EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Whitestone REIT Shareholders Approve Acquisition by Ares

HOUSTON – July 9, 2026 – Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) (“Whitestone” or the “Company”) announced that today its shareholders approved the all-cash acquisition of Whitestone by certain Ares Real Estate funds (“Ares”) at the special meeting of shareholders held for such purpose.

Whitestone will provide final vote results for the special meeting, as certified by the independent Inspector of Election, on a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

As previously announced, on April 8, 2026, the Company, Ares and the other parties thereto entered into a definitive merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Ares has agreed to acquire all outstanding Whitestone common shares and all outstanding operating partnership units of Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P., in each case for $19.00 per share or unit in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.7 billion.

The proposed acquisition is expected to be completed on or about July 14, 2026, subject to satisfaction or waiver of the remaining customary closing conditions.

About Whitestone REIT

Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) is a community-centered real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, owns, operates, and develops open-air, retail centers located in some of the fastest growing markets in the country: Phoenix, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

Our centers are convenience focused: merchandised with a mix of service-oriented tenants providing food (restaurants and grocers), self-care (health and fitness), services (financial and logistics), education and entertainment to the surrounding communities. The Company believes its strong community connections and deep tenant relationships are key to the success of its current centers and its acquisition strategy. For additional information, please visit the Company’s investor relations website.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, which include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, such as statements regarding our expectations, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “ongoing,” “outlook,” “should,” “seek,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions, including those regarding the transactions, made by, and information currently available to, Whitestone. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including: (i) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect Whitestone’s business and the price of Whitestone’s common shares; (ii) the failure to satisfy any of the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance or condition that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, including in circumstances requiring Whitestone to pay a termination fee; (iv) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed transaction on Whitestone’s business relationships, including relationships with tenants and suppliers, operating results and business generally; (v) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts Whitestone’s current plans and operations; (vi) Whitestone’s ability to retain and hire key personnel in light of the proposed transaction or otherwise; (vii) risks related to diverting management’s attention from Whitestone’s ongoing business operations; (viii)