Wegmans watch on Astor Place

As you likely noticed in the past few weeks, the landmarked 770 Broadway at Eighth Street/Lafayette is behind a layer of plywood...

...with a plywood rendering, which looks exactly like the current building...

Gut renovations continue inside the retail space on the NW corner of Eighth Street at Lafayette ... which will be the first Manhattan outpost of Wegmans. (The one in Brooklyn opened in 2019.) 

Wegmans will occupy space on both the street and lower levels of No. 770 for a total of roughly 82,000 square feet. The grocery is reportedly set to open in the second half of 2023. (Published reports state that Wegmans plans to employ more than 500 people at this store, including 200 full-time positions.) 

And a look through the blogger portals provides the current state of reconstruction affairs here ... 

As previously reported, Kmart closed in this space after 25 years in July 2021. Wegmans had agreed to buy out the fading retailer's lease to make this deal possible.

Wegmans is hiring on Astor Place

A good sign for people who CAN'T WAIT for the Wegmans to open on Astor Place... and also a good sign for someone looking for a job...

WEGMANS IS NOW HIRING.

For starters, the jobs listing states the store is opening next summer... and for now, they are only hiring for full-time positions. 

Details via the listing (and H/T Stacie Joy!): 

Our first Wegmans store in Manhattan, the supermarket will be located at the corner of Astor Place and Lafayette Street. 

The store will have all the traditional departments: Bakery, Produce, Pizza, Deli, Meat/Seafood, Sushi and more for customers to enjoy while experiencing the great Wegmans service they know and love.

And as a reader noted, Wegmans opened an office in the former Douglas Elliman space on Broadway between Ninth Street and 10th Street...

As previously reported, Wegmans signed a 30-year lease last July for what will be the grocer's first Manhattan outpost. (The one in Brooklyn opened in 2019.) 

Kmart closed in this space after 25 years in July 2021. Wegmans had agreed to buy out Kmart's lease to make this deal possible.

Meta deal: Facebook takes up more of 770 Broadway

ICYMI... According to Bloomberg, Facebook signed a lease for an additional 300,000 square feet of office space at 770 Broadway. 

Per Bloomberg, this addition gives Facebook — a tenant since 2013 — "nearly total control" of the 15-story landmarked building between Eighth Street and Ninth Street.

And if Facebook employees tire of their own cafeteria(s), then they will be able to schlep down to the retail space when Wegmans opens next year in the former Kmart home.

Astor Place Wegmans watch, automatic sliding doors edition

The buildout for Wegmans at 770 Broadway on Astor Place has entered a new phase.

Today, reps for the grocer will appear virtually in a public hearing before the Landmarks Preservation Commission about a façade improvement at the landmarked building. (Thanks to Upper West Sider for the tip!)

Wegmans plans to ad automatic sliding doors — similar to the ones you'd find across the way at CVS or at Whole Foods on Union Square — to what will be a new entrance on Fourth Avenue.

Sliding-door fans can check out the detailed proposal here. (That link also includes info about the Zoom call.)

Receiving approval for sliding-glass doors might be one reason that this Wegmans outpost isn't scheduled to open until the second half of 2023.

As previously reported, Wegmans signed a 30-year lease last July for what will be the grocer's first Manhattan outpost. 

Kmart closed in this space after 25 years on July 11. Wegmans had agreed to buy out Kmart's lease to make this deal possible.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Astor Place Wegmans watch, work-permit edition

Happy holidays from Wegmans

On Astor Place, Wegmans is wishing you happy holidays... pretty nice considering they're not expected to open here for another two years... 

As previously reported, Wegmans signed a 30-year lease in July for what will be the grocer's first Manhattan outpost. It is scheduled to open in the second half of 2023.

Kmart closed in this space after 25 years on July 11. Wegmans had agreed to buy out Kmart's lease to make this deal possible.

Anyone miss Kmart this holiday season? 

Astor Place Wegmans watch, work-permit edition

Work permits are now on file for renovations of the former Kmart space at the landmarked 770 Broadway. 

Based on the work plan, here are a few takeaways about the future Astor Place Wegmans courtesy of EVG regular Upper West Sider:

• Looks like the subway entrance is safe for now (the area is covered in the No Work in Area portion of the plan). Guess it's covered by landmarks protection. 
• The first step in the process is demolition. Almost everything is being removed, including escalator railings, storefront window displays, bathrooms, flooring and wall coverings. 
• Given that ceiling tiles and the 1990s furnishings are being removed, it seems like the goal is to restore the space to its previous grandeur.

Wegmans signed a 30-year lease last month for what will be the grocer's first Manhattan outpost. It is scheduled to open in the second half of 2023.

Kmart closed in this space after 25 years on July 11. Wegmans had agreed to buy out Kmart's lease to make this deal possible.

1st round of necessary permits OK'd for the incoming Wegmans

The Landmark's Preservation Commission (LPC) has approved what is likely the first of many permits needed for the build-out of the Wegmans site on Astor Place. 

This is a bit of a formality, as no one that we're aware of was speaking out against renovations for the Kmart-replacing grocery at the landmarked 770 Broadway between Eighth Street and Ninth Street. You can read the approved LPC permit here. 

Wegmans signed a 30-year lease last month for what will be the grocer's first Manhattan outpost. It is scheduled to open in the second half of 2023.

Kmart closed in this space after 25 years on July 11. Wegmans had agreed to buy out Kmart's lease to make this deal possible.

H/T Upper West Sider! 

Wegmans makes it sign official on Astor Place, plus other thoughts on the grocer's arrival

As you likely know, Wegmans Food Markets announced it was opening an outpost — the first in Manhattan for the chain — back on Thursday... taking over the two-level space from the just-closed Kmart here at 770 Broadway. 

By Friday, the Wegmans signage was up... the store is expected to be operating by the second half of 2023 on Astor Place ...

The reaction by EVG readers, via comments, emails, DMs, etc., was generally favorable. Some people appreciated the thought of a first-class grocery coming to the area, a welcome alternative to, say, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. A few folks said they found Wegmans to be overrated and overpriced. Some people said they will miss Kmart. And a handful of commenters were turned off by the perceived celebration of a chain. (And for the record, I've never been to a Wegmans, so I don't have an opinion on their stores.)

Meanwhile, retail reporter Warren Shoulberg wrote a piece for Forbes titled "Wegmans In, Kmart Out: But It’s About So Much More Than That."

Among his observations:

• Any talk of the demise of urban living — and urban shopping — can be tossed aside with this Wegmans' move. It validates the premise that younger generations (and older ones too who don't want to move) are going to continue to choose living in a big city as opposed to the suburbs, small towns and all points in between. 

Young families with kids or about to have kids will go that route — as they have for every generation since the end of World War II — but anyone thinking this was the beginning of the end of urban destinations like New York City needs to rethink that theory.

Stay tuned for more analysis about Wegmans over the next two years! 

Wegmans makes it OFFICIAL, will take over the former Kmart space on Astor Place

Wegmans is coming to Astor Place ... the well-regarded grocery chain is taking over the former Kmart space at 770 Broadway, as rumored.

Start spreading the news: We’re coming to Manhattan in 2023! #WegmansManhattan
Learn more: https://t.co/vcOcIRi9d3 pic.twitter.com/zcZHErxqW2

— Wegmans Food Markets (@Wegmans) July 29, 2021

Hot off the press (release): 

The Manhattan Wegmans, scheduled to open in the second half of 2023, will be located at Vornado's 770 Broadway, the former site of the Astor Place Kmart. 

Wegmans opened its first NYC store in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in October of 2019

"We are so excited to bring Wegmans to Manhattan. This is something we've been dreaming about and working toward for a long time," said Colleen Wegman, president and CEO of Wegmans Food Markets. "The community's response to the opening of our Brooklyn store had an excitement and energy that you can only experience in New York City. You can feel that energy returning to the city, and we are thrilled to be a part of it."

Kmart closed without much notice on July 11 after 25 years in business, as we first reported. 

More to come...

Speculation watch: What's next for the Kmart space on Astor Place?

Kmart abruptly wrapped up 25 years of blue light specials this past Sunday on Astor Place, as we first reported. 

Attention quickly turned to what might be next for this prime two-level retail space. 

The first suspect! Facebook. 

Zuck and Co. have had offices at 770 Broadway since 2014 — and in fact, they lease half of the 15-floor building. They took over Kmart's former upstairs in 2018. 

Seems likely a likely takeover candidate for landlord Vornado Realty Trust. 

But! 

The Commercial Observer reported this yesterday:

Facebook is in no rush to expand its footprint. Only a quarter of its New York City offices currently have workers in them, and the tech company does not have plans to rent the building's lower floors that housed Kmart, a Facebook spokeswoman said. Vornado declined to comment about the future of its Astor Place site.

Otherwise, other rental candidates — via EVG commenters — included Wegmans and Target and EV Grieve's — a two-level gastropub-drinkery.  

Target seems unlikely — especially if they are leasing the former Food Emporium on Union Square. 

To be continued...

H/T Upper West Sider! Photo by Stacie Joy

 

Is Facebook leaving Astor Place?

Facebook is reportedly in talks to lease space at the revamped Farley Building (the former James A. Farley Post Office) across from Madison Square Garden, according to Lois Weiss at the Post.

The company had also been said to be looking at Hudson Yards.

So why are we writing about this? To the Post!

It’s unclear what will happen to Facebook’s current NYC offices, including 758,000 square feet at 770 Broadway and 266,000 square feet at 225 Park Avenue. So.

Both Farley and 770 Broadway are owned by Vornado and its chairman Steve Roth, who has been wining and dining tech companies for years in an effort to lease them the top floors of the post office.

Roth, whose reps didn’t immediately return a request for comment, could cut Facebook a deal for Farley that also lets it off the hook for its current East Village lease, which expires in 2025.

Oh!

As you may recall, Kmart downsized its space at 770 Broadway, the landmarked building on Astor Place, in early 2018. There were reports in late 2017 and early 2018 that Vornado bought Kmart out of its lease on the second floor, which was revamped from low-price to high-tech for Facebook.

The smaller Kmart still has 82,000 square feet in building, including most of the property's ground-floor retail space as well as basement level.

Also, as you'll see in the top photo, Kmart recently unveiled a new logo on the building.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Kmart staying on Astor Place, minus the 2nd floor (for Facebook?)

Status update: Facebook signs the priciest deal ever for Midtown South in Astor Place

Some news from Friday to note via Crain's.

The social media giant, which has surpassed $200 billion in market value, will add 80,000 square feet at 770 Broadway, the large office building south of Union Square where it first took space almost two years ago.

The building’s rents have risen substantially since then. According to sources, Facebook is paying rates above $100 per square foot for the new space—at least 20% or 30% more than the price of the space it initially leased. Indeed, the deal is among the priciest ever signed in midtown south.

In total, Facebook now rents 270,000 square feet of the 1.2 million-square-foot building on Broadway/Lafayette and East Ninth Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Facebook unveils its new office tonight in Midtown South on Astor Place

Facebook is moving into the neighborhood; Midtown South expands its boundaries, apparently

Report: Maps show that Midtown South does NOT include the East Village/Astor Place

Facebook unveils its new office tonight in Midtown South on Astor Place

Facebook is throwing its official unveiling ceremony tonight to show off its new 185,000-square-foot space at 770 Broadway and East Ninth Street... an area of the city that the media likes to refer to as Midtown South. (We've gone over all this before.)

The headline in The Wall Street Journal today reads — Facebook Sees Midtown South Office as Recruitment Tool.

What can the 500 Facebook employees expect on the 3-floor space?

Food and coffee are focal points. The coffee bar, which at evening events can double as a real bar, serves four kinds of coffee and offers five different preparation methods.

The daily cafeteria menu is created by Facebook New York’s executive chef, Nate Eckhaus, who has worked at such city restaurants as Eleven Madison Park and Blue Smoke. At different stations, labels note the provenance of the fare — as in, organic red cabbage from a New Jersey farm or shaved organic fennel from Pennsylvania.

And what about the Facebook effect on this Midtown South neighborhood?

“A company like that would have influence wherever they go, between the local retail and local businesses,” said Jim Wenk, executive vice president at real estate service firm JLL. “They also have a lot of high-paying jobs.”

Previously on EV Grieve:
Facebook is moving into the neighborhood; Midtown South expands its boundaries, apparently

Report: Maps show that Midtown South does NOT include the East Village/Astor Place

Like? Facebook has arrived in the neighborhood

Yesterday marked Facebook's first day at 770 Broadway at East 9th Street. According to TechCrunch:

Right now, Facebook has more than 100 engineers in the New York offices working on Pages, Location, Newsfeed, mobile, AI, and infrastructure, but 2014 represents a growth year in terms of NYC hires. More than 320 people work in FBNY overall. With more space in the office, and plans to hire more engineers, that number should rapidly grow throughout the next year.

Facebook reportedly signed a 10-year lease for 100,000 square feet at 770 Broadway, whose current tenants include AOL, Billboard, J Crew and the Huffington Post.

You can find a lot more photos of the (not-quite-done) Frank Gehry-designed office space over at Curbed.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village — the new Midtown?

Facebook is moving into the neighborhood; Midtown South expands its boundaries, apparently

Noted

Hey @770Broadway! Old called. It wants you back.

— 51 Astor Place (@51deathstar) October 3, 2013

You wish! RT @770Broadway Please stop tweeting me.

— 51 Astor Place (@51deathstar) October 3, 2013

No subtweeting here in Midtown South!

Facebook is moving into the neighborhood; Midtown South expands its boundaries, apparently

From The Wall Street Journal this morning:

Facebook Inc. is moving its New York office south and nearly doubling its space, marking the latest technology company to set up shop in the city's Midtown South neighborhood.

Facebook, a popular social media site where users share "Game of Thrones" spoilers, is moving into 770 Broadway at East Ninth Street, an area of New York also known, randomly, as Astor Place, the East Village, NYU, WeAs (West of Astor), LeLa (left of Lafayette Street) and Where is that Starbucks with the restroom?

Facebook reportedly signed a 10-year lease for 100,000 square feet at 770 Broadway, whose current tenants include AOL, J Crew and the Huffington Post. Facebook and its 200 New York employees currently must do with a 55,000-square-foot space on two floors at 335 Madison Ave.

The new space sounds like it will be very Facebooky.

Architect Frank Gehry will design the space, which will include a cafeteria with its own chef, smaller kitchens with snacks and drinks and an open floor plan.

Meanwhile, the new tenant-wanting office building at 51 Astor Place sits directly across the street.

Oh, and will anyone notice a difference with the 200 new tenants? Here's the Voice's take:

Facebook employees will probably just blend in with the existing NYU students, only they'll have nicer living arrangements and more expensive sneakers.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village — the new Midtown?