Swanky Loafer Peddler Picks 44 Mercer for U.S. Flagship

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44 mercer street property shark Swanky Loafer Peddler Picks 44 Mercer for U.S. Flagship 44 Mercer Street

Ash Footwear is stepping into 44 Mercer Street with Italian loafers so soft they should barely make a sound.

The decade-old retailer will open its U.S. flagship store with a 10-year lease for 2,800 square feet, along with an additional 4,000-square-foot storage space.

Appropriately, the unfinished store currently resembles a shoebox, making it “ready for construction to begin the new, high-end buildout,” said Pedro Carrillo of SBC Associates, who represented the tenant along with Robert Buckley.

The retailer passed up Bleecker Street, even though the street is something of an accessories mecca, because it wanted more space to display its luxurious Italian loafers, which start around $200 a pair.

“Originally, they had looked at Bleecker Street, but everything’s a bit smaller there,” Mr. Carillo told Crain’s. “This presented an opportunity to do something on a grander scale.”

Landlord Mordechai Lipkis LLC was represented by Christine Emery, Yair Staav and Jane McVerry of the Lansco Corporation.  

The asking rent was $111 a square foot, according to Crain’s, which first had news of the deal.