Furniture retailer gets comfortable in the fashionable Flatiron district

Real Estate Weekly, Nov 17, 2004

The leasing team of Faith Hope Consolo, vice chairman, and Joseph A. Aquino, managing director, of Garrick-Aug Worldwide, Ltd. represented both the tenant and landlord in a 10-year lease for a retail space at 156 Fifth Avenue, to fine furniture retailer Strictly Wood Furniture, Co.

The 10,500 s/f location, at the corner of 20th Street in flourishing Flatiron, will serve as the New York flagship for the Charlotte, N.C.-based company, which features solid-wood, Mission-style furniture inspired by the turn-of-the-century "Arts and Crafts" movement.

Strictly Wood will open alongside Searle, which Ms. Consolo and Mr. Aquino placed in a 20,000 s/f store in the same building just last year.

"Strictly Wood is a perfect match for Flatiron's thriving design-oriented retail environment," says Ms. Consolo. "ABC Carpets, Ethan Allen, Jennifer Convertibles and Restoration Hardware are nearby, along with the numerous kitchen and bath showrooms that are open to the public and architecture/design trades. Strictly Wood has a marvelous artistic sensibility that will surely be well-received in Manhattan."

Mr. Aquino adds, "Fashionable Flatiron is full of apparel retailers, restaurants and furniture showrooms galore.

It is known as a popular residential and commercial neighborhood and features a host of ad agencies, designers and architectural firms."

In addition to home furnishings and accessories retailers too numerous to count, there are a bevy of top names in fashion and beauty nearby including Coach, which expanded twice at its Flatiron locations, Club Monaco, Armani A/X, Espirit, Lucky Jeans, Origins, Sephora, Aerosoles and Searle, said the brokers.