A flagship Nautica is sailing into a 10,000-square-foot mooring at Rockefeller Center, close enough to throw a line around the annual Christmas Tree.
The retailer is joining the lineup at 50 Rockefeller Plaza, also known as the AP Building, that fronts the alley between 50 and 51 Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues, just northwest of the skating rink.
While Nautica leased the 50th Street corner that formerly housed the Bank of Boston – and just installed a temporary display of fashions to herald the store – the Sharper Image also signed on for 4,000 square-feet on the 51st Street end of the building.
Both deals were negotiated for Rockefeller Center ownership by Peter Fair of Tishman Speyer, which manages the landmarked property. Asking rents for retailers there have been in the $200-a-foot range.
“Now you have two banks being replaced by two national retailers,” said Robert Cohen of Robert K. Futterman & Associates who repped the tenants.
“Rock Plaza is an incredible thoroughfare for office workers and has great anchors with Radio City Music Hall on one end and Saks Fifth Avenue on the other.”
Other stores in the vicinity include H&M, J. Crew, Kenneth Cole and Christie’s auction house.
Once the Rock Center store is open next April, Nautica intends to close its current 3,200-square-foot store on Columbus Avenue.