Urban Outfitters has signed a lease to open a 15,000-square-foot store in the Metro movie theater building at 2626 Broadway at West 99th Street, which long has been vacant. The building, built in 1932, is considered an Art Deco jewel with 50-foot ceilings and other period details. The store will open late this year or early next year, said Ted Marlow, president of Urban Outfitters. The landmarked and famed exterior of the building will be preserved. “Leased with the existing theater marquee, the historic facade offers an unprecedented signage opportunity and great visibility,” said Benjamin Fox, president of Winick Realty Group, who represented the net-leaser. “The deal is a testament to Urban’s strength in the marketplace and forward-thinking design approach.” The store will be spread over two levels with a mezzanine. It’s 20 percent larger than average Urban Outfitter units. Marlow said Urban Outfitters designs its stores as one-offs to make sure the retailer takes advantage of the architecture of each site. “We don’t have a specific prototype that we roll out,” he said. “We will take advantage of the inherent design elements in the space. That’s pretty much the approach we take to all locations.”
