Dumbo Heights and Empire Stores Dumbo Summer 2015 Update

With both Dumbo Heights and Empire Stores Dumbo being developed for retail and commercial use, there has been announced commercial, retail, and restaurant in the past few months. Both are scheduled for occupancy by the end of 2015 or early 2016. And with the 74,000-square-foot supermarket Wegmans opening in 2017, there’s plenty of retail activity in and around Dumbo, Fulton Ferry, and Brooklyn Heights.

Dumbo Heights

Sands Street between Adams and Pearl Streets (rendering by Dumbo Heights)

Sands Street between Adams and Pearl Streets (rendering by Dumbo Heights)

Dumbo Heights has announced leases to restaurants Dig Inn, Dos Toros and Untamed Sandwiches. The restaurants are scheduled to open by the end of the year. Dig Inn is coming to 55 Prospect Street, where it’s taking 2,525 square feet, while Dos Toros and Untamed Sandwiches are moving into 117 Adams Street, where they’re taking 1,563 square feet and 1,459 square feet, respectively. Also, Bluestone Lane has been chosen as a coffee retailer, where the café will open a 2,500 square feet location in the 55 Prospect Street building.

In addition to the food and drink locations, the following commercial space were announced earlier this year: frog design (55 Prospect St), Etsy (117 Adams St), WeWork (81 Prospect St), Alexis Bittar (77 Sands St).

Recently announced and reported on NY Post, Hotelier Ian Schrager revealed plans to convert the 30 story building at 90 Sands Street into a 600 room hotel with another 60,000 to 100,000 square feet of food-and-beverage services and meeting facilities. “It will also include an observatory-like restaurant at the top, which has expansive Manhattan skyline views. “Maybe Brooklyn’s answer to the Rainbow Room,” Schrager suggested.”

Other commercial and retail tenants to be announced as deals get inked.

Empire Stores Dumbo

Rendering courtesy of Empire Stores Dumbo

Rendering courtesy of Empire Stores Dumbo

The Empire Stores have come a long way from it’s days when the building structure was abandoned since the 1970s. Technically in Fulton Ferry Historic District, the Empire Stores is being marketed as Empire Stores Dumbo.

West Elm, the home furnishings retailer establishd in Dumbo, has already signed a lease for 150,000 square feet at Empire Stores for its corporate headquarters and a store. West Elm will have space for a coffee shop in partnership with Brooklyn Roasting Co.

Earlier this year, we noted that Shinola (with Cafe) along with restaurants Vinegar Hill House and Pizza East were signed on as tenants. Vinegar Hill House plans a takeaway outpost. It’s aiming for an early 2016 opening. It took a 1,750- square-foot space with outdoor seating in Empire Stores’ courtyard.

Pizza East is aiming for a spring 2016 opening with 13,000 square feet in size with outdoor seating in the complex’s courtyard and on the Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront.

Related:
{Dumbo Heights to become a major eats destination following leases by Dig Inn, Dos Toros and Untamed Sandwiches, NYDN}
{Bluestone Lane chosen for Dumbo Heights, NYP}
{New restaurant tenants for iconic Empire Stores, Brookly Daily Eagle}
{New Looks At Dumbo’s Empire Stores, Set to Open in 6 Months, Curbed}
{Vinegar Hill House and London’s Pizza East Coming to Empire Stores in Dumbo, Eater}