by Located in a 15,000-square-foot 5-story building, Meta Lab New York merges physical and digital worlds
NEW YORK — Technology company Meta is making a significant investment in brick-and-mortar retail. On Wednesday, Vornado Realty Trust, a New York City-based real estate investment trust, announced that Meta has signed a 10-year lease at 697 Fifth Ave., a 15,000-square-foot, five-story townhouse building that previously housed a Meta Lab pop-up. This is Meta’s first flagship retail location in Manhattan, following the November 2025 opening of Meta Lab Los Angeles.
“As evidenced by Meta Lab’s immediate and tremendous success during its introductory pop-up at this location, Fifth Avenue remains one of the most attractive retail corridors in the world for today’s most innovative and iconic brands,” Glen Weiss, executive vice president and cohead of real estate at Vornado Realty Trust, said in a news release.
The store’s striking blue exterior is a visual summary of Meta’s approach to experiential retail: bold.
“We’re proud to make a long-term commitment to Fifth Avenue, the heart of U.S. retail,” Matt Jacobson, vice president and creative director of wearables at Meta, said in a statement. “Our people-first approach to experiential retail is rooted in culture, creativity and self-expression, and it’s driving meaningful sales and awareness of our products.”
At Meta Lab New York, customers can try on Meta’s artificial intelligence-integrated glasses, including Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta and Meta Ray-Ban Display, as well as its virtual reality headsets, Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3 S. Consumers also will be able to shop for limited-edition glasses that won’t be sold online.
An article on Meta’s website said its New York flagship store is “designed for hands-on discovery.” One example is an interactive gallery by multidisciplinary artist Evan Mock. Viewing Mock’s work through Meta’s AI-powered glasses creates an immersive augmented reality experience.
Visitors can explore exhibits featuring artifacts, rare film footage and skateboard decks that showcase New York skate culture from the 1960s through the present day, designed in partnership with the skateboarding-inspired lifestyle brand Zoo York. Also on display are murals and artwork from pro skater Zered Bassett’s “Paper Skaters” series. And a coffee bar created in collaboration with local cafe Buddies Coffee, which was cofounded by former professional skater Taylor Nawrocki, rounds out the community-oriented space.
“Placing our flagship store alongside the brands that help define culture will distinguish Meta Lab from traditional consumer electronics retail,” Jacobson added. “There’s no better home than New York to innovate on retail, and we’ll continue to celebrate the community while making our products easy to see, try and understand.”
Outside of New York, Meta also operates Meta Lab Burlingame in Burlingame, California, and pop-ups in Las Vegas and Honolulu, and plans to expand its retail footprint. According to a news release, additional stores will open throughout 2026, but it has not yet announced future locations.
