Happier Grocery to Open Second NYC Location on the Upper East Side

A healthy grocery retailer is opening its second New York City location on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Happier Grocery has signed a 20,500-square-foot lease at CSC Real Estate’s 210 East 86th Street, where it plans to open a health food store like its original one on Canal Street in the second half of 2027, according to landlord broker Avison Young.

Avison Young did not immediately disclose the asking rent or the length of the lease, but the average asking rent along the nearby retail corridor of Third Avenue from East 60th to East 72nd streets was $252 per square foot in the second quarter of 2026, according to a report from CBRE.

“This lease transforms a long-vacant former movie theater space into a vibrant, wellness-focused destination that will add new energy to one of the Upper East Side’s most active retail corridors,” Avison Young’s Christian Stanton said in a statement. “Happier Grocery brings a fresh concept to the neighborhood, combining a curated, high-end grocery experience with a social atmosphere that complements the area’s strong residential base and established food retailers.”

Stanton negotiated the deal on behalf of the landlord alongside Libby Hodes of Avison Young, as well as Max Swerdloff from Brand Urban. Newmark’s Brian Segall and Michael Cohen represented Happier Grocery in the deal.

Happier Grocery opened its flagship location at 365 Canal Street in 2023, and has made a name for itself as a convenient stop for organic goodies. It also has a deli for hot food and a coffee bar at its Canal Street location.

The grocer’s lease is the first deal to be signed at 210 East 86th Street after CSC Real Estate acquired it along with 206 East 86th Street and 205 East 85th Street for a total of $70 million in June, as Commercial Observer first reported.

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