The terms of the lease are being negotiated, said Christian Stetkiewicz, who is in charge of the retail leasing of the building.

Retailing has benefited little, other than a pick-up in lunch time business, because most office workers leave the area after work, brokers specializing in retail leasing say.

"Every major supermarket and drugstore has expressed interest," said Bruce A. Spiegel, a senior vice president at Rose Associates who handles the building's retail leasing.

Sometimes the company would insist on a year's rent in advance, a practice also common in retail leasing in America.

One trend that has bolstered retail leasing along Jamaica Avenue is the willingness of landlords to divide spaces to fit the needs of retailers.

"The concept is somewhat different," said Jud Ebersman, director of retail leasing for Walter & Samuels, who represented the building in the deal.

Philip is senior vice president and is in charge of retail leasing at First Canadian Place.

Barnes & Noble also is a discounter but in the world of retail leasing, it ranks higher in prestige because it sells culture rather than lip gloss.

He expects total retail leasing to climb by more than 60 percent this year to two million cars and light trucks, up from 1.2 million last year.

"SURE we would have preferred a designer leather-goods store," said Amy Strong, Sterling's director of retail leasing.