In a Reversal, Brooklyn Cheese Shop Expands In Manhattan

-October 20, 2011

By Guelda Voien | 2:04pm

It's the decade of Brooklyn, and while The New York Times may have only recently discovered the borough—according to Brian Williams, at least—it has lately become the leading exporter of artisanal eateries to Manhattan.

Zak Pelaccio's Williamsburg hotspot Fatty 'Cue opened its West Village outpost last month, and, now, Bedford Cheese Shop—probably Brooklyn's most noted cheese monger—has signed a 15-year lease at 67 Irving Place.

Besides grabbing 5,000 square feet of high-end retail space in Gramercy Park near Mario Batali's Bar Jamon and historic Pete's Tavern, the cheese purveyor's landlord has also agreed to modify the space to make it more Williamsburg-y.

"The doors and façade will be changed. We'll make it more suitable to Williamsburg clients," said George Constantin, Principal at Heritage Realty Services, the operator of 67 Irving Place.

The landlord is a high net-worth European family, which owns the building through a corporation in the Netherlands, said Mr. Constantin.
The boutique cheese purveyor, which currently operates at 229 Bedford Avenue, will pay $240,000 in annual rent, or about $80 per square foot. They plan to offer cheese classes and charcuterie in addition to lots of fromage at the new location.

The 12-story, 46,000-square-foot Gramercy Park address is home to retail and commercial tenants, and close to the Union Square subway station.
Al Lawrence of Heritage Realty Services represented the landlord, Puble N.V., and David Chaiken of Sunburst Advisors represented the tenant.

Read more at http://observer.com/2011/10/in-a-reversal-brooklyn-cheese-shop-expands-in-manhattan-2/#ixzz3EpZcm8fE
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