The fashion and accessory industry is big in NYC, and businesses looking for quality showroom and retail space in Manhattan have no shortage of appealing options. Since the 19th century, Manhattan has developed in a way that concentrated different types of fashion business into uniquely vibrant neighborhoods, each of which becoming well-known for what it offers. For instance, the Garment District is highly appealing to clothing and apparel companies. The Accessory District, located between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas, features showroom space catering to companies that sell costume jewelry, watches, and handbags. Murray Hill is an excellent option for businesses in the lingerie and loungewear industries and offers quality showroom space that attracts these businesses.
Buildings that cater to companies in need of showroom and retail space often focus on specific product or service categories, allowing those companies to market themselves to wholesale buyers in their trade. Tenants in showroom buildings frequently conduct business with their neighbors, making it possible to tangibly boost their revenue (which is especially critical for new and rising designers).
Therefore, when choosing an area and a building for your fashion-focused company, paying close attention to those details and leveraging the assistance of a reputable broker will go a long way to help keep your business more profitable. Here at Metro Manhattan Office Space, we are fortunate to bring 18 years of exclusive Manhattan commercial real estate experience to the table in order to assist you. Contact us today to find out how we can help your company succeed in its search for commercial office space in Manhattan.
Although the showroom sector has reduced its footprint over the past few years, primarily due to the rise in e-commerce, it still constitutes a significant portion of commercial tenants in New York City. Showroom tenants gravitate towards neighborhoods and corridors that offer high visibility and brand exposure, such as the Garment District, Soho, Park Avenue, Fifth Avenue, or Madison Avenue.
What tenants look for when renting showroom space in NYC
Showroom spaces usually feature high ceilings, natural light, and large open areas to showcase their products to clients. Some also feature storage space for additional inventory. Others have office areas for marketing or sales staff. Showroom buildings usually have freight elevators to allow for transporting merchandise.
Showroom tenants generally prefer to rent commercial space in buildings where other businesses in their industry are located. For instance, jewelry and accessory companies will gravitate towards The Accessory District along Fifth Avenue, apparel businesses are more likely to look at the Garment District, while loungewear and lingerie firms will be in good company in Murray Hill.
Today, we’ll go over some of the best buildings that provide quality retail and showroom space for rent in Manhattan.
1400 Broadway | Garment District
This 37-story building at 1400 Broadway in the Garment District is an excellent choice for businesses looking for quality office and/or showroom space in a fantastic location. It was designed in 1930 by Ely Jacques Kahn. The property is owned by Empire State Realty Trust and features close to 940,000 square feet of Class A Manhattan office space, as well as 18,000 square feet of prime retail space. It was completely renovated in 2010 and offers easy access to nearby parking garages, Penn Station, the Port Authority, Grand Central, PATH, and 16 subway lines.
Amenities include 24/7 security, controlled keycard access, a web-based visitor processing system, and modern building infrastructure. For retail tenants, 1400 Broadway offers prominent brand exposure in a convenient location between Times Square and Herald Square. Rents range from $50 to $64 per square foot, and a 1,500-square-foot ground-floor retail space is currently available for lease. Other tenants in the building include Clarins, the Union Underwear Company, Burlington, Kohl’s, Uber, American Exchange, and Signature Bank.
1407 Broadway | Garment District
This office building at 1407 Broadway is also located in the Garment District, and it’s an ideal choice for companies in the apparel business. It incorporates 1.1 million square feet of Class A office space and was fully renovated in 2017.
Owned by Shorenstein Properties, 1407 Broadway offers flexible floor plates, 12-foot- slab-to-slab ceilings, a new lobby, elevators, common areas, and prime retail space for lease. There is also 24/7 security and easy access to Times Square, Bryant Park, Penn Station, Herald Square, and the Port Authority. Tenants include Double Take Fashion, Alex Apparel Group, Highway Jeans, Citicraze Casualwear, Smiles Fashion Nefertiti, Geneva Watch Group, Rothschild, Coldwell Banker, and Comcast. Rents range between $55 and $70 per square foot.
525 Seventh Avenue | Garment District
Another Garment District option for businesses looking for quality showroom or retail space is 525 Seventh Avenue, also known as the Fashion Center Building. Comprising 510,000 square feet of Class A Midtown Manhattan office space, the property is located right at the intersection between Fashion Avenue and West 38th Street. It was designed by Henry Ives Cobb in 1925 and is currently owned by Olmstead Properties, Inc.
Amenities include 24/7 access, a restored lobby, new hallways, bathrooms, elevators, and a new facade. Tenants also have easy access to Times Square, Grand Central Station, and Penn Station. Rents for space in the building range between $25 and $115 per square foot, depending on the type and terms of the lease. Notable tenants include Duane Reade, Almost Famous Clothing, Soho Apparel, Columbia Sportswear, Cerruti, and Nicole Miller. There are currently 47,000 square feet of office space and 7,700 square feet of vacant retail space for rent.
214 West 39th Street | Garment District
This 13-story building at 214 West 39th Street in the Garment District was completed in 1910, with a design by Frederick C. Browne and was completely renovated in 1988. The 205,000-square-foot asset is owned by G. Holdings Corporation and is an excellent option for apparel companies looking for small, affordable showroom space in a great location.
Rents at 214 West 39th Street range between $35 and $50 per square foot. The ground floor features 5,000 square feet of prime retail space, ideal for fashion-related tenants. Current tenants in the building include Ma Luxury Design Group, JMB Apparel, Britannica Home Fashions, NYC Idol Apparel, Its Worldwide LLC, and blueprint + co.
390 Fifth Avenue | Accessory District
This historic property built in 1903 at 390 Fifth Avenue is an excellent option for businesses in the accessories industry, as it’s located in Midtown Manhattan’s so-called Accessory District, right on the bustling Fifth Avenue. It’s also known as the Gorham Building. The 135,000-square-foot building was renovated in 2004, designed by McKim, Meade & White Architects, and is currently owned by Hilson Management Corporation.
390 Fifth Avenue is one of Manhattan’s premier accessories showroom buildings, housing tenants such as Seiko Watches, The Advance Watch Group, Cejon Accessories, Elain Gold Enterprises, EOS Jewelry, Geneva Home Building, and Steve Madden. The building is entirely fireproof, fully wired, and modernized, with rents ranging from $30 to $47 per square foot.
358 Fifth Avenue | Garment District
This 120,000-square-foot building at 358 Fifth Avenue is also known as The Accessory Center, and it was completed in 1929. Hilson Management Corporation owns the property. It is home to high-profile tenants in the fashion and accessories industries, including Timex Watches, Jewel, Jones NY, MaxxNY, Viva Sun Optique, Prime Art, Jemstone Group, Esquire Footwear, and X-Ray Jeans. The building at 358 Fifth Avenue was recently renovated, and amenities include an Art Deco lobby, ample outdoor space, an attended elevator, and modern air conditioning. Rents at this Midtown property range between $35 and $47 per square foot.
181-183 Madison Avenue | Murray Hill
For businesses in the lingerie and loungewear industries, 181-183 Madison Avenue is a great option. Also known as the Madison Belmont Building, the 275,000-square-foot property was completed in 1925 with a design by Warren & Wetmore. It was renovated in 2004 and is currently owned by APF Properties. The building was originally constructed as a showroom building for the Merchants & Manufacturers Exchange of New York. Over the years, it housed showrooms for companies in the borough’s Silk District. The exterior and first-floor interior of the Madison Belmont Building are New York City designated landmarks.
Current tenants include WeWork, Rubicon Project, Dreamwear, Dolce Vita Intimates, Panache Lingerie, Olivia Feldman Lingerie, and Chantelle Inc. Asking rents range from $50 to $70 per square foot, while amenities include a unique bronze and marble lobby, 24/7 access and security, modern building infrastructure, and brand exposure on one of NYC’s most desirable retail corridors, Madison Avenue.
Are you thinking of relocating your business to a convenient Manhattan location? Are you looking to lease space in a modern building offering state-of-the-art amenities? Then reach out to us and we will show you worthwhile space in the heart of New York City. To learn about available office space, call Metro Manhattan Office Space at (212) 444-2241 or email us at [email protected].
