HogansHero said: "Islander_fan said: "Uh, not really. ."
Really. You can (as the DBS did) say that you are leaving because the rent is too damn high (to borrow a phrase from Jimmy McMillan). Saying "couldn't make a deal" is a euphemism."
Rent is not always the case with commercial property when making a deal.
Oftentimes, it has to do with the length of the lease, especially if it's a renewal: the tenant may want to renew for ten years, while the landlord is only interested in renewing for three, or even 'year to year'. There's no security for the tenant (no one wants to establish themselves in one location only to be in the position to look for another place a few years later.) so a deal can't be reached.
Or reverse: a landlord may want the tenant to renew with a 10 year lease, while the tenant is interested in 5 or less - sometimes they want to try a smaller space to get started with hopes of expansion in a few years and don't want to be locked into a long-term lease.
As a small business owner of 25 years who renewed many commercial leases for my retail spaces, I know this through experience. Either party may have a difference in long-range plans, and can't reach a deal.
I know through the experience of owning a small retail business for 25 years.