Clothes call at Rudin's 641 Lex as firms move in.

As REW exclusively revealed Jan 11, eight firms that formed the nucleus of the men's apparel industry at 1350 Avenue of the Americas are relocating to the Rudin Family's 32-story office building at 641 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

The companies--Peerless Clothing, Neema Clothing, George Weintraub and Sons, Tom James Company, Kizan International, Jack Victor, Gruner Sales Corporation and Eisenberg International have leased approximately 60,000 s/f comprising five floors in the distinguished midtown building that occupies the northeast corner of Lexington Avenue at 54th Street.

According to Bill Rudin, president of Rudin Management Company, the operating arm of the Rudin Family holdings, work has begun on building out the showroom and office, with expected occupancy in September. "We're delighted that so many important leaders of the men's apparel industry have chosen 641 Lexington as their new headquarters and we are committed to continue to help this important business group remain in the Midtown district," he added.

"We're very excited to be moving to a new location and environment. It's like a fresh start for our industry," asserted Peerless Chairman Alvin Segal.

Brokers David Rosenbloom, Robert Baraf and Steve Braun of Cushman & Wakefield represented the apparel firms in the long term leasing transaction while Robert Steinman of Rudin Management represented the landlord.

"The menswear industry has prospered in Midtown for 20 years," said Mr. Rosenbloom, a Cushman & Wakefield senior director.

"The industry wanted to find a quality, well maintained and exceptionally managed building in close proximity to its existing location, and 641 Lexington met the requirement perfectly. Rudin Management understood the project from conception, which made it possible to quickly reach a mutual agreement."