The Real Estate Board of New York Announces Retail Deal of the Year Award Winners at 23rd Annual Celebration

Newmark’s Matthew T. Leon wins the Most Impactful Retail Deal of the Year Award

CBRE’s Eric Gelber, Jordan Kaplan, Gary Trock and Zach Parisi win the Most Ingenious Retail Deal of the Year Award

NEW YORK, NY – The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), the City’s leading real estate trade association, announced winners of its 23rd Annual Retail Deal of the Year Awards at a virtual ceremony held August 5, where a portion of the proceeds benefitted Creative Art Works.

Steven Soutendijk of Cushman & Wakefield and Fred Posniak of Empire State Realty Trust led the event, which recognized top commercial real estate brokers who not only closed remarkable deals in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also worked tirelessly to support their clients and sustain New York City’s retail businesses.

Recognized as the most meaningful transaction in its overall characteristics and importance to the New York City retail market, “Bringing Immersive Art to City Hall: The Revitalization of a Landmarked Icon at 49 Chambers Street”, transacted by Matthew T. Leon of Newmark, was honored as The Most Impactful Retail Deal of the Year.

Demonstrating exceptional ingenuity and creativity, The Most Ingenious Retail Deal of the Year title was awarded to: ““OPA” Avra Lands Mega Restaurant Deal at 1271 Avenue of the Americas”, which was transacted by CBRE’s Eric Gelber, Jordan Kaplan, Gary Trock and Zach Parisi.

“Last year was an incredibly challenging time for all New Yorkers and the fact that we had such a strong showing of Submitting Brokers participating in this year’s Retail Deal of the Year Awards contest underscores how our industry buckled down and persevered against all odds to keep the City’s economic engine running,” said REBNY President James Whelan. “Going forward, we will utilize the lessons learned from the pandemic to drive discussions that will help rethink and re-imagine New York City’s retail industry, so this important sector of our economy can thrive once again.”

Read about the 23rd Annual Retail Deal of the Year Award Submissions here.

View the Contest Rules here.

THE MOST IMPACTFUL RETAIL DEAL OF THE YEAR

In a deal transacted by Newmark’s Matthew T. Leon in August 2020, CultureSpaces executed a 30,000 square-foot lease at the landmarked 49 Chambers Street to launch their first stateside venue: the Hall des Lumières CULTURESPACES DIGITAL® art center.

THE MOST INGENIOUS RETAIL DEAL OF THE YEAR

In this deal brokered by CBRE’s Eric Gelber, Jordan Kaplan, Gary Trock and Zach Parisi, Rockefeller Group and Avra signed a 17,000 lease at 1271 Avenue of the Americas in July 2020, which was the largest restaurant deal completed in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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