Following our reports about a possible state investigation of Apple’s Grand Central lease, the MTA have contacted us to clarify the deal and say “bring it on” to the investigation. While noting the lease quadruples rent from the previous tentant and outlining the benefits of Apple’s foot traffic, the MTA calls it the “best possible deal”  and explains the intricacies below:

The Facts: MTA’s Lease with Apple at Grand Central Terminal 

“I’m following up on your reporting about the lease agreement between Apple and the MTA. Reports in the New York Post have been inaccurate, and we want to set the record straight with the information below. With regard to any calls for an investigation into the lease, our comment is this: “Bring it on. This is the best possible deal for the MTA, quadrupling the rent we receive and bringing foot traffic to Grand Central Terminal that will increase revenue from all of our retailers. We look forward to explaining the details of this competitively bid transaction to anyone who is interested.”

  • The space that will soon house a new Apple retail store is a great location but has major limitations for retail, including very strict historic preservation regulations.

  • Until the MTA took action earlier this year, the restaurant Metrazur had a lease through 2019 in this space that paid only $263,000 annually to the MTA. This lease dates back to the restoration of Grand Central Terminal in 1999 and never generated enough revenue to contribute any percentage rent.

  • Believing that more revenue could be generated, the MTA put the space out for bid knowing that it would take a unique respondent to pay significant upfront costs: $5 million to buy out the existing lease and more than $2.5 million for infrastructure improvements.

  • The deal with Apple is a win-win for the MTA and our customers:

  • Quadruples the rent coming to the MTA (from $263,000 to $1.1 million)

  • Provides a terrific new amenity at Grand Central Terminal.

  • Will drive traffic to all of the retailers at Grand Central, where every 1% in additional sales is worth $500,000 to the MTA.

  • Includes permanent infrastructure improvements to Grand Central, including HVAC systems and new egress.

  • This is the best possible deal for the MTA. When all of the costs are included, Apple is paying more than $180 per square foot over the ten-year lease. As the competitive bidding process revealed, there are no other uses for this space that would generate the same revenue for the MTA given the up-front costs and limitations.

The Grand Central Apple Store will reportedly be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, Flagship Apple Store to date and is set to open in a week.  Have a look at our exclusive “trespassing” walkthrough video of the whole space below:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fpBEcpw3wqA]