These were the top 10 NYC retail leases in August

A gym in Dumbo snagged the top retail lease

Clockwise from top left: 35-00 48th Street in Astoria, 558 Broadway, 63 Madison Avenue, and 85 Jay Street in Brooklyn (Credit: Google Maps, Wikipedia, LoopNet, and Williams New York)
Clockwise from top left: 35-00 48th Street in Astoria, 558 Broadway, 63 Madison Avenue, and 85 Jay Street in Brooklyn (Credit: Google Maps, Wikipedia, LoopNet, and Williams New York)

Apparel and accessories retailers—from luxury watches to sporting goods—secured a big chunk of last month’s top leases. However, the largest lease last month was inked by a fitness club, gyms being a mainstay on these lists.

August’s 10 biggest retail leases made public totaled 291,100 square feet, up 113,500 square feet from July’s total of 177,600 square feet. The largest retail lease in August was inked in Dumbo.

The total is also more than double the top 10 leases in August 2018.

1) Life Time, 85 Jay Street, Dumbo – 77,000 square feet
The fitness club signed a lease for 77,000 square feet of space at Front & York, CIM Group and LIVWRK’s 1.1 million-square-foot development. The location will be the fitness center’s first foray into Brooklyn. Joe Mastromonaco and Fritz Kemerling of Dartmouth Company represented the tenant while CIM Group represented the landlords in-house.

2) Whole Foods, 63 Madison Avenue, Nomad – 60,000 square feet
The Amazon-owned grocery chain signed a lease for 60,000 square feet of space at the base of 63 Madison Avenue, a 15-story property. Peter Duncan, Matt Coudert and Alex Bermingham of George Comfort & Sons represented the landlord in-house.

3) Burlington Coat Factory, 35-00 48th Street, Astoria – 40,834 square feet
The discount retailer inked a lease for 40,834 square feet of space previously occupied by Toys “R” Us at 35-00 48th Street. Cliff Simon of CNS Real Estate represented the tenant while Andrew Aberham of Philips International and Jason Lerner of Lerner Properties represented the landlords, Heidenburg Properties and Lerner Properties. BJ’s Wholesale Club is also reported to be moving to the development, also known as Plaza 48.

4) Museum of Ice Cream, 558 Broadway, Soho – 25,000 square feet
The Instagram attraction inked a 10-year lease for 25,000 square feet of space at 558 Broadway. The space was previously occupied by H&M. Brandon Charnas and Adam Henick of Current Real Estate Advisors represented the tenant while Shemul family represented the landlord in house.

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5) Artisanal Brewing Ventures, 94 9th Street, Gowanus – 20,000 square feet
The brewery signed a lease for 20,000 square feet of space at 94 9th Street, where it plans to develop a full-service kitchen and bar in addition to a production brewing system. Andrew Connolly, Jennifer Watson and Peter Whitenack of Newmark Knight Frank represented the tenant, while New York Industrie Capital Partners, which owns the property, brokered the deal in-house.

6) New York & Company, 159-10 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica – 15,115 square feet
The fashion retailer signed a lease for 15,115 square feet of space at 159-10 Jamaica Avenue. Brian Katz of Katz & Associates represented the tenant while Aaron Fleishaker of Mattone Group represented the landlord in house. Other building tenants include Old Navy and Walgreens.

7) Blink Fitness, 97-01 Northern Boulevard, East Elmhurst – 15,000 square feet
The gym inked a lease for 15,000 square feet of space at 97-01 Northern Boulevard. Ezra Saff of Retail Zone represented the tenant. The building’s landlord is 361 Henry LLC.

8) Modell’s Sporting Goods, 619 West 181st Street, Washington Heights – 14,580 square feet
The sporting goods store signed a 15-year lease for 14,580 square feet of space at 619 West 181st Street. Josh Augenbaum of Augenbaum Realty represented the tenant while Michael Friedman and David Alani of Inline Realty represented the landlord, Rosewood Holding.

9) Tourneau, 601 Madison Avenue, Plaza District – 12,050 square feet
The luxury watch retailer signed a short-term lease for 12,050 square feet of space previously leased to Armani at 601 Madison Avenue. The space sat vacant for about a year prior to this lease. Andrew Goldberg and Preston Cannon of CBRE represented the tenant while William Abramson and Matthew Olden of Buchbinder & Warren Realty Group represented the landlord, J-2.

10) Lightbridge Academy, 606 West 57th Street, Hell’s Kitchen – 11,491 square feet
The early childhood education center signed a 15-year lease for 11,491 square feet of space at 606 West 57th Street. Brad Schwarz of Lee & Associates NYC represented the tenant while Steven Baker and Daniyel Cohen of Winick Realty Group represented the landlord, TF Cornerstone.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled “Industrie Capital Partners'” name.