Timothy Oulton, the innovative British furniture brand known for its subversive take on luxury, has signed a lease for a 7,170 s/f retail space at 901 Broadway at 20th Street, in the Flatiron District.
The new location will serve as the brand’s East Coast flagship location and the largest and most important retail presence in the region. McAlpine Contracting will build the new showroom.
Timothy Oulton has an international presence, with 45 retail galleries worldwide. In addition to the newly leased location, the brand currently operates seven stores in the United States, including at the New York Design Center at 200 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, as well as in Connecticut, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The brand’s roots date back to 1976 when Tim Oulton’s father opened an antiques shop in Manchester, England. Tim later took over the business, refocusing on epic product design inspired by the past, yet relevant for modern lifestyles. Today, Timothy Oulton is a world leader and innovator in the design, production and distribution of luxury furniture and home décor accessories.
“We opened one of our first galleries in New York City back in 2009 because I considered New York one of the great, if not the greatest, of the world’s cities. It’s a global epicenter of great design, so I’m excited to be reopening here,” said Founder and Creative Director Tim Oulton. “We recently opened new stores in Downtown Los Angeles and Miami, but New York is extra special and complements openings in other prominent gateway cities elsewhere in the world.”
The 10-year lease terms include rent in excess of $80 per square foot. London-based Paddy McCormack + Co. served as a retail real estate advisor and New York City-based Robin Abrams from Compass represented Timothy Oulton. David Graff from Compass represented the landlord, Karass Broadway.
901 Broadway is a portion of a larger building that was designed and constructed in 1870. Timothy Oulton’s in-house design team has developed the concept for the new flagship store. New York City-based McAlpine Contracting will build the new retail gallery.
“This $1 million construction project will revitalize this currently vacant retail space to attract buyers to this vibrant neighborhood at the time when the retail industry is beginning to recover in Manhattan and nationally. The completion of construction is expected in late summer,” explained McAlpine Vice President John Nolan.
“The renovation and build-out will provide a fresh new look for the ground floor retail space within this important historic building,” added McAlpine Director of Construction Administration Adrian Vasile. “Due to the historical significance of the structure, the McAlpine team has prepared design and construction documents for filing the project for approval by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, in addition to the standard filing procedures with the NYC Department of Buildings and other local public agencies.”
Located on the southwest corner, the building extends for 25 feet along Broadway and 85 feet along 20th Street and has full-height windows at the first floor that provide clear views into the interior space. At the corner, the façade is turned at a 45-degree angle from the perpendicular walls, providing an elegant glass framed entrance that is further highlighted by a dramatic tower capping the fifth floor above.
The new store will feature a 1,890 s/f main showroom area on the first floor and a 344 s/f mezzanine. An open stair connects to a 1,221 s/f lower level that will provide additional showroom space as well as a café bar, reflecting Timothy Oulton’s ethos of hosting. Additional space on both floors is designated for storage and mechanical spaces.
The store will include several unusual features. An existing café area in the basement will be renovated with the addition of a new stainless steel bar top, dramatic lighted bar side panels, a new backbar, and commercial grade undercounter appliances. A three-ton fish tank will be installed near the front entrance.
The most dramatic feature will be located on the first floor. Timothy Oulton’s signature Apollo capsule, built to the same scale as NASA’s Apollo 11 command module, will be prominently placed in the center of the main floor as an expression of the brand’s craftsmanship and creativity.
Rendered as an intimate, luxury lounge, the capsule features a stainless steel shell and bespoke tufted leather interior with crystal lighting. Conceived as a showcase of Timothy Oulton’s design and manufacturing capabilities, the Apollo module replica was built entirely in-house by the company’s team of craftsmen.
