New York City remains closed to all but essential services, some leases have been signed, and other retailers are awaiting their grand openings. A larger question, however, is just how retailers will operate as restrictions gradually ease.
All About Apparel
Bridalwear maker The White Gown has signed for showroom and office space at 62 Grand Street. PacSun has taken space at 503 Broadway in Soho. Lifestyle brand Something Navy plans its brick-and-mortar debut at 379 Bleecker Street, the former home of The Citizenry. Across the street, Stoney Clover Lane (another click-to-brick) was to open at 376 Bleecker.
Home Sweet Home
At Home, a home décor retailer from Texas, will make its New York City debut by subletting space from the shuttered Kohl’s at 61-35 Junction Boulevard (the Rego Center). It joins other big boxes including Costco, Century 21 and a future Ikea outpost. Beauvais Carpets is coming to the Plaza District with a store at 36 East 57th Street.
Wining and Dining
Chipotle Mexican Grill has signed for two former Boston Market locations, bringing the brand to Hamilton Heights and the Upper West Side, where the eatery had long been seeking opportunities, announced Winick Realty Group. The first location is 2,100 square feet on the ground floor of 3781 Broadway at the northwest corner of West 157th Street. The second location, at 885 10th Avenue (between West 57th and West 58th Streets), is comprised of 2,800 square feet of ground-floor space. Brooklyn Chop House has signed for 131 First Avenue.
On the Waterfront
Iris Café & Town Market and OV Pilates Studio have signed for locations at Brooklyn Bridge Park at the southern end of Pier 6. Iris Café is relocating from Columbia Place.
Future Trend
Look for this to happen a lot more: the landlord of the Century 21 at 1085 Old Country Road in Westbury has retained CBRE to market the building when the retailer leaves at the end of its lease next spring. Sanders Equities plans to convert the 192,000-square-foot building into a modern distribution center to fulfill last-mile delivery needs for online and other retailers. Space to accommodate same-day delivery is one of the major challenges in urban and densely populated suburban areas.
Coming Back
Starbucks announced it would reopen 90% of its locations (for pickup and drive-thru) by June 1. As of May 12, open locations in Manhattan were largely on the East Side. Brooklyn and Queens also had some locations back, not unexpectedly along the East Riverfront along to Forest Hills. Local reports also have observed that as some local restaurants (including Grey’s Papaya) have received their federal assistance funds, they are reopening for takeout and delivery.
Curbside Service
One interesting trend taking place in shopping centers around the country: landlords providing curbside pickup for the mom-and-pop chains that couldn’t afford to do it themselves. Anchor stores, such as Walmart and Target, have provided the service for their own customers from the beginning of the pandemic. Jericho, New York-based Kimco Realty Trust is testing the concept in several projects in Texas and elsewhere, with plans to expand nationwide. Federal Realty Trust, which owns several retail projects in Long Island, also planned to introduce the service on May 15. Both Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom at the Mall at Short Hills are offering curbside pickup. (Mall restaurants Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen are open for takeout and delivery.)
In parts of the country where restrictions are being eased, smaller retailers are figuring out their own methods. Nola.com reports that Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry erected a tent in the parking lot of Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie, Louisiana, to provide delivery of online orders to cars in time for the Mother’s Day and graduation crush.
Come Prepared
You have to give Neiman Marcus a lot of credit (pun intended). The retail world had been waiting for months for the luxury icon to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, as changing demographics hurt the sector and the legacy of a 2013 leveraged buyout (as great a retail killer as the internet) destroyed the bottom line. Add in COVID-19, and the process was accelerated. But when it filed for protection in May, it came armed with a plan and financing in place that should allow it to emerge from Chapter 11 this fall. Will all 43 Neiman’s stores and both Bergdorf Goodman units remain open? Probably not. But having a plan shows some confidence on the part of investors in luxury.
Be safe!
Debra Hazel
Debra Hazel Communications
Arverne, NY 11692
debra@debrahazelcommunications.com
201-618-5247
