Benjamin Birnbaum joined Newmark’s Retail Services in 2007 at the firm’s New York headquarters, where he was recently named the youngest Vice Chairman in Newmark’s history. He specializes in landlord and tenant representation on both a national and local level. Since joining the firm, Birnbaum has completed hundreds of transactions valued at more than $2 billion. On the landlord side, Birnbaum has represented prominent owners such as Columbia Property Trust, GFP Real Estate, Hines, Hubb NYC, Invesco, Nuveen, Related, The Rockefeller Group, RFR Realty, Ruben Companies, SL Green Realty and Stonehenge Management LLC. Some of Birnbaum’s recent success on the agency side include his ongoing representation of 1501 Broadway in Times Square, where he completed transactions for Taco Bell’s flagship restaurant as well as Raisin Cane’s first New York City restaurant. He also represented Nuveen in their 6,500-square-foot lease to Lululemon at 1529 Third Avenue.
Birnbaum also has extensive tenant representation experience, and has a stellar reputation for implementing and executing rollout strategies. He currently represents Summit Health, CityMD’s parent company, which he has helped grow from four locations to more than 145. Additional current clients include Alo Yoga, American Vintage, Blink Fitness, Canali, dntl bar, Fila, Ganni, Glosslab, Grand Seiko JD Sports, Lilly Pulitzer, Madison Reed, Manolo Blahnik, Peloton, The Swatch Group and Watches of Switzerland. Birnbaum also has immense experience in the food and beverage industry, playing a key role in the rollout of Five Guys, Gregorys Coffee, Juice Generation, Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Pret A Manger, accounting for more than 100 new store openings combined. He recently represented Din Tai Fung in securing more than 25,000 square feet at 1633 Broadway for their first East Coast restaurant.
Some of Birnbaum’s recent successes include representing Alo Yoga for their 8,000-square-foot flagship store at 600 Fifth Avenue; representing Fila in their first North American retail store at 565 Broadway; representing Canali at 600 Madison Avenue; securing Peloton’s 35,000-square-foot “Super Studio” at 5 Manhattan West; Peloton’s headquarters office lease of 300,000 square feet at 441 Ninth Avenue; Manolo Blahnik’s first North American store and offices at 717 Madison Avenue; JD Sports’ 35,000-square-foot Times Square store at 1466 Broadway; Watches of Switzerland’s first New York City location, located at 60 Greene Street; MedMen’s flagship at 433 Fifth Avenue; and Shake Shack’s Test Kitchen and headquarters at 225 Varick Street. He also represented the iconic Rizzoli Bookstore in its relocation to 1123 Broadway and Equinox in its 40,000-square-foot lease at 315 Park Avenue South.
In recognition of his accomplishments, Birnbaum was named Newmark’s Top Producing National Retail Broker in 2019 and 2020, New York Retail Broker in 2018 and 2021 and Top Producing National Retail Broker in 2017. Also in 2017, Birnbaum received the Most Ingenious Deal of the Year award from the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) for his work with Peloton at 5 Manhattan West. Additionally, Birnbaum was named a CoStar Power Broker in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018, and in 2013, he was recognized by the Commercial Observer “30 under 30” as one the most promising real estate professionals in New York. He is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Young Men’s/Young Women’s Real Estate Association (YMRWEA).He is also an active member of Autism Speaks.