surrounding retail) and does a sale-leaseback.Walgreens writes its own lease - READ AND UNDERSTAND THE LEASE EXACTLY. 

You say you're not on the commercial side, did these opportunities never attract you or have you found the retail/rental world more of your bread and butter?

It allowed us to bypass the frustrating retail automobile purchasing processes and sneaky markups/fees.

Retail sales have ticked up as has manufacturing output.