Westfield is suing a fifth retail tenant for not taking space at the shopping complex at the World Trade Center. The Australian real estate firm claims Edward Beiner owes $2.5 million for “defaulting” on its seven-year lease.
The luxury Miami-based eyewear retailer informed Westfield in June that it would not be taking possession of the 658-square-foot space it had leased. The retailer said it would not be ready in time for the August opening date due to delays on Westfield’s part and other construction issues, according to court documents filed in New York State Supreme Court Wednesday.
Westfield declined to comment on the litigation. Neither Edward Beiner nor its counsel were immediately available for comment.
Edward Beiner is just the latest WTC tenant Westfield has sued since June, including fashion retailers, Dune London, Bebe and True Religion and coffee shop Fika. Westfield claimed in court papers that the retailers are contractually obligated to take the space before Westfield finds a replacement tenant. Three of the tenants countersued and True Religion settled the matter out of court.
The move to the 365,000-square-foot WTC mall would have been Edward Beiner’s first location outside Florida.
Westfield’s World Trade Center mall, located inside the soaring Santiago Calatrava-designed Oculus, opened on Aug. 16 with just 60 percent of its more than 100 retail shops open for business. Westfield has said the complex is “fully leased” and claims it will be fully occupied by Christmas.