Lendlease announced that The Riverie, its all-electric waterfront residential development in Greenpoint, Brooklyn that opened earlier this year, will welcome a new Italian restaurant, Carina, from Julian Brizzi and Lauren Broder, the owner/operators of Celestine, the acclaimed Mediterranean restaurant in DUMBO.
Set to open in 2027, the 3,000-square-foot space will occupy part of The Riverie’s retail space, offering residents, neighbors and visitors a gathering place for casual brunches, elegant dinners, private events and more. Carina will open onto a waterfront terrace, with scenic views of the Manhattan skyline and East River, which will be used for dining and hosting private events.
“From the beginning, our goal for The Riverie was to create a project rooted in Greenpoint, one of Brooklyn’s most compelling neighborhoods — shaped by creativity, an independent spirit and a strong sense of community,” said Layth Madi, senior vice president of development, New York, Lendlease. “Partnering with Julian Brizzi to bring Carina to The Riverie is a reflection of that commitment. His restaurants are synonymous with Brooklyn’s vibrant dining culture. The restaurant’s location facing The Riverie Park is part of our vision to craft a gathering place along the Brooklyn waterfront that serves both residents and the neighborhood in a meaningful way.”
Serving as the cousin restaurant of Celestine, Carina, meaning “cute” in Italian, will bring an Italian fare featuring house-made focaccia and pastas, fresh salads, crudo and other seasonal specialties, blending traditional flavors with interesting, modern touches.
Since 2019, Broder has served as director of operations for Grand Army bar, Grand Army South and Celestine restaurants. Prior to that she started her career at Craft Hospitality in 2011 and subsequently spent five years at Mission Chinese Food as Assistant General Manager. Brizzi has worked in the food and beverage industry for over three decades. He opened his first restaurant, Rucola in 2011, followed by Grand Army bar, Grand Army South and Celestine restaurant. He was on the opening team of Pebble Bar, is a partner in Ray’s Brooklyn and has consulted on and assisted with various other projects.
Ryan Schimel and Andrew Schulman from Capricorn Retail Advisors represented landlord, Lendlease. Joel Dabu from Capricorn Retail Advisors represented the tenant in this lease.
“Lendlease set a high bar for the quality of retail tenants that would serve as the public face of this showpiece development,” said Ryan Schimel of Capricorn Retail Advisors. “For this space, they wanted a restaurateur who could create a prominent destination for the city while providing an amenity for the residents upstairs. Most importantly, the operator needed to understand how to succeed in a waterfront location. Julian Brizzi and his group check all these boxes.”
Located at 18 India Street (also known as 1 Java Street), The Riverie welcomed its first residents earlier this year. Now leasing for immediate occupancy, the building brings 834 rental residences, nearly 14,000 square feet of retail and Riverie Park, an 18,000-square-foot waterfront park, to one of New York City’s most dynamic neighborhoods.
The Riverie was designed by Marvel, with interiors by Marvel, INC Architecture & Design and Crème. Douglas Elliman Development Marketing is the exclusive leasing agent for market-rate residences, and Settlement Housing Fund oversees the affordable housing program. Capricorn Retail Advisors is exclusively marketing the retail, and Greystar serves as property manager.
