If you're one of those who spend much too much time at the office, the latest trend of adding “high-class concierge” to an office building’s list of amenities is sure to sound like a terrific idea. And while only three Class A office buildings currently offer the services of Abigail Michaels Concierge Company—the brainchild of Abbie Newman and Michael Fazio—other owners are likely to follow suit as economic conditions make courting tenants more important than ever.
With more than 25 years in the hotel hospitality industry, Newman and Fazio service more than 90 residential buildings. One of their residential clients, the Carlyle Group, which also owns 1180 Avenue of the Americas and Murray Hill Properties, caught on to the concept quickly. “We’re providing a service to people who live a 24-hour-a-day life,” says David Greene, Murray Hill’s executive managing director.
“Everybody needs to offer value-added at this time,” says Newman. “[Our clients] are looking to provide value and to differentiate themselves in the commercial world.”
Commonly requested services include picking up dry cleaning, obtaining sports and theater tickets, making restaurant reservations, and providing pet services. There’s no monthly fee for the service; tenants pay only for what they actually contract to use the concierge for, says Greene.
Josh Zamir of Capstone Equities brought Abigail Michaels to the landmarked 14 Wall Street, a one-million-square-foot Downtown office building with an eye-catching pyramid-shaped top. “We’ve used concierges in other projects that are more residentially based, and were brainstorming about adding value to the building,” Zamir says. “The new tenants are very enthused about it.”
Leonard Stern, chairman and CEO of Hartz Mountain Industries, also hired Abigail Michaels for 667 Madison Avenue—one of the so-called Plaza District “Country Club” buildings where rents run from $125 to $200 per square foot. Stern explained that since company bosses typically have their own personal assistants and “know all the headwaiters,” such services wouldn’t be of interest to “someone worth a billion.
“But 95 percent of the people who work here and come here every day are employees,” he continues. “For us to be able to offer something to all the employees—that’s extremely valuable. We just thought that we’re completing, to the extent we can, the luxurious experience of the building for everyone who doesn’t own their own company.”
