Lendlease Secures Italian Restaurant Carina for Retail Space at The Riverie in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Lendlease has secured a new Italian restaurant tenant for its retail space at The Riverie, the all-electric waterfront residential development at 18 India Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, the company announced March 19, 2026. The incoming concept, Carina, will be operated by Julian Brizzi and Lauren Broder — the team behind Celestine, the Mediterranean restaurant in DUMBO — and is expected to open in 2027.

The lease covers a 3,000-square-foot space within The Riverie's nearly 14,000 square feet of total retail, leaving approximately 8,600 square feet available for future tenants. The property welcomed its first residents earlier in 2026.

Italian Concept to Occupy Greenpoint Waterfront Retail Space

Carina — meaning "cute" in Italian — will serve as a cousin restaurant to Celestine, offering house-made focaccia and pastas, fresh salads, crudo, and seasonal specialties. The space will open onto a waterfront terrace with views of the Manhattan skyline and the East River, which will be used for dining and private events. The restaurant is intended to serve both residents of The Riverie and the broader Greenpoint neighborhood.

"From the beginning, our goal for The Riverie was to create a project rooted in Greenpoint, one of Brooklyn's most compelling neighborhoods — shaped by creativity, an independent spirit and a strong sense of community," said Layth Madi, Senior Vice President of Development, New York, at Lendlease. "Partnering with Julian Brizzi to bring Carina to The Riverie is a reflection of that commitment. His restaurants are synonymous with Brooklyn's vibrant dining culture."

Brizzi, who has worked in the food and beverage industry for more than three decades, opened his first restaurant, Rucola, in 2011. He subsequently opened Grand Army bar, Grand Army South, and Celestine, and was part of the opening team of Pebble Bar. He is also a partner in Ray's Brooklyn and has consulted on various other hospitality projects. Lauren Broder has served as Director of Operations for Grand Army bar, Grand Army South, and Celestine since 2019, and previously spent five years at Mission Chinese Food as Assistant General Manager after beginning her career at Craft Hospitality in 2011.

"We have a lot to be excited about when it comes to Carina's opening," said Brizzi. "From the incredible views and Greenpoint's positioning as one of NYC's best dining neighborhoods to the ability to partner with a company like Lendlease, we couldn't be more thrilled to be working on this next project."

Development Overview: The Riverie

The Riverie, located at 18 India Street — also known as 1 Java Street — comprises 834 rental residences across a 37-story tower, a 20-story tower, and a connected mid-rise podium. Thirty percent of units have been designated as affordable housing under the Affordable New York Housing Program. The property is now leasing for immediate occupancy.

The development is all-electric and utilizes a vertical closed-loop geoexchange system, which Lendlease describes as the largest geothermal residential system in New York State. The project is targeting LEED Gold certification and is designed to comply with Local Law 154 and Local Law 97, New York City's all-electric construction and decarbonization mandates, respectively. The Riverie is part of Lendlease's Mission Zero initiative, which targets absolute zero carbon by 2040.

In addition to its residential and retail components, the development includes Riverie Park, an 18,000-square-foot public waterfront esplanade connecting to the India Street Pier, which is served by the NYC Ferry. The project was designed by Marvel, with interiors by Marvel, INC Architecture & Design, and Crème. Greystar serves as property manager, and Douglas Elliman Development Marketing is the exclusive leasing agent for market-rate residences. Settlement Housing Fund oversees the affordable housing program.

Brokerage and Remaining Retail Availability

Ryan Schimel and Andrew Schulman of Capricorn Retail Advisors represented Lendlease as landlord in the transaction. Joel Dabu, also of Capricorn Retail Advisors, represented the tenant. Capricorn is exclusively marketing the remaining retail space at the property.

"Lendlease set a high bar for the quality of retail tenants that would serve as the public face of this showpiece development," said Ryan Schimel of Capricorn Retail Advisors. "For this space, they wanted a restaurateur who could create a prominent destination for the city while providing an amenity for the residents upstairs. Most importantly, the operator needed to understand how to succeed in a waterfront location. Julian Brizzi and his group check all these boxes."

With 8,600 square feet of retail space still available at The Riverie, Capricorn Retail Advisors continues to market the property for additional tenants. Prospective occupants can contact the firm at capricornre.com. No financial terms were disclosed for the Carina retail lease.

For more information on The Riverie, visit theriveriebk.com.