Lafayette Losses: Possible Bicycle Habitat Downsizing, 16 Handles and Iconic Cafe Close

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The mid-section of Lafayette Street is apparently in transition. Three particular stores on the one block between Prince and Spring are undergoing a retail shift.

Of particular note is Bicycle Habitat. The 27-year-old SoHo store is operating on an extension and currently negotiating a long-term lease in order to stay at its longtime HQ (244 Lafayette). All while a leasing sign sits in the windows. Owner Charlie McCorkell tells us that, worst case scenario, they’ll need to consolidate operations in the “newer” 250 Lafayette space.

“Landlords are seeing visions of sky high rents out of the range of us working retailers,” he tells us. “This had led to several vacant stores in the immediate area. I am hoping our landlord will see the benefit of a long term client who always pays their rent.”

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Meanwhile, a few paces south, the 16 Handles outpost at 240 Lafayette is no longer serving. Printouts on the windows the last few months had indicated “renovations,” but we knew better. The truth was revealed with the arrival of a leasing sign in its window. And thus concludes the one-year tenure at this address.

The loss of 16 Handles follows a recent trend proving fro-yo is hurting. In the last few months alone, four Pinkberry outposts located downtown and in DUMBO have died on the vine.

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Next door at 238 Lafayette, Iconic Cafe also decided to throw in the towel. The coffee shop operated on the block for a mere ten months before calling it quits. Not a huge suprise, as it never seemed to attract enough business.

Iconic already has a successor, though. The “Micro Market” moved into the space last month, featuring a random array of vendors.