Ezra and Covey of RKF and Lapat of Strategic Retail Advisors rep Charming Charlie in 15,000 s/f lease

RKF and Thor Equities has signed a 15,500 s/f lease for Charming Charlie at 445 Fifth Ave. in the Midtown area. The fashion accessories retailer will open its first-ever area flagship store in early 2015. New York City-based developer Thor Equities owns and manages the building, which is located at the northeast corner of 39th St. and Fifth Ave. across from the New York Public Library. RKF VP Jeremy Ezra, RKF managing director Greg Covey, and Jonathan Lapat, principal at Boston-based Strategic Retail Advisors, represented Charming Charlie. The landlord, Thor Equities, represented itself. "Charming Charlie is one of the fastest-growing lifestyle brands in the country, and their arrival in Manhattan will build on their considerable momentum," said Ezra of RKF. "We are excited to help them expand into additional new locations within New York City." "With their unique in-store shopping experience, Charming Charlie has quickly become one of the most sought-after accessories retailers in the nation," said Joseph Sitt, CEO of Thor Equities. "Our team here at Thor Equities is certainly proud to have helped them establish a visible presence along New York City's illustrious Fifth Ave. within one of our properties." Jonathan Lapat of Strategic Retail Advisors said, "Manhattan is a key market for Charming Charlie as we help them expand their presence throughout the nation. It certainly goes without saying that leasing a flagship store on Fifth Ave. is a highly strategic way to continue the brand's national expansion." The country's leading independent real estate firm specializing in retail leasing, investment sales and consulting services, RKF serves a broad spectrum of domestic and global clients in services ranging from national tenant and owner representation to advisory, consulting and disposition. With approximately $20 billion in aggregate real estate transactions to its credit, RKF has been responsible for identifying scores of real estate opportunities throughout the United States for leading American and international chains, retailers, developers and institutional clients. RKF is headquartered in New York with offices in Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Northern New Jersey and San Francisco. About Strategic Retail Advisors Strategic Retail Advisors is a Boston-area based retail real estate brokerage and consulting firm solely focused on serving the real estate needs of our retailer client base, as well as providing third party development consulting and landlord advisory services in the Northeast. Founded in 2001, SRA prides itself on maintaining an excellent reputation both on a regional and national level as an industry leader.