Whole Foods eyes Bryant Park locale

120 West 42nd Street
120 West 42nd Street

High-end grocer and organic food emporium Whole Foods is mulling over a 36,000-square-foot space in the base of 1095 Sixth Avenue.

Though no lease has been inked just yet, sources familiar with the deal told Crain’s that it could be completed within the next month. The spot inside Blackstone Group’s glass retail boxes would be a first-of-its-kind concept for Whole Foods, which plans to have a store focusing on prepared foods and eating stations — a more diner-geared enterprise than most of its other spots. The grocer would take space on the building’s ground and second floor.

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Takers in the so-called cubes have thus far included Equinox gym, which took about 30,000 square feet in the basement level at 1095 Sixth Avenue and fusion restaurant Sushi Samba at 120 West 42nd Street. High-end watch purveyor Tourneau is in talks to ink around 3,000 square feet at 1095 Sixth.

A spokesman at Blackstone did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Crain’s, and Whole Foods would not comment on its potential lease at the property. Patrick Smith, a principal at SRS Real Estate, which represents Blackstone at the three properties, could not be reached by Crain’s. [Crain’s]Julie Strickland