Arden to open first Manhattan store

Real Estate Weekly, Oct 9, 2002

Arden B., a contemporary women's apparel and accessories retailer, is opening its first Manhattan store at 1130 Third Ave. The national retailer, which is a division of California-based retail chain Wet Seal, has signed a 12-year lease for 3,800 SF of ground floor and 1,600 SF of basement space. Located in a residential building on the northwest corner of 66th Street, on Manhattan's trendy Upper East Side, the new store is expected to open this winter.

"This is the perfect location for Arden B.'s New York City flagship," said Robert K. Futterman & Associates, LLC (RKF) managing director Karen Bellantoni, who, along with RKF CEO Robert Futterman, handled negotiations on behalf of the retailer. "Prime uptown corner locations are hard to come by, and Third Avenue surpasses even Madison Avenue in its reputation as a modern fashion destination." Mel Farrell of Cushman & Wakefield represented the landlord in the transaction.

Arden B. will join such well-known neighbors as Club Monaco, bebe, Gap, Sephora, Banana Republic and Lucky Brand Jeans. The retail space was formerly occupied by Country Road. "With this new Store, Arden B., already a favorite of New York-based editors and stylists who previously had to look outside the city for the nearest location, establishes a much-anticipated presence at an excellent Manhattan location -- a move the we expect will be quite lucrative for the brand," said Steve Strickland, senior vice-president of marketing and creative services for Wet Seal, Inc., parent company of Arden B.