Thursday, February 11, 1999
FRCH may move into former Lazarus
BY RANDY TUCKER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FRCH Design Worldwide has narrowed its list of possible sites for a new headquarters to “a few alternatives” in Cincinnati, including the former Lazarus store downtown, Jim Tippmann, FRCH chief financial officer, said Wednesday.
Mr. Tippmann, speaking from FRCH's New York office, emphasized the company still is considering other sites but said negotiations with Towne Properties — which is redeveloping the former department store for office and apartment use — are in final stages.
He said FRCH would probably make a decision whether to sign an agreement to lease space in the 800,000-square-foot building next week.
Mr. Tippmann declined to name the alternative sites that FRCH might consider.
If FRCH does move into the former Lazarus building, it would occupy about a 40,000-square-foot, street-level space on the east side of the building along Seventh Street, between Race and Elm streets.
He said the design firm, with about 140 employees in Cincinnati, wants to move because it's fast outgrowing its offices at 311 Elm St.
The company has said it plans to hire aggressively in the next few months.
FRCH was founded in Cincinnati in 1968 and is known for upscale retail designs and renovations, including Marshall Field's 1 million-square-foot flagship store in Chicago and large parts of Bloomingdale's New York City store. Other clients include Lazarus, Rich's, Sears and Saks Fifth Avenue.
FRCH designed the Lazarus stores at Kenwood Towne Centre in Cincinnati and in downtown Columbus.
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