Empire Stores Conversion Nearing Finish Line, Releases Renderings, Website

The massive, neighborhood-transforming conversion of the 150-year-old landmarked coffee warehouse Empire Stores in Dumbo should be ready in about six months, according to a story in Crain’s. After signing high-profile tenant West Elm in 2013, the leasing team at Jones Lang LaSalle is now looking to fill 250,000 square feet of offices and retail. Prices range from $65 to $85 per square foot, and firms who move to the borough are eligible for city subsidies of as much as a $15 per square foot discount.

To drum up buzz, Jones Lang LaSalle has been sending out “handsome coffee-table books detailing the project along with bottles of Brooklyn-distilled whiskey,” said the story.

Separately, Jones Lang LaSalle released a slew of new renderings today and also has a website where they can be seen in their entirety, along with historic photos of Empire Stores. Above is a revised and current rendering showing the outside of the building, which was released in 2013. Click through for the new renderings of the rooftop, interior and courtyard spaces.

Dumbo-born and based tech company Etsy was rumored to be looking at the space, but last year announced it will anchor another high profile Dumbo conversion, the Watchtower printing plant properties, as we reported at the time. In 2013, Brooklyn Bridge Park said construction would wrap in third quarter of 2015.

Drumbeating Begins for Empire Stores [Crain’s]
Empire Stores [Official]
Empire Stores Coverage [Brownstoner]
Rendering above via Brooklyn Bridge Park, renderings below via Jones Lang LaSalle