New Retail and Event Tenants Open at 28 Liberty
The expanded mixed-use space offers operators a new model for activating underutilized levels in large office buildings.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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New retail and event tenants have opened at 28 Liberty in the Financial District, shifting the mix of available amenities in the building. These additions, which include dining and recreation spaces, now occupy significant footprints across the building's concourse, ground, and lower levels.
Why it matters
The influx of diverse commercial tenants at 28 Liberty signals a concerted effort to activate the building's retail and event levels to better serve the surrounding Financial District population. For operators, this development underscores how large office assets are increasingly prioritizing mixed-use square footage to drive consistent building foot traffic.
The property now hosts a 24,400-square-foot event space called Halo, alongside a 20,000-square-foot Socceroof facility and a 17,000-square-foot Court 16 complex. Starbucks and Madman Espresso occupy 1,356 and 956 square feet respectively, adding to the site's retail density.
The players
Court 16
A recreational facility operator focused on tennis and pickleball, currently expanding its footprint in New York City office buildings.
Socceroof
An operator of indoor soccer facilities that utilizes large-scale, lower-level urban commercial real estate.
Starbucks
A global coffeehouse chain and retail operator that anchors food service availability in high-traffic corporate developments.
Madman Espresso
A boutique coffee operator founded in 2012 that provides localized food and beverage services.
The details
The strategy at 28 Liberty focuses on multi-level utilization, placing food and beverage outlets on the concourse and ground floors while dedicating subterranean levels to high-volume recreation and event spaces. Court 16's expansion to 17,000 square feet allows for eight distinct playing areas, maximizing the utility of the lower level 1 space. Meanwhile, the Halo event venue leverages a dedicated Pine Street entrance to manage the logistics of large-scale gatherings for up to 750 guests without disrupting daily building operations.
Timeline
Madman Espresso was founded in 2012.
Court 16 opened its initial location at 28 Liberty in 2023.
Socceroof opened its indoor soccer facility in early 2025.
Multiple new retailers opened their doors at 28 Liberty in October 2026.
Market Landscape
This development marks a continuation of the retail activation of 28 Liberty, mirroring the strategy used in other large Financial District office conversions. The expansion reflects a broader trend of repurposing sub-level and lobby-level square footage to anchor high-density commercial assets.
Operators of large commercial assets should evaluate their own floor-plate flexibility to see if underutilized levels can support high-traffic recreation or event-driven tenants. Monitoring the success of these mixed-use service tenants can provide data on whether such high-density lifestyle amenities effectively increase daily building occupancy rates.
The takeaway
The transformation of 28 Liberty highlights the premium placed on integrating lifestyle and hospitality services into traditional office environments. Owners should track the occupancy levels of these new recreation spaces to determine if such square-foot conversions drive sustainable tenant demand in their own local markets.
Further reading
For more on evolving local retail strategies, see Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tribeca Citizen.
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