Business

Sunset Saks soon to become a reality

January 6, 2016 Jaime DeJesus

Photo courtesy of Salmar Properties

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Saks is coming to Sunset.

Department store retailer Hudson’s Bay Company recently signed a lease to bring Saks off Fifth — Saks Fifth Avenue’s sister discount store — to Liberty View Industrial Plaza, the growing Sunset Park retail hub.

Managing Partner of CPEX Retail Leasing Team, Timothy King — who said he represented the Liberty View Industrial Plaza owner, Salmar Properties in the deal — was pleased with the lease.

“What makes the building so intriguing is that this year, 2016, it will celebrate its 100th birthday,” he told this paper. “In its first life, it was used as a Navy warehouse. It had been empty for a long time.

“You’re talking about a building that’s been empty for 15 years or so, and creating a very distinct and unique retail environment,” King said.

The 1.2 million-square-foot space has blossomed over the last few years, since being taken over by Salmar. Micro Center, an American computer department store, opened in 2014, with a growing roster of retailers already committed to join it.

“Towards the end of 2014, we brought in Bed, Bath and Beyond to be built in the space [along with buybuy Baby, Cost Plus World Market and Harmon Face Values] and at the end of last year, we signed with Saks,” King said.

The store is expected to occupy a significant part of the second floor. Along with Bed, Bath and Beyond, Saks off Fifth is slated to make its grand opening by the summer of this year, with Saks occupying the ground level along with Micro Center. On-line retailer Amazon is also reported to have acquired space in the complex for use as a distribution center.

King believes the retail cluster will be a boon to the area.

“I want to give credit to the enlightened building ownership that was determined to bring tenants of a quality stature that would be benefit the Sunset community and Brooklyn as well,” he said. “People have been happy regarding all the opportunities this will bring. As you bring more life to the streets and more workers benefit by job opportunities, you are going to have the ultimate rising tide. I can’t think of anyone this won’t be good for.”

Although an announcement seems imminent, Tiffany Bourre, director of external communications for Hudson Bay’s Company told this paper that no statement has yet been released regarding the lease. “We haven’t yet announced it,” she stated.

At the time of press, Salmar Properties didn’t respond to a request for comment.

However, King’s enthusiasm spoke volumes. “I’ve been in commercial real estate for 40 years. I can’t tell you what gratitude and pride I feel about the transition I see taking place, and looking at what it’s become,” he said.