Warby Parker has just signed a 10-year lease in Cobble Hill. It is going to be the company's first shop in Brooklyn, New York.
According to The Real Deal, the prescription eyeglass store will take a 2,080-square-foot property at 55 Bergen Street, in addition to three stores in Manhattan and 20 others across the country.
The property is owned by Brooklyn investor Frank DeFalco, who will be represented by Paul Webber, formerly of Cushman & Wakefield. Although there is no available information about the rent, a report says that the asking rent is 10,938 a month. The store is expected to launch in spring.
"Cobble Hill is seeing tremendous growth from a retail perspective," Webber told the publication. "We are seeing rents continue to rise and seeing an interest in retail space by diverse enterprises with local, domestic and international roots."
National retailers are starting to notice the neighborhood. Companies like Lululemon, Barney's and Urban Outfitters are moving in.
Co-founder Neil Blumenthal said that they preferred the Coblle Hill because "we wanted to be a member of that creative community."
The location of the new store is near Smith Street, adjacent to the Invisible Dog Art Center and local coffee shop called the 61 Local. It is not too far from another eyewear shop, the Moscot Eyewear on Court Street about half a mile from 55 Bergen Street, as reported by DNA Info.
"Everyone already thought we were based in Brooklyn, so we thought it was time to open a store there," said Blumenthal.
On the other hand, Warby Parker's very first physical store is located at 121 Greene Street in Soho and was opened in 2012. It is a well-known prescription eyeglass shop that initially sold their products online. However, many shoppers have preferred to buy their eyeglasses in person. Although they have a good website, the eyeglasses store needs a physical location.
