Harvest in the Square Coming Up

The Union Square district’s momentum has increased recently.

As measured by the Union Square Partnership, retail storefront occupancy of 82% in April — a 68% jump over the last quarter of 2024 — has since hit 88.5%, propelled by large recent leases such as Uniqlo’s deal for over 19,000 square feet at 860 Broadway.

More than 17,000 square feet of retail was leased in the second quarter, more than seven times the volume in the second quarter of 2024. Leading the food-and-beverage charge is Time Out Market, which will soon replace Urbanspace with a 10,000 square-foot hall on the ground floor of Zero Irving. It will be a smaller version of the DUMBO original.

TGI Fridays signage is now up on Union Square East.

The lastest neighborhood store to shutter is Environment 33, the high-end home furnishings boutique on University at 10th. Seems like it was a bad time, economically speaking. to be in the business of selling expensive knicknacks.

Cafe Spice will become Jackson Diner, an Indian import from Queens.

Patisserie Fouet on 13th St. is gone, and now we know what will be next in the space:

After more than a decade serving noodles at Smorgasburg and two years running Noodle Lane in Park Slope, Lane Li and Chris Wang are opening the 40-seat bistro Rulin. The specialty will be Chinese knife-shaved and hand-pulled noodles — like dan dan mian with pork, Sichuan vegetables, and scallions — and a signature “Rulin” noodle served with mustard greens and chicken broth.

From YIMBY:

Permits have been filed for an 11-story mixed-use building at 31 East 17th Street in Union Square, Manhattan. Located between Broadway and Park Avenue South, the through lot is steps from the 14th Street-Union Square subway hub, serviced by the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, and W trains. Ken Rosenblum under the Four Roses LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 168-foot-tall development will yield 39,669 square feet, with 26,023 square feet designated for commercial space and 12,240 square feet for community facility space. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar.

David Kubik of BKSK Architects is listed as the architect of record. The architectural firm is also responsible for the glass dome addition atop the neighboring 44 Union Square.