Levi’s to Open First NYC Outlet Store at Empire Outlets
By Nicholas Rizzi August 16, 2018 3:15 pm
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Levi’s plans to open its first outlet store in New York City inside the Empire Outlets outdoor shopping center under construction on Staten Island’s waterfront.
The clothing company inked a five-year deal for 5,450 square feet of space on the third floor of BFC Partners’ approximately 340,000-square-foot development in St. George, according to The Real Deal, which first reported news of the lease. Levi’s latest outpost will open when Empire Outlets finishes construction in November.
“We are thrilled Levi’s, a concept new to the Staten Island market, will now have the opportunity to sell its product to masses of tourists and residents as diverse and rich in culture and history as the Levi’s brand,” James Prendamano of Casandra Properties, who handled the deal for both sides, said in a statement.
A spokesman for the landlord would not disclose asking rents for Empire Outlets but the average asking rents are $125 per square feet, sources have told Commercial Observer.
BFC started construction of the $352 million Empire Outlets on a former parking lot adjacent to the St. George Ferry Terminal in 2015. The 1.1-million-square-foot development will have 100 outlet shops, a 1,250-space parking garage and a hotel.
Empire Outlets’ opening has been pushed back several times over the years, which Joseph Ferrara, a principal of BFC, previously attributed to “unforeseen construction delays.” The center—which is nearly 75 percent leased—is now slated to open in November and will include outposts from Brooks Brothers, Nordstrom Rack and Gap Factory along with eateries like Shake Shack, Artichoke Basille’s Pizza and food hall MRKTPL
“We knew that New York City’s first outlet center just wouldn’t be complete without the timeless denim jeans that have made Levi’s such an iconic American brand,” Ferrara said in a statement. “As Empire Outlets nears its fall opening, our team can’t wait to welcome New Yorkers and visitors from across the world to this incredible shopping and dining destination.”
