AI platform SceniX has signed a Chelsea office lease for the entire 17th floor at GFP Real Estate’s 80 Eighth Ave. — a 5,914 SF, five-year commitment representing one of the neighborhood’s notable AI-tenant deals of the quarter. Dennis Someck and Justin Myers of Lee & Associates NYC represented the tenant in the SceniX Chelsea office lease, which will house the robotics-simulation company’s general and administrative operations. NYREJ: SceniX Signs Full-Floor Chelsea Office Lease at…
Manhattan Office Recovery: What Tenants Want in 2026
The Manhattan office recovery is leading the nation, with office foot traffic now only 5.5% lower than pre-pandemic levels. In a new Bisnow Studio B feature, Lee & Associates examines what’s driving the rebound — and what tenants and landlords are doing to capitalize on it. The Manhattan office recovery has pushed Q4 vacancy to a five-year low of 13.9%, with 10M SF leased in the quarter alone. Bisnow Studio B: Manhattan Office Recovery Reshapes…
NYC Retail Leases 2026: New York’s Top 10 in March
New York City is getting some new places to eat, based on this roundup of the top NYC retail leases 2026 has seen so far — with the largest deals signed across the five boroughs in March. Cory Gahr and Josh Lebowitz of Lee & Associates NYC represented Hydrogen Fitness in its first-ever New York City lease — a 17,000-square-foot, 15-year deal at 145 East 32nd Street in Kips Bay, topping the March 2026 rankings….
Saks Global Mall Closings: How Landlords Are Responding
Peter Braus Quoted in CoStar News Lee & Associates President Peter Braus weighs in on how mall owners are navigating the wave of Saks Global store closings sweeping the country. Braus notes that while top-tier properties see the vacancies as a long-awaited opportunity to reclaim and reposition large anchor spaces, malls that still depend on Saks or Neiman Marcus to drive meaningful foot traffic face a much harder road. “When an anchor goes dark there,…
REBNY Fellows 2026 | Ryan Fitzpatrick Honored
Among the distinguished REBNY Fellows 2026 was Ryan Fitzpatrick, an associate at Lee & Associates NYC, who was recognized for his leadership and contributions to the commercial real estate brokerage industry. Fitzpatrick has built a reputation for advising clients across complex transactions while remaining actively engaged in the broader New York real estate community. The REBNY Fellows designation is one of the organization’s most respected honors, awarded to individuals whose careers reflect sustained achievement, ethical…
REBNY 2026 Honorees | James Wacht Among Award Winners
James Wacht’s Broker Recognition Award The 2026 list of REBNY 2026 honorees featured several distinguished professionals whose work has had a lasting impact on the city’s real estate community. Among them was James Wacht, Managing Principal at Lee & Associates NYC, who received the Louis Smadbeck Memorial Broker Recognition Award for integrity, leadership and long-standing contributions to both the brokerage community and REBNY itself. Wacht, a lifelong New Yorker and industry veteran, has led Lee…
Top Retail Leases NYC August 2025 | Biggest Deals
NYC’s Largest Retail Leases in August 2025 The largest retail leases in the five boroughs last month saw some pretty tight competition for the top three spots. Number two on the list is just 1,000 square feet below number one, and number three is only 300 square feet below that (for reference, the fourth position is more than 16,000 square feet below number 3). 7) Tin’s | 109 Ludlow Street | Lower East Side |…
Top Retail Leases NYC in February 2025
The Top Retail Leases NYC February 2025 highlight the biggest retail deals signed across the city. From Lidl and Gymshark to Morimoto’s new restaurant, these signings showcase strong demand in New York’s retail market. With the Top Retail Leases NYC February 2025, readers can see how major brands continue shaping the city’s leasing landscape. 1) Avis Budget Group | 4075 Boston Road | Eastchester | 21,400 sf The car rental company inked a new 20-year…
Isla & Co. Williamsburg Expansion to Larger Space
Parched Hospitality Group is moving its Australian restaurant Isla & Co. to a larger location in Williamsburg. The 2,150-square-foot space, located at 66 Grand St., was previously occupied by Taiwanese restaurant Mama Lee. Isla & Co. is expected to open there in mid- September. The restaurant is relocating from The William Vale hotel, where it spent a little more than three years in a 1,600-square-foot space. The lease is for 10 years. Asking rent was…