Clothing retailer J.Crew and electronics giant Apple are eyeing Williamsburg outposts as the neighborhood continues evolving into a hot shopping hub.
J.Crew is planning to take a 6,000-square-foot store at 234-235 Wythe Avenue, near the corner of North 4th Street, several knowledgeable sources told Crain’s. Apple, meanwhile, is rumored to be eyeing 242 Bedford Avenue as a retail store locale in the area, but has yet to finalize any deal. Office suite company WeWork is also reportedly in talks to ink a lease for the second floor of 242 Bedford Avenue, while Whole Foods will open a 40,000-square-foot store in the building’s base.
The retail momentum follows Whole Foods’ foray into the area two years ago, when the grocer became one of the first major national retailers to consider a spot in a once-gritty Williamsburg. Urban Outfitters opened a store called Space Ninety 8 in the area as well, with a focus on one-of-a-kind, Brooklyn-made goods. [Crain’s] — Julie Strickland