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Secures rent for one of a group of shops (5,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chain store

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'one of a group of shops' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.

'secures rent' is the wordplay.
'secures' becomes 'chains' (chaining is a kind of securing).
'rent' becomes 'tore' ('rend' and 'tear' both mean to rip something).
'chains'+'tore'='CHAIN-STORE'

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for chain store that I've seen before include "an outlet" , "One of a series of firm's shops" , "shop" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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