The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Target's surprise decision to vacate 15 million square feet of retail space and five million square feet of office and industrial warehouse space across Canada has plunged the commercial real estate industry into uncertainty. The Globe's Tamsin McMahon writes that observers say there is no obvious suitor set to fill the void. The news came as a shock to most of Target's 20 landlords, many of whom say they expected the company to close some underperforming stores, but expand others in key markets. "I don't think any one of us suspected that it would be this way," says Morguard chief executive officer Rai Sahi. Morguard had leased 15 locations to Target, representing 2 per cent of its total revenue. The Globe says potential suitors include Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire. American home improvement retailer Lowes, which has been trying to expand in Canada since withdrawing its bid to acquire Rona in 2012, may also be interested in some Target locations. "I sense an opportunity to grow our revenues by putting in some smaller tenant and box stores," says Primaris's Patrick Sullivan. Primaris, a unit of H & R REIT, leased nine locations to Target.