Apparel giant Tommy Hilfiger has signed a 200,000 s/f headquarters lease at RFR Realty’s 285 Madison Avenue.
Under a deal negotiated with parent company PVH Corp. Hilfiger will occupy nine floors in the newly repositioned 26-story building.
A JLL team led by Matthew Astrachan brokered the deal to relocate Tommy Hilfiger from the Starrett-Lehigh Building at 601 West 26th Street in West Chelsea, where it has resided since 2004.
“PVH was seeking an occupancy solution with prominent branding opportunities, shared amenities and building infrastructure that would enable the creation of a modern, collaborative workplace environment,” said Astrachan.
“We were able to work closely with RFR to relocate Tommy Hilfiger into terrific space that is much closer to PVH’s corporate headquarters and PVH’s offices for its Calvin Klein and Heritage Brands businesses. By making this move, PVH expects to reduce Tommy Hilfiger’s occupancy costs and relocate into space that is much more efficient for both PVH and the Tommy Hilfiger business.”
Aby Rosen, co-founder and principal of RFR said, “Tommy Hilfiger’s choice to locate its North American headquarters at 285 Madison Avenue highlights the building’s unique appeal following our successful efforts to modernize and transform it.
“Attracting this international luxury lifestyle and apparel brand to a new home here underscores the property’s appeal in terms of outstanding location and amenities. We’re proud to see the market embrace our vision for sophisticated, modern office space within a historic structure.”
Michael Shaffer, PVH Corp. executive vice president, said the move will allow for the continued growth of Tommy Hilfiger and have the benefit of being closer to both PVH’s corporate headquarters and the offices for its Calvin Klein and Heritage Brands businesses.
Tommy Hilfiger joins global firms including a MetLife company, Brighthouse Financial, Bessemer Venture Partners, StriVectin Operating Company, General Electric Company and Misys International Banking Systems at 285 Madison Avenue.
Through 2016, more than 350,000 s/f of new office leases were signed at the tower.
Matthew Astrachan, Mitchell Konsker, Joseph Messina and Steven Bauer of JLL represented PVH Corp., the parent company of Tommy Hilfiger, in the new long-term lease.
The landlord was represented by Alexander Chudnoff, Dan Turkewitz and Diana Biasotti, also of JLL, as well as RFR Senior Vice President and Director of Leasing AJ Camhi.
The retail lease-up of 285 Madison is now virtually complete. The Benjamin Group — the restaurant operator behind the Benjamin Steakhouse and Sea Fire Grill concepts — signed a 16-year lease for 9,020 s/f for a Benjamin Steakhouse.
Popular Community Bank signed a lease for the 3,553 s/f corner space andLondon-based coffee purveyor Taylor Street Baristas will occupy 1,040 s/f of space adjacent to the restaurant, as well as a portion of the mezzanine.
The building was acquired by RFR vacant in 2012 and has been transformed through a $65 million gut renovation and design upgrade.
The renovation created a private lounge, event space, fitness center and a bike storage area as well as a landscaped roof terrace and an adjacent indoor multipurpose collaboration space with selected art. The building lobby also has a rotating contemporary art program, currently featuring works by Peter Dayton, Enoc Perez, and Mike Bidlo.
