Over 100,000 SF of New Leases Signed at Empire Outlets on Staten Island

NEW YORK, April 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BFC Partners, developer of Empire Outlets – New York City's first and only outlet center – has announced that approximately 100,000 square feet of retail space has been leased at the one-million-square-foot development, completing another important milestone in the revitalization of the North Shore of Staten Island.

Among the national brands joining Empire Outlets include Gap Outlet, Banana Republic Factory Store, White House Black Market, Columbia Sportswear Company,  Guess Factory Store, Wilsons Leather, G.H. Bass & Co., Lids, Obey Your Body, Innovation Luggage, U.S. Polo, Walgreens, Starbucks, Haagen Daz, Krispy Kreme, Nathan's Famous and Applebee's. A ceremonial groundbreaking for the project will showcase these leases on Thursday, April 16^th at the Richmond County Ballpark in St. George.

"We are extremely excited to welcome these premier retailers at Empire Outlets," said Joseph Ferrara, a principal at BFC Partners with Donald Capoccia and Brandon Baron. "The global presence and appeal that these brands have to our local, domestic and international visitors will undoubtedly be an experience that guests will want to repeat time and time again." 

The announcement comes closely on the heels of two other retailers joining Empire Outlets: Nordstrom Rack, the off-price retail division of Seattle-based Nordstrom, Inc., which has taken approximately 34,000 square feet of retail space as one of the project's anchors, as well as Swedish fashion retailer H&M, which has signed for 26,000 square feet at the complex.

As part of the company's commitment to the community, BFC Partners, along with the above mentioned retailers, has committed to use New York City Economic Development Corporation's HireNYC program to create a targeted local hiring plan to fill the jobs generated by the one-million-square-foot development. HireNYC is a free City program that connects the City's workforce development services to economic development projects.

In addition to creating thousands of new construction jobs, as part of its development, BFC Partners is making significant efforts to work with tenants to facilitate the hiring of Staten Island residents for the permanent jobs that the project will create, ensuring that the development will provide the area with an economic boost that will assist residents, attract visitors, and provide retailers with quality employees.

"We are extremely grateful to our partners at Empire State Development Corp., NYCEDC and Goldman Sachs for helping us make our vision into a reality on the North Shore of Staten Island," said Capoccia. "In addition to addressing the needs of the local community, New York City will soon recapture hundreds of millions in lost spending, real estate taxes, sales tax revenue and payroll tax revenue from the 1,000+ new permanent jobs at Empire Outlets. This will not only benefit our retailers, but it will transform the lives and prospects for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers for decades to come."

"As New York City's only outlet shopping center, Empire Outlets will no doubt become a premier destination, boosting regional tourism and bringing thousands of new jobs to Staten Island," said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky. "Empire Outlets meets the New York City Regional Economic Development Council's long-term goals for growth in the region, and we are proud to have worked with both NYCEDC and Goldman Sachs to support this exciting new venture."

"Empire Outlets will bring over 1,000 jobs and millions in private investment to the North Shore of Staten Island, joining the other catalytic projects in the area to make the neighborhood a destination for residents and visitors," said NYCEDC President Kyle Kimball. "These new leases are just a few of the 100 stores that will call Empire Outlets home, and by utilizing HireNYC, BFC Partners is not only providing shopping opportunities, but also job opportunities to the local community."

Goldman Sachs, through its Urban Investment Group, provided $130 million of capital for Empire Outlets, which is part of the firm's broader commitment to impact investing in New York City. To date, Goldman Sachs has committed $2 billion to over 100 projects across all five boroughs -- in areas like affordable housing and new community and healthcare spaces.

"We are proud to invest in the revitalization of this community and help give businesses the opportunity to grow their operations on Staten Island," said Margaret Anadu, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs. "Empire Outlets will play a role in the continued transformation of the New York Harbor by creating jobs, attracting visitors and bringing new economic energy to the borough."

BFC Partners is currently in negotiations with other prominent national retailers.  "Our broker team has done an incredible job making our vision come to reality with the caliber of tenants we have placed at Empire," Ferrara added, citing the leasing team of James Prendamano and John Pitera of Casandra Properties and Andrew Boyle and Peter Edelmann of EB Development.

Located directly adjacent to the St. George Ferry Terminal, the multi-million dollar Empire Outlets project will include 340,000 square feet of prime retail space with approximately 100 designer outlet retailers; a 190-room hotel featuring a rooftop venue with expansive waterfront views; a 1,250-space structured parking garage; and a 40,000-square-foot food and beverage deck that will provide extraordinary views of the Manhattan skyline. The project will be adjacent to the New York Wheel, which will be one of the tallest observation wheels in the Western hemisphere.

ABOUT EMPIRE OUTLETS

BFC Partners' Empire Outlets will be an approximately 350,000 square foot retail complex, comprised of up to 125 designer outlet retailers and a variety of restaurants and cafes. Plans also include a 190-room, 130,000-square-foot hotel, and a 40,000-square-foot banquet facility that will provide extraordinary views of the Manhattan skyline. BFC Partners will also build a 1,250-space structured parking garage below the retail and hotel components to accommodate commuters and tourists alike. Designed by SHoP Architects, Empire Outlets will feature expansive open corridors to the water, contemporary materials reflective of the industrial waterfront, and a sweeping sustainable green roof visible from the harbor. Celebratory vertical circulation elements such as grand staircases, elevators, and streamlined escalators will guide shoppers as they move from the waterfront up to Richmond Terrace, creating a dynamic and easily navigated pedestrian experience. For more information about Empire Outlets New York City, please visit www.empireoutletsnyc.com .

ABOUT BFC PARTNERS

BFC has been a developer of affordable and market-rate housing and mixed use projects in New York City for more than 35 years. After starting in the East Village in the 1980s, BFC has established itself as a major developer in Brooklyn, completing the award-winning Toren in Downtown Brooklyn. BFC is currently developing Tower One at City Point on Flatbush Avenue and the city's first outlet center on Staten Island. Most recently, BFC was part of a team to be selected by the city to develop the Seward Park complex on the Lower East Side. Since the firm's inception in the 1985, BFC and its principals have completed over $5 billion in development projects, encompassing the construction of more than 8,000 residential units and millions of square feet of mixed-use development.

For more information about BFC Partners visit www.bfcnyc.com  

For more information about Empire Outlets visit www.empireoutletsnyc.com

SOURCE BFC Partners

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