SoCal Denim Concept Brand Civilianaire Leases 1,650 Square Feet at 53-55 East Houston Street

This will be the first New York City location for Civilianaire, which has several stores across southern California.

The company is in the process of setting up the space and should be ready to open its doors in roughly three months, said Ross Kaplan, senior managing director at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Retail, who represented the ownership with Jason Pruger, an executive managing director.

“We’re happy to have the tenants in the building and they are a great fit for the area,” Kaplan said, adding that it’s an opportunity to co-exist with many great stores and boutiques in the area like Rag & Bone, Calypso and Jay Kos, which opened its doors on the Mott Street side of the building at 53-55 East Houston Street in 2011.

“This is an expanding fashion tenant and the move in to the neighborhood made a lot of sense given everything that’s been going on in the area, and on Mott and East Houston Streets,” he said.

In the last 2 years or so tenants who can’t afford SoHo rents have been going to Lolita, “sort of a natural movement,” Mr. Kaplan said.

Mr. Kaplan said the asking price was about $275 per square foot but declined to specify the finalized price.

Civilianaire’s corner store features an expansive all glass storefront at the entrance of Nolita, which is short for the area north of Little Italy.  The five-story  building features 23,440 square feet of residential space above the retail, according to propertyshark.com.

The fashion retailer replaces La Cocina Deli, which shuttered its doors at the end of 2011.

Robert Draizen of Hanley Advisors represented Civilianaire; Mr. Draizen did not return calls seeking comment.