Meta Opens First NYC Flagship Store on Fifth Avenue

By Natalie Wong

March 18, 2026 at 1:28 PM UTC

Meta Platforms Inc. Is expanding its retail presence with its first flagship store in Manhattan, located on Fifth Avenue. The company signed a 10-year lease with Vornado Realty Trust for the entire five-story building at 697 Fifth Ave., adjacent to the St. Regis Hotel Bloomberg Terminal.

The store, branded as Meta Lab, will showcase the company’s wearable technology, including artificial intelligence glasses and virtual reality headsets. Meta previously operated a pop-up shop at the location Meta Lab New York City.

“We’re proud to create a long-term commitment to Fifth Avenue, the heart of U.S. Retail,” said Matt Jacobson, Meta Vice President and Creative Director, in a statement. “Placing our flagship store alongside the brands that help define culture will distinguish Meta Lab from traditional consumer electronics retail.”

Average asking rent on Fifth Avenue between 49th and 60th streets reached $2,305 per square foot in the fourth quarter, a nearly 4% increase year-over-year. The availability rate was 13%, a 4.4% increase from the previous year Bloomberg.

Meta launched its experiential retail concept in 2024 to promote its smart glasses, developed in partnership with Ray-Ban. These glasses allow users to take pictures and videos, make calls, and send messages. The brick-and-mortar stores aim to provide consumers with the opportunity to “see, try, and understand” Meta’s products, according to Jacobson.

Meta Lab’s first permanent flagship spans over 20,000 square feet at 8600 Melrose Ave. In West Hollywood. Additional locations are currently operating in Burlingame, California, with recent pop-up boutiques in Las Vegas and Honolulu. The company plans to open more retail locations throughout 2026 Bloomberg.

Glen Weiss, Executive Vice President and co-Head of Real Estate at Vornado, stated the REIT is “thrilled to further extend our long-standing relationship with Meta and applaud their permanent entry into New York City’s retail landscape” Vornado Realty Trust.

Meta currently leases 730,000 square feet of office space at the Farley Building, a redeveloped former post office near Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, serving as its New York City headquarters and a hub for its tech and engineering teams Vornado Realty Trust.