Corcoran Group unveils first residential store.

The Corcoran Group Real Estate Gallery, the first-ever residential real estate store where walk-ins are the norm and apartment hunters can browse through the merchandise unaccompanied by a broker and under no pressure to buy, has just opened at 2253 Broadway at 81st Street.

The video monitors display apartments that are Coreoran exclusives, while a store computer carries more than 6,000 open listings. Supporting documents are available for customers to take home with them. A Coreoran broker is always on hand for people who have questions and want to get seriously involved in looking for an apartment.

To help the public grasp the notion of a retail store for cooperatives and condominiums, there is plenty of helpful signage. The entrance is marked by a handsome dark green canopy and a sign that welcomes passers-buy to "Come In and Browse!" A promotional wall inside the door announces "This Week's Open House" and "Hot Properties," much like a store will advertise special purchases and promotions. Other signs, like "Find Your Two Bedroom Here," point interested parties to the right video monitor.

There is also a store manager. Khara Nemitz, a former art gallery assistant who was looking for a more friendly and outgoing environment when she answered an ad for the position of real estate store manager, greets visitors, instructs anyone who is interested in how to operate the video monitors and immediately makes everyone feel at ease.

The location of the store, in the building next to Zabar's, was selected to take advantage of the high volume of Zabar's traffic.

Store hours are: 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.