Winick handles 25,000 s/f Best Yet Market

Best Yet Market opened a 25,000 s/f market recently in SOHA 118, a 15-story, 93 unit condominium on 118th and 8th Ave. in Central Harlem. The 15 year-lease was signed at $65 per s/f and was handled by Winick. "We are proud to announce the opening of the high end market that specializes in fresh fruits, vegetables and organic products," said Yoav Haron, a partner at SOHA 118. Best Yet Market joins Starbucks, a Chase Bank and Marcel Dry Cleaner which also lease ground floor retail space at SOHA 118. The condo was designed by GF 55 architects. "Best Yet Market has recognized this part of Harlem is an exciting, emerging neighborhood," said Haron. "Residents of the area will greatly benefit by having this fabulous market right in the neighborhood." The gourmet market represents a wave of new high-end retail stores and restaurants which have opened up in the last two years in the area. Best Yet Markets owns 11 other markets in Long Island (and one in Astoria). It is their first store in the borough. The Best Yet Market, like its competitor, Whole Foods, also serves full hot and cold meals with an inside customer sitting area. It also has three elevators and two escalators (one for shopping carts) in the store. The family-owned company, was founded in 1994 by Ben Raitses, who started with a small fruits and vegetable store in Brooklyn. It's first Long Island supermarket in Lake Ronkonkoma opened under the name of Produce Warehouse of Ronkonkoma. In 2002 they changed the name to Best Yet Market. "We are very excited about this neighborhood," said Or Raitses, one of the owners of Best Yet Market. "With all the new residential development that's occurred in Central Harlem, this is an interesting, vibrant community that is a great location for our marketplace."