CBRE gets to art of the DaVinci deal at Pratt Institute

Real Estate Weekly, Nov 19, 2003

DaVinci & Co. Artists' Supplies, a joint venture of the Manhattan-based book store Shakespeare & Co. and Kevin Lavin, general manager of prominent art supplier PEARL Paint, has committed to 2,860 square feet of retail and 800 square feet of lower level space at 138 West 14th Street, Pratt Institute's Manhattan Campus.

The CB Richard Ellis Tri-State Retail Services team of Eric Gelber and Joshua Gettler represented both the tenant and The Pratt Institute in the 16-year transaction.

The ground-floor space at 138 West 14th Street represents DaVinci & Co.'s first New York City retail location.

The independent retailer will be actively merchandising art supplies to area customers as well as the 4,400 students attending the Pratt Institute, the largest school of its kind.

"DaVinci & Co. is an outstanding tenant for The Pratt Institute," noted Mr. Gelber.

"It is not only a wonderful addition to the exciting 14th Street retail corridor and the surrounding areas of Greenwich Village and Chelsea, but is also an ideal enhancement to the school's existing student services and amenities."

"The retail space at Pratt Institute presented us with the perfect opportunity to make our first foray into the market," said Mr. Lavin.

"We are extremely thrilled with the central location the space provides as well as the prospect of serving the students and the existing customer base in one of the Manhattan's most vibrant and dynamic neighborhoods." Internationally recognized for its excellence, The Pratt Institute is comprised of the schools for Art and Design, Architecture, Liberal Arts, and Information and Library Sciences.