“As the city waits for the new World Trade Center development to open and begin pulsing with office workers, tourists and residents, big egos are clashing behind the scenes over what stores will occupy the massive retail complex,” Adam Pincus reports for The Real Deal. “Brokers told The Real Deal they expected Westfield Group’s 365,000-square-foot, multi-level mall in Lower Manhattan to be a success. But with deadlines nearing, the project is pushing to recruit more high-end tenants, even as some retailers have balked at being underground or expressed concern about a key design feature of the retail space… Westfield has been involved in the center since it signed a 99-year lease in July 2001 to control what was then called the Mall at the World Trade Center.”
“The jewel of the massive retail project is a spiny, ethereal-looking Santiago Calatrava–designed structure that will undoubtedly become an iconic addition to the Lower Manhattan landscape. The retail complex includes aboveground space, but the majority of the shopping will be below street level at the 16-acre site,” Pincus reports. “To help drum up interest among posh stores, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour has reportedly been using her status as the grand dame of luxury fashion to convince designers to take space at the project. Sources told TRD that Wintour — whose parent company Condé Nast will be anchoring the office component of 1 World Trade Center — has been making calls and joining tours to convince retailers to sign on for space.”
“Computer and iPhone giant Apple — which is expected to take space in the project — was frustrated by the giant ‘ribs,’ or columns, that Calatrava included throughout the underground portion of the site. The arching structures are spaced roughly 11 feet apart along the front portion of each store, which has put off some retailers who want to use that space for signage, branding or product display, sources said,” Pincus reports. “Apple even sought a design variance, but was turned down, said one retail source, who asked not to be identified.”
Mark Gurman reports for 9to5Mac that despite Apple’s frustration, the company has “nonetheless Apple has struck its deal and will be a launch partner alongside several other high-profile brands in the major new shopping center.”
Much more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
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Apple may open retail store in NYC at newly-rebuilt World Trade Center – September 14, 2013