Maman, the French-inspired bakery famed for its nutty chocolate chip cookie and floral, photo-ready cafés, is planting roots in Dumbo this spring. The brand is taking roughly 6,600 square feet at 66 Water Street, on the cobblestoned block between Main and Dock streets, in a space most recently home to Seamore’s. The sizable footprint clears the way for a large pastry counter, full-service café seating and room for private events in a corner of the neighborhood that pulls in locals, office crowds and tourists all day long.
Lease Details And Representation
As reported by Commercial Observer, Maman signed a 6,600-square-foot lease at 66 Water Street with plans to open this spring. Landlord Two Trees Management was represented in-house by Alyssa Zahler and Elizabeth Bueno. On the tenant side, Maman’s development chief worked alongside brokers from Retail by MONA to finalize the deal. The announcement did not include the asking rent for the space.
What To Expect Inside
Maman says the Dumbo café will showcase the brand’s signature rustic décor and will include a dedicated area for private events, setting it up as both a grab-and-go pastry stop and a spot for sit-down celebrations. “We love becoming part of neighborhoods that share our focus on warmth, creativity and community,” co‑founder Elisa Marshall said in a statement. According to the report, the lease marks another step in the steady expansion of Maman’s growing footprint across New York City and beyond.
Retail Market Context
While the asking rent for 66 Water Street was kept under wraps, retail costs along Dumbo’s waterfront remain steep. The Real Estate Board of New York’s Brooklyn retail report lists average asking rents in Dumbo at around $90 per square foot. In that kind of pricing environment, it is easier to see why established café brands chase high-visibility, larger-format spaces that can pull double duty for daily service and private events. For a landlord like Two Trees, a national café tenant helps anchor daytime foot traffic and gives neighboring retail operators a reliable stream of potential customers.
Why This Matters For Dumbo
The lease at 66 Water Street lands in a Two Trees managed building just steps from Empire Stores and St. Ann’s Warehouse, a stretch the landlord pitches as central to Dumbo’s waterfront identity. As outlined on Two Trees Management’s property page, the cobbled block and nearby park access are key selling points for both residents and visitors. Maman’s own timeline, which starts with a SoHo opening in October 2014 and is detailed on the brand’s site, traces its evolution from a single café into a multi-city operator. The Dumbo outpost is positioned to catch everything from quick coffee runs to larger gatherings, adding one more polished all-day option to the neighborhood’s waterfront mix.
