Lowe’s Sniffing Around NYC for Urban Concept Stores

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2000 Broadway. (Winick Realty Group website)
2000 Broadway. (Winick Realty Group website)

Home improvement and hardware chain Lowe’s is looking to establish an urban concept in New York City a la the upscale Manhattan home furnishings chain Gracious Home, Commercial Observer has learned.

Lowe’s is considering space in a condominium occupied by a Food Emporium until May 2013 at 2000 Broadway at the northeast corner of 68th Street, a source with knowledge of the search said. A Winick Realty Group team led by Jeff Winick is marketing the space for Madison Capital. It includes 22,000 square feet on the ground floor, 2,000 square feet on the mezzanine level and 4,400 square feet on the lower level.

Another location Lowe’s is mulling is at SL Green Realty‘s 635 Sixth Avenue between 19th and 20th Streets, formerly the home of the Apex Technical School. According to the marketing flyer on RKF‘s website, there is available for lease 8,015 square feet on the ground floor, 8,776 feet on the second floor and 6,288 square feet on the lower level. The retail space can be combined with 13,000 square feet at 641 Sixth Avenue.

Lowe’s Companies is a home improvement company with more than 1,830 stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. There are two traditional Lowe’s stores in Brooklyn and two in Staten Island. The Mooresville, N.C.-based chain, founded in 1946, had $53.4 billion in sales in fiscal year 2013, according to the company website.

Gracious Home has two locations on the Upper East Side, one on the Upper West Side and an annex in Chelsea. The company filed for bankruptcy in August 2010 and then closed its 23,000-square-foot store at Chelsea Landmark at 766 Sixth Avenue.

Lowe’s declined to comment as did SL Green, Winick and RKF. Madison Capital didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.