Motek Founders Sign NoMad Lease For New Offshoot Restaurant

Happy Corner Hospitality has signed a lease in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood for an offshoot of their Motek concept.

Known as Yalla Motek, the restaurant group took 2,500 square feet at David and Jack Israel’s 1147 Broadway, which will be the new Mediterranean restaurant’s first location in New York City and second in the U.S. after opening in Aventura, Fla., in 2022, according to Happy Corner.

Happy Corner Hospitality did not immediately disclose the asking rent, length of the lease or any brokers involved in the deal, but the average retail asking rent along the nearby retail corridor of Broadway from 14th to 23rd Streets was $371 per square foot in the second quarter of 2026, according to a report from CBRE.

“We always knew New York was the right city to truly introduce the brand,” Charlie Levy, founder of Happy Corner Hospitality, said in a statement. “Its energy, diversity and fast pace make it the perfect fit. … This is just the beginning — we’re planning five locations in New York with a vision of growing to 20 locations over the next three years and sharing our passion for Mediterranean street food with even more communities.”

Motek itself has four locations in New York City, with the most recent lease being for 184 Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village in November 2025.

Carolina Aziz of KSR has represented both the Israels and Motek in previous deals, including negotiating on behalf of Motek at 184 Bleecker, but did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Motek has made a name for itself whipping up Mediterranean street food dishes with whole ingredients and free of seed oils.

Mark Hallum can be reached at mhallum@commercialobserver.com.