Daffy's, Duane Reade Close Columbus Circle Deals

NEW YORK CITY-Leases on two Columbus Circle retail deals have been signed and sealed tight, very tight, with players on all sides either refusing to comment or issuing flat-out denials. But sources close to the deals say Duane Reade has taken the vacant ground-floor space at 4 Columbus Circle and apparel discounter Daffy’s will move into the former Coliseum Books space.

Duane Reade has signed a 15-year lease at the Steelcase building, 4 Columbus Circle, sources tell GlobeSt.com. According to one interested party, the drug store chain is paying $250 a foot for the 15,000-sf space. Emmes & Co. LLC holds the ground lease on the building’s retail component.

Broker Jeff Winick of Winick Realty Group, who represents Duane Reade, denies that a lease has been signed. “That is not true, it is incorrect,” he tells GlobeSt.com. However, sources close to Duane Reade say that Winick’s statement stem’s from his client’s desire to keep its new leases quiet until all area deals are signed, a fairly common practice among many chain retailers entering the Manhattan market or expanding their presence here.

Faith Hope Consolo and Joseph Aquino of Garrick-Aug Worldwide are the exclusive leasing agents for the property, which is located on the southwest corner of Eighth Avenue and 58th Street. Building owner Steelcase Inc. has its corporate headquarters there.

Another sub rosa signing late last week will give discount apparel chain Daffy’s a sixth Manhattan location at 1770 Broadway, sources tell GlobeSt.com. The new “clothing bargains for millionaires” outlet will occupy the 57th Street corner where Coliseum Books served a loyal, albeit declining customer base for 27 years. The legendary bookstore closed in January, reportedly forced out by the Barnes & Noble outlet a few blocks north.

Published reports put asking rents for the space, which is said to exceed 20,000 sf, at around $200 a foot. Building owner Joe Moinian would not confirm the Daffy’s deal and Newmark & Co. Real Estate’s Paul Berkman, lead broker on the deal, did not return calls.