RCS Real Estate Advisors, a leading national retail real estate advisory firm, today announced it co-brokered a 248,400 square foot industrial lease with JLL on behalf of Ames Watson, owner of global accessories retailer Claire’s Holdings LLC (“Claire’s”). The lease at 1100 Tollgate Road in Elgin, Ill., marks a significant investment in Claire’s supply-chain infrastructure as the beloved tween accessories brand continues its operational resurgence under Ames Watson’s leadership.

RCS’s Spence Mehl represented Ames Watson and Claire’s in partnership with JLL’s Sam Brashler, Seth Geldzahler and Sharon Kariampuzha. The property, owned and developed by High Street Logistics Properties, LLC, offers modern industrial specifications and sits within one of Chicagoland’s key logistics corridors, providing strategic access to major transportation routes and urban population hubs.

For RCS, this transaction reflects the firm’s ongoing role advising retailers and consumer brands on strategic real estate initiatives across both retail and industrial portfolios.

“Retail transformations begin and end at the storefront, extending deep into the supply chain,” said Spence Mehl, Partner at RCS Real Estate Advisors. “This lease positions Claire’s with the distribution infrastructure required to support its next phase of growth, and we’re proud to help guide the real estate strategy behind that progress.”

Located approximately 40 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, the Elgin facility is designed for large‑scale distribution operations and supports Claire’s broader efforts to modernize its logistics network, improve speed‑to‑store delivery and enhance omnichannel fulfillment capabilities.

About RCS Real Estate Advisors

Founded in 1981, RCS Real Estate Advisors (RCS) is a leading national retail real estate advisory firm that provides innovative, tenant-centric solutions for complex real estate challenges. RCS’s team of industry veterans use their in-depth retail knowledge and experience to fight tenaciously for their clients’ long-term success. RCS maximizes returns and protects its clients from entering into bad agreements, with a deal-structure mindset rooted in a forward-looking, risk-averse approach. The firm specializes in reducing occupancy costs, restructuring leases and expanding physical footprints.

RCS excels at identifying and exploiting investment and expansion opportunities because it sees the world through retailers’ eyes. For more than four decades, retailers have trusted RCS to strike the best, most favorable lease terms, preserve profitable locations, select the best sites for expansion and growth, and monetize real estate. For more information, visit: https://www.rcsrealestate.com/about-us/

About Claire’s Holdings LLC

Claire’s Holdings LLC is a fully integrated, global fashion brand powerhouse committed to inspiring self-expression through the creation and delivery of exclusive, well-curated products and experiences. Through its global brands, Claire’s® and Icing®, the company delivers an immersive, omnichannel shopping experience with owned and concession stores throughout North America and Europe as well as around the world. More information regarding Claire’s is available at corporate.claires.com.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE:JLL) is a leading global commercial real estate services and investment management company with annual revenue of $26.1 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 113,000 as of December 31, 2025. For over 200 years, clients have trusted JLL, a Fortune 500^® company, to help them confidently buy, build, occupy, manage and invest across a variety of industries and property types, including office, industrial, hotel, multi-family, retail and data center properties. Driven by our purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world, we help our clients, people and communities SEE A BRIGHTER WAY. Powered by rich global datasets and leading technology capabilities, we provide coordinated, end-to-end delivery of real estate services for a broad range of global clients who represent a wide variety of industries. Through LaSalle Investment Management, we invest for clients on a global basis in both private assets and publicly traded real estate securities. For further information, visit jll.com.

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