RKF Brings bebe to SoHo
11/03/2008
11/03/2008
Fashion Retailer Leases 8,700 square feet at 488 Broadway
New York, NY — Robert K. Futterman & Associates, LLC (RKF), the nation’s leading independent real estate firm specializing in retail leasing, investment sales and consulting services, has arranged a lease for aspirational women’s fashion brand bebe in the heart of the trendy SoHo shopping district. RKF represented both the landlord and the tenant in the leasing of approximately 8,700 square feet – one of the largest leases in SoHo in several months – at 488 Broadway at the corner of Broome Street.
Executive Vice President Karen Bellantoni and Senior Managing Director Robin Sande represented bebe in the transaction. Executive Vice President Jeff Fishman and Executive Vice President Ariel Schuster represented building owners Arthur and Deborah Kaufman for Broadway Landmark Corporation. Bruce H. Lederman, Esq., of Lederman Abrams & Lederman, LLP provided legal counsel to building ownership.
bebe will occupy approximately 5,000 square feet on the Ground Floor and 3,700 square feet in the Lower Level. With 60 feet of frontage on Broadway and 100 feet on Broome Street, the space offers bebe spectacular exposure on SoHo’s busiest retail stretch. The 488 Broadway location will be bebe’s fifth Manhattan store and first below 14th Street. The retailer also has locations at Columbus Circle, on Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District, on 34th Street and on Third Avenue at 50th Street.
“bebe has long sought a SoHo location, said Ms. Bellantoni. “We were willing to wait for something like 488 Broadway, with a fabulous location to draw customers and showcase the bebe brand.”
“We feel that our new SoHo location will complement our 34th Street store, which has been a tremendous success for us,” said Greg Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Bebe Stores Inc. ” We are extremely excited about bebe being part of the SoHo retail landscape and thrilled to have found such a great location as 488 Broadway with its historic appeal.”
”This lease confirms the strength of SoHo, and in particular the southern portion of Broadway, ” added Mr. Schuster.
Positioned at the northeast corner of Broadway and Broome Street, 488 Broadway’ is in the heart of the busiest retail corridor in SoHo. The site is surrounded by some of the most recognized fashion retailers and brands, including Bloomingdale’s, Tommy Hilfiger, H&M, Madewell, Lucky Brand Jeans, Sephora and a new Marciano store. British fashion powerhouse Topshop is set to open a 40,000-square-foot, tri-level flagship store just south of 488 Broadway in 2009. The area is also home to many five-star hotels, new luxury residential developments and top-flight restaurants.
488 Broadway, also known as The E. V. Haughwout Building, was built in 1857. The finest example of Greco-Roman cast iron architecture in the country, the building is listed on the federal, state and city landmark registers. 488 Broadway copies a Venetian library in San Marco's square. The Haughwout building, a dutch name, was originally a department store selling china to the Lincoln White House. Over a hundred years old, the Kahn/Kaufman family textile business has occupied the premises since the 1930's.
About bebe:
bebe designs, develops and produces a distinctive line of contemporary women's apparel and accessories, which it markets under the bebe, BEBE SPORT and 2b bebe brand names. Current Chairman and Founder Manny Mashouf founded bebe as a San Francisco boutique in 1976, a time when three categories dominated the women's wear market: junior, bridge and missy. Having discovered a demographic that was neither junior nor bridge, Manny aimed to break the mold by offering this under represented population of stylish women distinctive and inspirational fashion bearing an unmistakable hint of sensuality. His concept stuck and bebe reaped early success.
About Robert K. Futterman & Associates:
The country’s leading independent real estate firm specializing in retail leasing and investment sales, Robert K. Futterman & Associates (RKF) serves a broad spectrum of domestic and global clients in services ranging from national tenant and owner representation to advisory, consulting and disposition. With over $9 billion in aggregate real estate transactions to its credit, RKF has been responsible for identifying scores of real estate opportunities throughout the United States for leading American and international chains, retailers, developers and institutional clients. RKF is headquartered in New York with offices in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Jersey and San Francisco.
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New York, NY — Robert K. Futterman & Associates, LLC (RKF), the nation’s leading independent real estate firm specializing in retail leasing, investment sales and consulting services, has arranged a lease for aspirational women’s fashion brand bebe in the heart of the trendy SoHo shopping district. RKF represented both the landlord and the tenant in the leasing of approximately 8,700 square feet – one of the largest leases in SoHo in several months – at 488 Broadway at the corner of Broome Street.
Executive Vice President Karen Bellantoni and Senior Managing Director Robin Sande represented bebe in the transaction. Executive Vice President Jeff Fishman and Executive Vice President Ariel Schuster represented building owners Arthur and Deborah Kaufman for Broadway Landmark Corporation. Bruce H. Lederman, Esq., of Lederman Abrams & Lederman, LLP provided legal counsel to building ownership.
bebe will occupy approximately 5,000 square feet on the Ground Floor and 3,700 square feet in the Lower Level. With 60 feet of frontage on Broadway and 100 feet on Broome Street, the space offers bebe spectacular exposure on SoHo’s busiest retail stretch. The 488 Broadway location will be bebe’s fifth Manhattan store and first below 14th Street. The retailer also has locations at Columbus Circle, on Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District, on 34th Street and on Third Avenue at 50th Street.
“bebe has long sought a SoHo location, said Ms. Bellantoni. “We were willing to wait for something like 488 Broadway, with a fabulous location to draw customers and showcase the bebe brand.”
“We feel that our new SoHo location will complement our 34th Street store, which has been a tremendous success for us,” said Greg Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Bebe Stores Inc. ” We are extremely excited about bebe being part of the SoHo retail landscape and thrilled to have found such a great location as 488 Broadway with its historic appeal.”
”This lease confirms the strength of SoHo, and in particular the southern portion of Broadway, ” added Mr. Schuster.
Positioned at the northeast corner of Broadway and Broome Street, 488 Broadway’ is in the heart of the busiest retail corridor in SoHo. The site is surrounded by some of the most recognized fashion retailers and brands, including Bloomingdale’s, Tommy Hilfiger, H&M, Madewell, Lucky Brand Jeans, Sephora and a new Marciano store. British fashion powerhouse Topshop is set to open a 40,000-square-foot, tri-level flagship store just south of 488 Broadway in 2009. The area is also home to many five-star hotels, new luxury residential developments and top-flight restaurants.
488 Broadway, also known as The E. V. Haughwout Building, was built in 1857. The finest example of Greco-Roman cast iron architecture in the country, the building is listed on the federal, state and city landmark registers. 488 Broadway copies a Venetian library in San Marco's square. The Haughwout building, a dutch name, was originally a department store selling china to the Lincoln White House. Over a hundred years old, the Kahn/Kaufman family textile business has occupied the premises since the 1930's.
About bebe:
bebe designs, develops and produces a distinctive line of contemporary women's apparel and accessories, which it markets under the bebe, BEBE SPORT and 2b bebe brand names. Current Chairman and Founder Manny Mashouf founded bebe as a San Francisco boutique in 1976, a time when three categories dominated the women's wear market: junior, bridge and missy. Having discovered a demographic that was neither junior nor bridge, Manny aimed to break the mold by offering this under represented population of stylish women distinctive and inspirational fashion bearing an unmistakable hint of sensuality. His concept stuck and bebe reaped early success.
About Robert K. Futterman & Associates:
The country’s leading independent real estate firm specializing in retail leasing and investment sales, Robert K. Futterman & Associates (RKF) serves a broad spectrum of domestic and global clients in services ranging from national tenant and owner representation to advisory, consulting and disposition. With over $9 billion in aggregate real estate transactions to its credit, RKF has been responsible for identifying scores of real estate opportunities throughout the United States for leading American and international chains, retailers, developers and institutional clients. RKF is headquartered in New York with offices in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Jersey and San Francisco.
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