Plaza retail faltering?

After six months of talks, restaurateurs Frederick and Laurent Lesort have decided against leasing the Oak Room and Oak Bar at the Plaza Hotel, saying owner Elad Properties “was very difficult” to negotiate with. The Plaza is set to reopen in October, but most of the 160,000 square feet of retail space planned for the property is still not leased. In fact, just 16,000 square feet have been leased. Some brokers say the property is simply not attractive for businesses. It’s “an anti-retail property,” said Bradley Mendelson. “It doesn’t have large windows, and the lower level has no windows.” more [Post]