A high-end Japanese restaurant is coming to a New York neighborhood with daily foot traffic from commuters and office workers. It’s planned for an office tower with direct access to Grand Central Terminal, one of the world's busiest train stations, and directly across from One Vanderbilt, a trophy building that’s commanded top-dollar rents.
Sora, the “groundbreaking omakase-style” concept, plans to open at One Grand Central Place in a 14,430 square-foot retail lease, landlord Empire State Realty Trust said Monday in a statement.
The location is set to feature five separate experiences curated by top chefs selected from Japan’s highest-rated establishments and a “direct-from-Tokyo cocktail experience,” Empire State Realty said. A spokesperson for the landlord didn’t immediately respond to a CoStar News request seeking deal terms and other details.
“Omakase” dining translates to “I leave it up to you“ in English. Chefs are typically entrusted to choose multicourse meals for patrons that start with lighter dishes and get heavier. The food is known for being diverse, going beyond sushi.
Sora is developed by Japan’s publicly traded Round One Corp., according to Empire State Realty. Round One entered the U.S. market in 2010 with its Round1 Bowling & Arcade chain in suburban malls and shopping centers. Marking its debut in the restaurant space — a pivot in its U.S. expansion strategy — Round One earlier this year signed a 19,000-square-foot lease for a food hall in Los Angeles.
"At Sora, our mission is to share Japan’s artistry and hospitality through extraordinary dining experiences,” Shane Kaji, CEO at Round One Delicious USA, said in the statement. “Opening at One Grand Central Place allows us to connect the best of Japanese omakase dining with New York’s vibrant energy.”
At One Grand Central, located at 60 E. 42nd St., Sora will join other retail tenants including Pera Mediterranean Brasserie and Blue Bottle Coffee.
The tower, built in 1930 and spanning more than 1.3 million square feet between Madison and Park avenues, counts among office tenants financial services firm iCapital, the largest with a footprint spanning about 221,000 square feet after multiple expansions, CoStar data shows. The property is about 98% leased.
The 55-story building has been renovated to include a new tenant-only conference center.
For the record
Robert Bonicoro and Betsy DaSilva of CBRE represented Sora in the lease negotiations. Kenji Ota and Neil Seth of Cushman & Wakefield, and Fred C. Posniak and Alec Stone of Empire State Realty Trust, represented the property owner.