The retail scene on Third Avenue north of Bloomingdale’s appears to be on the upswing, which spells good news for Upper East Siders and for the Manhattan store-leasing scene in general.
Availability as high as 25.9% between 59th and 79th streets at the end of 2020 has gradually dipped to 8.4%, according to Cushman & Wakefield leasing powerhouse Steven Soutendijk. “That is s very low, and almost all of that available space is around Bloomingdale’s, like the Home Depot space,” he said.
Asking rents range from $150 per square foot to $400, Soutendijk said, but the average ask is $246 per square feet.
Although the mile-long Third Avenue corridor enjoys none of the prestige of Madison Avenue, it’s meaningful as a barometer of the economic health of one of Manhattan’s most stable middle-class neighborhoods. “Its consistency and strong demographic base continue to attract high-quality tenants,” said Meridian’s James Famularo.
Three years ago we noted that Third Avenue had lost many sportswear shops to “wellness” tenants and even to walk-in pet clinics.
Most are still there, and more are coming, but there’s a renewed trend of leases to businesses that actually sell products.
The next major arrival, we’re told will be Brandy Melville at 1172 Third Ave., between East 68th and 69th streets. The long-dark site was most recently home to CVS and a few pop-ups.
Blinds to Go gobbled up half of the retail space at 1011 Third between East 60th and 61st streets.
Whole Foods Daily Shop took over most of the space that was previously Food Emporium.
A new outpost of popular Italian trattoria Felice is replacing a diner-cafe in Trump Plaza at East 64th Street.
Some high-priced venues across from Bloomingdale’s remain dark, such as the never-leased retail corner at the Harry Macklowe-developed 200 E. 59th St. and the former Ikea Studio at 999 Third Ave.
But north of them, “Small space in the high 60s and 70s gets leased very quickly and it is a very diverse mix of traditional apparel, groceries, restaurants and services,” Soutendijk said.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
