SORA Signs Retail Lease in Manhattan at One Grand Central Place

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT) recently announced the addition of a new tenant at the One Grand Central Place tower in Midtown: Groundbreaking Japanese omakase-style restaurant concept SORA signed a lease for 14,430 square feet of premium Manhattan retail space at the property.

Located directly across from One Vanderbilt, SORA will bring Japan’s most sought-after fine dining experience to the heart of the Grand Central District. The eatery features a direct-from-Tokyo cocktail experience and several high-end dining concepts that are curated by top chefs selected from some of Japan’s highest-rated establishments.

“At SORA, our mission is to share Japan’s artistry and hospitality through extraordinary dining experiences,” said Shane Kaji, CEO at Round1 Delicious USA, Inc., a subsidiary of the publicly traded Japanese corporation Round1, which developed the SORA restaurant concept. “Opening at One Grand Central Place allows us to connect the best of Japanese omakase dining with New York’s vibrant energy. We’re thrilled to bring this concept to life in such an iconic location.”

The sophisticated culinary experience that SORA brings to the property aligns with ESRT’s focus on dynamic, hospitality-driven environments for tenants and visitors. Other tenants that benefit from the high-volume foot traffic at One Grand Central Place include Pera Mediterranean Brasserie, Blue Bottle Coffee, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Charles Schwab and Federal Express at One Grand Central Place.

“SORA’s innovative omakase dining concept builds on the Grand Central District’s new, top food destinations and its top-tier tenants,” said Fred C. Posniak, senior vice president of leasing at ESRT. “We are pleased to welcome SORA to our retail portfolio and to enhance our amenity offering and reflect our strategy to meet the expectations of today’s top-tier tenants.”

High-quality properties that offer an abundance of valued amenities and that are situated in desirable locations continue to have an easier time stimulating higher occupancy. Additionally, the continued flight-to-quality movement also sustains new developments in key markets, despite those markets still looking at uncomfortably high vacancy in the office real estate sector. At the same time, mixed-use projects are successfully meeting the priorities of upcoming generations of workers — including a better balance between professional and personal life; a tighter sense of community; and the availability of green commuting, walkability and shared recreation spaces, all of which have traditionally been a part of the fabric of New York City more so than in most other large U.S. cities.