All stories about "The Edge"

New Racked feature Like/Likely is where we highlight attractive (and not so attractive) vacant storefronts, discussing what business would, in a perfect world, lease the space—and what, in reality, will probably end up there.

[Rendering; click to expand]

Soon will come the day when the massive, muddy pit marring the border of Williamsburg will be replaced with mega-development The Edge. The 7.5 acre site, which will contain three shiny towers with a head-spinning 1,085 luxury condos, will also boast 60,000 square feet of retail space. Since the rumor about Apple looking to move in was quickly squashed, we have to wonder: Who's going to be doing business at the Edge?

What we'd like to see open: Well, since being swallowed whole by the earth isn't an option for the Edge, wouldn't a W'burg Barneys Co-op be nice? How awesome does Topshop Brooklyn sound? And can you imagine how pissed Manhattanites would be if Nordstrom ditched its midtown dreams and went this far east?

What we're likely to see open: A supersized Duane Reade, anyone? A mega-Target store, perhaps? A Subway sandwich shop? Those all seem to be relatively safe guesses. And since Steve Jobs has said no way to the area, maybe Circuit City or Best Buy will swoop on in. Oh, and let's not forget the bank chains.

Have hopes, dreams and predictions for the Edge? Hit up the comments.

Predictably, The Brooklyn Paper investigates that whole Apple and Barneys Co-op to Williamsburg rumor that broke yesterday. They speak with broker Robert Greenstone who is handling things over at new development The Edge, and it sounds like he is just throwing store names around to generate some excitement about the retail space that will be available when the building is completed. Greenstone neither confirms nor denies the rumor. When he spoke with the Post, he mentioned Barneys Co-op was also interested in the Edge, but this time, he neglects to mention Barneys but does drop the name of Park Slope-based cafe Gorilla Coffee: "'Apple will look like Apple,' said Greenstone. 'Gorilla Coffee will look like Gorilla Coffee. I’m just using names.'" And, of course, "Neither Apple nor Gorilla Coffee—an independent Park Slope coffee roaster—responded to requests for comment." Okay. For now, let's file this one under when pigs fly.
· Apple to Billyburg? [Brooklyn Paper]
· Apple And Barneys Sniffing Out Property In WBurg? [Racked]

Are Apple and Barneys looking at opening stores in Williamsburg? Real Estate columnist Lois Weiss certainly thinks so. In a piece in today's paper, the Post writer's headline screams, somewhat misleadingly, "B'klyn Gets Apple, Barneys." Her article goes on to state that, via "sources," she hears that the two companies are merely looking at The Edge, a huge new development on Kent Avenue in Williamsburg. She writes: " Barneys is exploring opening a more than 9,000 foot co-op, while Apple's reps at Madison Retail Group have been spotted checking out a corner store of between 3,000 and 5,000 feet. Tenants won't get possession, however, for another year." Williamsburg would seem to be a good choice for Apple (as we posited a month ago when we broke the news that the retailer was planning a Brooklyn outpost), but Barneys Co-op as well? Color us impressed, surprised, and a bit confounded. One thing's for sure: The only "edge" that that neighborhood has left is the aforementioned massive luxury condo building. Williamsburg, we hardly knew you.
· B'klyn Gets Apple, Barneys [NY Post]
· Exclusive: Apple Plans Flagship Store in Brooklyn [Racked]