Last week was good news for those watching the unemployment figures, and good news for those still terrified that working from home will definitely change the office landscape.

To witness it, John Tenanes, Head of Real Estate at Facebook, told Commercial Observer: “Our workplaces are at the heart of our culture and are important for making connections. We will continue to develop as we grow, and our offices will thrive again once it is possible to return safely. “

This seems fairly unequivocal to us. And some of that same confidence started to rub off on the brokerage community, according to a new report from REBNY.

Of course, there remains anxiety and general confusion between the office and the WFH, depending on who you ask.

Bloomberg this week released a survey of 1,000 people across the country and found that a whopping 39% said they would quit their job rather than giving up at least part of the WFH. (The reasons for this probably have little to do with wanting to work in pajamas; in a recent Gensler study at least half of millennials who had the option to work remotely have considered moving to another city during the pandemic, and rents are already rising in cities like Austin, Denver and Atlanta. Suddenly coming back to Siege City would definitely be a royal pain in you-know-what.)

Dividing the difference between the office and the WFH (which has always seemed a possible long-term effect of the pandemic) has also come closer to reality. This week, Apple’s Tim Cook sent a memo to staff telling them that the tech colossus expects employees at the office at least three days a week, From September onwards.

Speaking of future projects

One thing that will likely be important for all offices in the future – whether part-time, full-time, or miscellaneous – will be their janitorial services. A clean, germ-free office will be a must among tenants, and business for companies providing these services is on the rise.

Another thing we can expect: a lot more cryptocurrency exchanges. CO learned that Greg Kraut’s KPG funds are accept rent from tenants at Bitstamp.

Indeed, cryptocurrency seems to be everywhere lately.

For example, Miami hosted its biggest in-person event this week since COVID struck with its Bitcoin 2021 conference taking place in Wynwood (a cap of 13,000 tickets was sold for the conference, but attendance is expected to be higher). This is a big boon for Miami and a slight one for LA, where the conference was originally scheduled.

Yes, South Florida continues to strut. Large companies continue to relocate more permanently to the Sunshine State; Chewy, the online pet retailer, currently headquartered in Boston, has just moved to build a 221,597 square foot base for his senior executives in Plantation, Fla., on the outskirts of Broward County.

Oh, and if Plantation seems a bit far away, it won’t be long before you can get a helicopter taxi.

No kidding. Based in california Miami-based Joby Aviation and REEF Technology announced partnership to create top-notch parking and essentially air-ridesharing service in four cities (Miami, LA, New York and San Francisco) by 2024. (There is something for your future plans!)

Even traditional modes of transportation are jumping in Florida, like Brightline, the rail service launched in 2018 and suspended during the pandemic, but which continues to advance. “I think Brightline was a play”, Bradley Arendt of Colliers told CO. Indeed, connecting Miami to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach offers valuable opportunities, as Brightline owner Florida East Coast Industries has learned how to develop multi-family homes around resorts and sell them for hundreds of millions of dollars.

Arrows and busts

Of course, there was a lot of real estate news in Gotham to follow. Real estate grand MaryAnne Gilmartin’s MAG Partners has been contacted to develop a new mixed-income cooperative building in Chelsea.

The Legal Aid Society consolidated its three Manhattan offices into one massive lease of 198,900 square feet at 40 Worth Street.

And we have learned that the development of the Bushwick Hotel from Toby Moskovits is facing the threat of foreclosure.

Let’s all go to the movies and buy ourselves a snack at the wheel!

Finally, retail had a pretty good week!

We learned that YieldStreet, an alternative retail investment platform, raised $ 100 million. Additionally, CBRE released a report saying that investment in net rental properties, like car washes, warehouses and dollar stores, approached pre-pandemic levels in the last quarter. Not bad!

But what really piqued our interest was a retail category that we felt had a long way to go before we saw a real movement: movies.

After trading dismally during the pandemic (for obvious reasons), AMC saw a huge increase last week, doubling its share price on Wednesday, after plans to raise new cash, pop- free corn, and a lot of activity even. (The boom was too big, even for AMC, who said buyers should be prepared to risk losing their investment; it precipitated a massive sell-off.)

But we were also encouraged to learn that Alamo Drafthouse came out of bankruptcy after its sale to Altamont Capital Partners with new premises projects, including two in New York, his first in Washington, DC, and his first in St. Louis.

Plus, the future Staten Island outpost looks pretty amazing. The Wu Tang Clan RZA is in the process of designing a feature called the “Flying Guillotine” bar. (Yes, you read that last sentence perfectly.) You know what… we don’t need to hear anything else. Were coming.

And while we’re still hungry when we leave the movies, we hear Elon Musk exploring the ultimate flashback: driving dining while you charge your Tesla! (Maybe he should add movie screens to the idea. One stop shop, baby!)

This should give you some food for thought this Sunday!