Total Wine & More to open Sept. 3 in southwest Bakersfield shopping center

Why this matters

The announcement of Total Wine & More opening a new location in a southwest Bakersfield shopping center signals a cautious but notable vote of confidence in retail real estate amid ongoing sector recalibration. While big-box and specialty retail have faced headwinds from e-commerce and shifting consumer habits, a tenant with a strong experiential and category-specific draw like Total Wine suggests landlords and investors are still able to secure creditworthy occupants for well-positioned retail assets. This development may indicate that institutional capital remains selectively active in retail, particularly in secondary markets where demand for convenience and lifestyle-oriented retail endures. From a capital-markets perspective, the deal underscores the importance of tenant quality and market positioning in underwriting retail properties. Lenders and equity providers are likely to continue favoring retail assets anchored by resilient, differentiated tenants that can generate stable foot traffic and sales. The choice of Bakersfield, a market outside the primary coastal metros, also highlights the ongoing search for yield and growth in less saturated regions. Overall, this opening reflects a nuanced retail landscape where institutional investors balance caution with targeted deployment of capital into assets demonstrating operational viability and tenant strength.

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On the RET wire

• Disclosed retail deal value tracked in August 2026: $306.5M across 13 reported transactions. All Retail coverage →

Computed from Real Estate Trail’s own tracked coverage

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