Another trend-setter joins the roster at city's classy Time Warner Center.

The Related Companies announced that bebe stores, inc. will be opening a new boutique in Fall 2006 at Time Warner Center, joining an impressive array of retail experiences already enjoying major success at The Shops at Columbus Circle.

The highly successful fashion retailer has leased 6,764 s/f of multilevel retail space at The Shops at Columbus Circle in a transaction co-brokered by The Lansco Corporation, which also arranged for menswear designer Joseph Abboud's early lease termination of the space.

Under its lease termination agreement, Joseph Abboud was required to find a replacement tenant for the prime space, which includes 3,382 s/f on the ground floor and 3,382 s/f on the mezzanine.

Alan Victor, executive vice president of Lansco, co-brokered bebe's long-term lease with John Auber, president of The AUBER Group. Victor was also the exclusive agent for Joseph Abboud. Webber Hudson of Related Urban Development represented Time Warner Center. Asking rents for retail space at Time Warner Center range from $200 to $350 a square foot.

The Shops at Columbus Circle already has an impressive group of highly successful retail stores including A|X Armani Exchange, Coach, Sephora, Stuart Weitzman, Tourneau, Tumi, United Colors of Benetton, and Williams-Sonoma, according to Victor.

bebe is a women's apparel and accessories designer, which operates 242 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.

"This decision is consistent with the long-term strategic objectives of bebe to build high impact boutiques in key retail locations," said Greg Scott, CEO of bebe stores, inc. "We are looking forward to creating the kind of environment in our Time Warner Center boutique that further builds awareness and customer loyalty to the bebe brand and the sophisticated lifestyle it represents."

According to David Froelke, senior vice president and general manager of The Shops at Columbus Circle at Time Warner Center, bebe represents an important and thoughtful addition to The Shops' retail mix. "We know that our core customer of upscale New Yorkers as well as visitors and tourists will be thrilled with the expanding shopping options available in Manhattan's Lincoln Square and Upper West Side neighborhood, and we're proud to be an important part of that."

The Shops at Columbus Circle are located in the first four floors of the $1.7 billion Time Warner Center developed by The Related Companies and Apollo Real Estate Advisors. It opened in 2004.