Lee & Assocs. NYC facilitates leasing 16th location for Thai Villa Group - 3,000 s/f at 18 West 39th St.

Manhattan, NY Lee & Associates NYC has represented landlord, 18 Dagim LLC, in a transaction that secures the 16^th location for food and beverage group, Thai Villa Group’s new endeavor KĀZA. KĀZA, a modern Japanese concept, will occupy 3,000 s/f at 18 West 39^th St., in the city’s Bryant Park neighborhood. KĀZA began the 12-year lease in December of 2025 and is expected to open this location in August of 2026.

Catherine O’Toole, Stephanie Moore, and David Scher of Lee & Associates NYC represented the landlord, 18 Dagim LLC, in this transaction. The tenant, Thai Villa Group, was represented by Richard Leong of RL Organization LLC.

“18 West 39^th St. is a perfect location for a restaurant, in close proximity to a variety of transit options and central office hubs, and directly adjacent to Amazon’s Manhattan headquarters,” said Catherine O’Toole, executive managing director/principal of Lee & Associates NYC. “The addition of KĀZA to 18 West 39^th St., with Thai Villa Group’s history of delivering high-quality restaurant experiences, will act as a catalyst in attracting high-end tenants to the remainder of the building.”

Thai Villa Group has a long history of opening and operating successful Thai and South Asian-inspired restaurant concepts across New York City. In addition to KĀZA, Thai Villa Group operates 15 locations, including Thai Villa in Flatiron, Up Thai on the Upper East Side, Sala Thai on the Upper West Side, Mitr Thai in Midtown, Pranakhon in Greenwich Village, and La Dong in Union Square.

The former site of Lord & Taylor’s offices, 18 West 39^th St. is a 12-story, 55,109 s/f building located on West 39^th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., a block away from Bryant Park. The building is in close proximity to 15 subway lines and the Metro-North Railroad at Grand Central.

This deal represents the third major transaction Lee & Associates NYC has facilitated in the neighborhood in recent months. Other recent transactions total 8,300 s/f, including a 5,300 s/f deal at 141 West 36^th St. for Lucky Visuals, where Todd Korren, Catherine O’Toole, and Stephanie Moore represented building ownership, and a 3,000 s/f deal at 256 West 36^th St. for L’Osteria Del Filo Italian Restaurant, where Catherina O’Toole and David Scher represented both building ownership and the tenant. Both Lucky Visuals and L’Osteria Del Filo Italian Restaurant plan to open in the first quarter of 2026.

photo courtesy of Showcase