Remarkable Real Estate: Lansco's Super-broker Diane Mandel continues to score sought-after Manhattan locales for international mega brands
Madison Avenue, famous for its high-end boutiques and luxurious jewelers, has always been a coveted address for international retailers looking to expand into the American market. While Madison Avenue is not immune to the current global economic climate, established retailers from around the world are now taking advantage of vacancies along the corridor to expand into the American market, securing prime retail spaces – many of which have not been available in decades.
Whom You Know loves to uncover hidden gems for you and these diamond-in-the-rough opportunities in the Real Estate Market currently are among some of the best right now! And here is who knows a lot about it: Diane Mandel of Lansco. Peachy Deegan met her recently at a Madison Avenue soiree and we are pleased to tell you about some remarkable real estate stories.
In 2009, Madison Avenue welcomed several new retailers, in many cases with commercial real estate broker Diane Mandel behind the scenes making it happen. Mandel, who has over 20 years experience leasing retail space in New York City, recently secured U.S. flagship locations on the exclusive retail corridor for leading brands like Swiss watchmaker F.P. Journe and accessories and clothing designer Devi Kroell.
“Just over a year ago, vacancies in prime New York retail areas like Madison Avenue and SoHo were few and far between, and factors such as sky rocketing rents and high competition for the small number of spaces available on the market kept many retailers on the sidelines,” says Mandel, a Senior Managing Director at the commercial real estate services firm, The Lansco Corporation. “Now, there are opportunities for high-caliber retailers to open their first-ever Manhattan store and do so in the most sought-after neighborhoods.”
Mandel is a seasoned broker in several luxury retail corridors across Manhattan, including Madison Avenue, Park Avenue and SoHo. She recently secured a sprawling ground-floor space within the well-recognized SoHo cooperative, The Gunther Building, for French accessories designer, Jérôme Dreyfuss. Previously, the designer’s bold yet elegant handbags had only been available at Barney’s and Fred Segal but this location will soon open as his first U.S. boutique. Mandel also completed an impressive transaction for another high-profile French designer nearby within days of this transaction.
According to Mandel, retail spaces with world-famous addresses like Madison and Park Avenue, add a certain cachet to any brand and are a major coup for international retailers who are looking to expand their presence in the United States. Strategic retailers, who take advantage of flexible lease terms and lower rents, will have the opportunity to establish themselves on the premier retail corridor in preparation for when the economy bounces back.
“It makes me very proud to represent some of the best designers in the world and I take pride in making Manhattan a reality for them. I enjoy working with high-end brands because I love the gorgeous products that these designers create -- I guess I have a weakness for beautiful things,” Mandel says. Because the super broker’s client roster is so heavy with European brands, many from Italy, France and the U.K., she began taking Italian lessons a few years ago and is now able to chiacchierare, or chat, with some of her Italian clients.
Mandel, a veteran in the retail real estate industry, has also represented prestigious brands such as Yves Delorme, Taschen, Braccialini, Isabel Marant, Marlies-Dekkers and E. Braun & Co. The Lansco Corporation, a New York-based full service real estate firm, provides strategic advisory, sales and leasing services to the commercial office and retail marketplace and has completed many high-profile transactions on behalf of tenants like Polo Ralph Lauren, Gianni Versace, Niketown, Cole Haan, Alfred Dunhill, A/X Armani Exchange, H. Stern, Uniqlo and Zara since it was founded in 1965.
For more information about Diane Mandel, please visit http://lansco.com/bios.php#
