---
title: "Los Angeles Matcha Brand Archives of Us Signs Retail Lease in East Village"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/74f19296-e7aa-40d2-b275-a66f15280586
source: "Commercial Observer"
original_url: https://commercialobserver.com/2026/07/archives-of-us-retail-lease-84-second-avenue/
author: "Mark Hallum"
category: "Signs"
industry: "Business Services"
segment: "Signs"
published: 2026-07-14T16:19:14.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T13:16:19.373Z
image: https://commercialobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Noam-Aziz-Carson-Shahrabani-matcha-powder-credit-Getty-Images.jpg?quality=80&resize=1200%2C630&strip=
---

# Los Angeles Matcha Brand Archives of Us Signs Retail Lease in East Village

**TL;DR:** Archives of Us, a Los Angeles-based matcha cafe chain, has signed a retail lease for its first New York City location in Manhattan's East Village. The brand leased 2,400 square feet at 84 Second Avenue, where it will operate as a cafe and retail presence.

*By Mark Hallum, originally published in Commercial Observer on 2026-07-14. [Read the original](https://commercialobserver.com/2026/07/archives-of-us-retail-lease-84-second-avenue/).*

## Story

A Los Angeles-based matcha cafe chain has signed a retail deal for its first New York City location in Manhattan’s East Village.

**Archives of Us** has leased 2,400 square feet at **Highpoint Property Group**’s **84 Second Avenue**, where it will act as a cafe and retail presence for the matcha brand, according to landlord broker **Meridian Capital Group**.

Meridian did not disclose the length of the lease, but the asking rent for the space was $125 per square foot.

“This was a rare opportunity to secure a fully fitted space on a prime stretch of Second Avenue,” Meridian’s **Noam Aziz**, who represented the landlord alongside **Carson** **Shahrabani**, said in a statement. “Archives of Us has built one of the most distinctive matcha concepts in the country, and the East Village is an ideal setting for its New York debut.”

**Milly Cheung** and **Jordan Cohen** of **Lee & Associates NYC** negotiated on behalf of the tenant but did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The space between East Fourth and Fifth streets was previously leased to tapas restaurant Nai, a concept by chef **Ruben** **Rodriguez** that closed in November 2025. The space came fully furnished and built out for a restaurant from the previous tenant, according to Meridian.

Archives of Us was started by **Nick Kim** in April 2025 in Los Angeles. Shahrabani commented that the brand could emerge to be “the **La Colombe** of matcha in New York City.”

## Entities

- new location (topic)
- Real Estate (sector)
- Commercial Observer (publication)
- Mark Hallum (person)
- cafe expansion (topic)
- Meridian Capital Group (company)
- retail lease (topic)
- Lee & Associates NYC (company)
- La Colombe (company)
- East Village (location)
- Noam Aziz (person)
- Jordan Cohen (person)

---
Originally reported by Mark Hallum, Commercial Observer (https://commercialobserver.com/2026/07/archives-of-us-retail-lease-84-second-avenue/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/74f19296-e7aa-40d2-b275-a66f15280586).