Facebook parent company Meta signs 10-year lease for NYC flagship
Meta is turning a pop-up that it opened in New York City in November into a permanent retail location.
The parent company of Facebook said it has signed a 10-year lease with Vornado Realty Trust to make its temporary Meta Lab outpost in Manhattan a permanent flagship location.
Located at 697 Fifth Ave., the skateboarding-themed Meta Lab is designed as a hands-on experiential space where customers can check out the company’s latest retail offerings, including its lineup of AI glasses, and immerse themselves in virtual worlds with Meta Quest headsets.
The space also includes a coffee shop, and an archival wall and timeline that tells the story of New York Ciry skate culture from the 1960s to today, through graffiti, rare film footage, artwork, original decks, and other visual artifacts.
Each Meta Lab store is shaped by its neighborhood, co-created with local artists and communities around distinct creative themes, the company said. In addition to New York City, Meta Lab has locations in Las Vegas (at Wynn Plaza Shops); Los Angeles (Melrose Avenue); Honolulu (Ala Moana Center); and Burlingame, Calif. The company plans to open additional locations throughout 2026.
“Our people-first approach to experiential retail is rooted in culture, creativity and self-expression — and it’s driving meaningful sales and awareness of our AI wearables,” said Matt Jacobson, VP and creative director, wearables, Meta. “Placing our flagship store alongside the brands that help define culture, will distinguish Meta Lab from traditional consumer electronics retail. There’s no better home than NYC to innovate, and we’ll continue to celebrate the community while making our products easy to see, try and understand.”
In a statement, Vornado noted that Meta has invested heavily in New York City since joining its business and civic community in 2007. In 2020, Meta leased 730,000 square feet, comprising all of the office space at The Farley Building in Vornado’s Penn District. The location serves as Meta’s New York City headquarters and a hub for its tech and engineering teams.
“As evidenced by Meta Lab’s immediate and tremendous success during its introductory pop up at this location, Fifth Avenue remains one of the most attractive retail corridors in the world for today’s most innovative and iconic brands,” said Vornado executive VP and co-head of real estate Glen Weiss.