HOBOKEN, NJ—Demonstrating the time-honored adage that retail follows rooftops, RKF has brought a passel of retailers to the Mile Square City as the merchants seek to cater to the growing population in luxury residential communities along the Hudson. Over the past two years, in fact, RKF has completed 17 new transactions totaling almost 65,000 square feet, GlobeSt.com has learned exclusively.

“As new multifamily developments continue to rise above 10th Street in Uptown Hoboken, many of the city's downtown retailers are flocking northward to establish a presence in the neighborhood,” says Glenn Beyer, senior managing director with RKF. Both regional and national players—including Massage Envy Spa, frozen yogurt chain 16 Handles, European Wax Center, PNC Bank and Toni & Guy—as well as local favorites such as Cuban restaurant La Isla, Riverside Pediatrics, Hoboken Montessori, Uptown Wine and Spirits and Bright Horizons Childcare have opened uptown locations after establishing themselves downtown.

Beyer cites La Isla as an example. The restaurateur signed a 2,800-square-foot lease at 1100 Maxwell Ln. in the city's uptown section after establishing its first location at 104 Washington St. downtown several years ago. “The activity has generated momentum from other up-and-coming brands looking to gain a foothold in this exciting area,” he says.