Retail maestro Jeff Sutton has scooped up another piece of the Times Square bow tie.
Sources tell us the premier orchestrator of his own retail development deals has picked up the Roxy Deli building at 1565 Broadway.
The four-story, 21-foot wide by roughly 70-foot deep property — which is almost completely covered with valuable signage — is opposite Times Square’s iconic ruby red staircase that shelters TKTS and provides watching and waiting space for the throngs.
The trade was made at about $30 million through brokers Jack Valensi and Jacob Sinai of Valensi Realty.
Valensi declined to discuss the deal but confirmed he was paid by Sutton and not the sellers. Sutton did not return calls or e-mails.
Friends say Sutton always pays his brokers even if he does the majority of the work, contrary to other reports.
On the south end of this block, he also owns 1551 Broadway, where American Eagle is situated. A venture with SL Green Realty Corp. includes 1552 Broadway across the street and the adjacent 1560 Broadway, where Express is moving, as well as 1604 Broadway.
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Another savvy retail owner, Joseph Sitt, has just signed Club Monaco to move a few doors north to take over the SoHo space recently abandoned by Levi’s.
The 5,100-square-foot lease covers the ground and lower level of 532 Broadway, on the northeast corner of Spring Street.
Club Monaco will move from its 14,500 square feet at 520 Broadway on four levels, where it has been located for nearly 14 years and Michael Kors will move in.
Robert Cohen of RKF represented the retailer, while Sitt’s Thor Equities handled the leasing in-house. The 15-year deal had an asking rent of $800 a square foot — pushing the upper range of SoHo rents.
Thor also owns the adjacent 530 Broadway, where Eastern Mountain Sports has the majority of the retail.
Cohen and Sitt did not return calls for comment.
We’ve also uncovered another SoHo area purchase by Sitt, who paid $17.25 million for a retail condo of 13,854 square feet over two levels at the base of the six-story apartment building at 57-63 Greene St., between Spring and Broome streets.
The three current tenants are Cyrus Co. furniture, Raul Carasco and Bang & Olufsen.
The retail was purchased from Michael Betancourt of Aion Partners, which previously converted the upper floors to residential.
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Meanwhile, prolific purchaser Jared Kushner is sweeping up more of the East Village.
Kushner Cos. is in contract for two deals with Icon Realty Management’s Terrence Lowenberg and Todd Cohen.
The deals include 325 E. 10th St. right on Tompkins Square Park, and the nearby 329, 331, 333 and 335 E. 9th St. for a total of 55 apartments and five stores for $28.75 million.
Aaron Jungreis of Rosewood Realty handled both off-market deals. Kushner has become the go-to buyer for East and West Village walk-ups, with 1,000 apartments in Manhattan about to be under his control.
Of course, managing walk-ups is the polar opposite of the business run by his wife, Ivanka Trump, and her family company. She owns jewelry and fashion designs, where luxury is synonymous with the brands.
As we recently reported, Kushner has purchased 17 buildings with 267 apartments and 23 stores for $128 million. He also is in contract for a $49 million, six-building package from Meadow Partners and Magnum Real Estate with 115 apartments and one store through David Ash of Prince Realty Advisors. Jungreis is working with Kushner, who could not be reached.
Lowenberg and Cohen declined to discuss this deal or the others under way.
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That’s because Icon’s Lowenberg and Cohen are apparently intent on stuffing their piggy bank.
In the Meatpacking District, the duo is flipping 58-60 Ninth Ave. to Michael Shah of DelShah Capital.
The pair bought the buildings just a year ago for $7.75 million. The retail now houses Pop Burger, a late-night celebrity chomping ground that has less than two years left on its lease.
CoStar records show Icon has been marketing its 3,400 square feet on the street and 2,600 square feet in the basement.
Shah declined to discuss pricing but told us he is also in contract to buy 69 Gansevoort from long-time family owner Joanne Lucas. The original R&L Lunch spot there was taken over by the eccentric Florent Morellet in 1985, and became an all-night Meatpacking staple until he lost his lease in 2008.
Lucas then resuscitated R&L Diner — until it, too, was shuttered, as was its follower, Gansevoort 69. The Vinetta Project now serves dinner until 2 a.m. most nights. I called, and they were still open last night.
Shah has also been in various courts with Robert Romanoff for the last year to gain control of 51-63 Gansevoort St., which was turned over to mortgage-holder Shah last year by Robert’s father, Gerald Romanoff.
Shah is currently in discussions with hotel groups to net lease the building for what will likely become a 50-key hotel with food and beverage services in the lobby.
Stay tuned.
