Iconic two-million-square-foot adaptive reuse initiative retains highly regarded boutique brokerage team to complete retail leasing on building’s unique ‘pedestrian street’
Somerset Development today announced that Sabre Real Estate Group has been named exclusive retail leasing agent at Bell Works, the revitalization of the renowned two-million-square-foot Bell Laboratories into the iconic “metroburb” located in Holmdel, NJ. The Sabre team will be responsible for attracting a variety of shopping, dining, and other experiential retail for the building’s quarter-mile-long atrium, now repurposed as a downtown-style ‘pedestrian street.’
As Bell Works continues its monumental transformation into a ‘metroburb’ – a self-contained downtown in a desirable suburban location – Sabre will curate a diverse range of retail, which will be open to the building’s expected 5,000 daily workers in addition to the broader regional community.
Sabre’s New York-New Jersey leasing team at Bell Works will be led by: Scott Sher, Principal; Justin Korinis, Senior Vice President; Dina Santarelli, Director; and Sean Pyle, Associate. In total, the team will market the remaining ground-floor retail space.
“Downtowns have historically been the neighborhood hub where people shop, eat, and gather. We are looking to curate an upscale, modern retail experience that would be reminiscent of that vibrant downtown,” said Korinis. “Like any downtown, you’ll be able to find a variety of retail including, food & beverage, shopping, and services, but our focus is on identifying retailers and restaurants that bring something unique, chic, and fun to the table, and that fit the personality of the Bell Works community. These tenants, and the tenant mix as a whole, will have significant appeal to the community in the rest of Monmouth County and beyond.”
Today, Bell Works is home to several locally inspired ‘street’-level tenants, including a café, gourmet coffee roaster, and various pop-up vendors. Meanwhile, the building’s office community is blossoming; to date, Somerset Development has leased more than 75 percent of its one million square feet of office space. This November, anchor tenant iCIMS celebrated the opening of its 350,000-square-foot headquarters at the building, where it plans ultimately grow to 2,000 employees. Additionally, the building is already a bustling hub for events, from regional networking symposiums to local community gatherings.
Added Korinis: “From a retail real estate prospective, Bell Works is such an outlier because it cannot be compared to anything that exists to date. It’s not simply the sum of the office space and the retail space; it’s an active, organic environment. The structure of the building is so unique that it provides all of the dynamic activity of a busy city street in a weatherproof, fully enclosed environment.”
Last week, Bell Works opened the doors to the new Holmdel Township Library and Learning Center, which will feature a host of upgrades, including new educational programs and services, as well as updated technological infrastructure and a museum dedicated to preserving the building’s unique history. It also recently unveiled its new rooftop deck and lounge, allowing tenants and visitors to enjoy a lunch or coffee break overlooking Bell Works’ pristine, scenic grounds.
The Bell Works community continues to grow rapidly. In addition to anchor tenant iCIMS, cloud-based business management and fleet management solutions company WorkWave has also moved its headquarters to the building. Other prominent commercial tenants include: Guardian Life Insurance; International Flavors & Fragances, a leading innovator of sensory experiences; Acacia Communications, a recognized optical transmissions manufacturer; Jersey Central Power and Light; MetTel, a New York City-based telecommunications firm; McCann Systems LLC, a national audiovisual company; NVIDIA Corporation, a publicly traded multi-platform technology firm; Spirent Communications, an international telecommunications firm; Suttons International, a worldwide logistics company; and vi Collaboration Hub, a co-working space and networking group for technology companies and innovators in the region.
Originally constructed between 1962 and 1964 by world-renowned modernist architect Eero Saarinen, the building is revered for its role in spurring the development of some of the world’s foremost inventions and research concepts. In its 40-plus year history as the research headquarters for Bell Laboratories, Lucent, and Alcatel-Lucent, the building housed a total of seven Nobel Prize winners, who conceived theories for the laser, the Big Bang theory, cellular technology, the transistor, and more.
Situated along Crawfords Corner Road, Bell Works is approximately one mile from Exit 114 of the Garden State Parkway. Its central New Jersey location provides easy access to points north and south. For more information and leasing inquiries visit Bell Works at www.Bell.Works. Follow Bell Works’ social media pages on Facebook at www.Facebook/BellWorks and @BellWorks on Instagram and @BellWorksNJ on Twitter.
About Somerset Development
Somerset Development is a leading real estate developer focusing on large-scale transit oriented and brownfield redevelopment projects headquartered in New Jersey, led by a team of principals with more than 40 years of development experience. The company has positioned itself as one of the region’s foremost real estate firms specializing in innovative mixed use and adaptive reuse projects, including the planning and development of Traditional Neighborhood Design communities that evoke a strong sense of place and reflect a distinctive character.
With several high profile, large-scale redevelopment and development projects under construction or in the planning stages, Somerset has earned a quality reputation for its unwavering commitment to excellence through responsible development practices. For more information on Somerset Development, contact the company by calling www.SDNJ.com.
About Sabre Real Estate Group LLC
Sabre Real Estate Group is a full-service boutique real estate and consulting firm built for today’s world. Founded by Kenneth Breslin and Jayson Siano, both experienced retail real estate professionals, the company’s real estate division focuses on retail leasing, investment sales, mixed use, multifamily, industrial and development services. Their consulting division becomes an extension or assumes the role of an internal real estate department for tenants, property owners and developers. Sabre covers the entire New York metro area with offices located in Garden City, NY; Hasbrouck Heights, NJ; and Tampa, FL. For more information visit sabre.life or call marketing@sabreny.com
