The deliberate opening of DearU’s Bubble House New York at 24 Union Square East — a practically 10,000 square-foot signing we first reported in June — was the mere tip of the iceberg in the neighborhood’s industrial growth.

The Union Square Partnership business-improvement district reports a breathtaking workplace and retail leasing frenzy in the blocks around the park. The BID’s territory runs alongside thirteenth and 14th streets between First and Sixth avenues as effectively as on Union Square East and West from 14th Street to the south aspect of 18th Street.

On the workplace entrance, vacancies fell to a scant 12.9% in contrast to the general Manhattan market’s roughly 15% vacancies.

The Union Square Partnership has reported a breathtaking workplace and retail leasing frenzy in the space surrounding the park. kovgabor79 – inventory.adobe.com

Recent offers introduced several prime buildings to 100% full, including 853 Broadway, 841 Broadway and 122 Fifth Ave. New leases included nonprofit Robin Hood’s 53,000 sq. ft  at 841 Broadway; tech agency Profound’s 30,000 sq. ft at 5-9 Union Square West; and eBay’s 28,000 sq. ft at 122 Fifth Ave.

Retail leases such as Uniqlo’s 19,000 square-feet flagship at 860 Broadway and Nespresso’s 13,000 square-foot dedication at 85 Fifth Ave. were signed as the partnership celebrated main space milestones. Among them are the Union Square Greenmarket’s fifth decade, the Strand Book Store’s approaching 99-year anniversary in 2027, and Paragon Sports’ 63-year presence at 867 Broadway.

The Strand Bookstore is approaching its one hundredth 12 months in Union Square. google maps

Storefronts within the BID’s territory are 90.1% leased. Broadway between seventeenth and 18th streets is full for the first time since the block turned a pedestrian mall in 2024.

And of course, the dramatic decline in crime made once-risky Union Square Park an oasis day and evening.