Recreating 1920s New York in Niigata's Downtown Furumachi!? LION TOWER NIIGATA Creates Value of "Explorability Different from the Station Front" with a Major Renovation.

Bestway Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shiro Kuroda; hereinafter, "the Company") has conducted a large-scale renovation of "LION TOWER NIIGATA," a building that has etched its name in the history of Furumachi, after acquiring it.

The building, which was a conventional downtown entertainment building, was transformed based on a plan by our art team. With the concept of "a building in Brooklyn, New York, carefully preserved from the 1920s to the present day," we created a mortar-sculpted entrance facade. The pathway leading to the elevator hall also features original designs down to the finest details, creating a space for visiting customers to enjoy.

You can see the renovation process here: https://vimeo.com/1187915322

Regarding Tenant Occupancy

Before the renewal, it was a typical social building. Going forward, we will actively recruit various business types, such as daytime cafes, small galleries, record shops, bookstores, craft stores, and co-working spaces.

Before renovation Before renovation

Furthermore, leveraging the advantage of a social building that can operate late at night, businesses such as small-scale dining, local sake bars, music venues, late-night cafes, and bars are of course also possible.

By transforming it into a complex for individual shop-hopping, cultural consumption, and a mix of day and night activities, we aim to update it into a "daily-use building where cultures coexist." Through this, we want to provide opportunities for young people considering business in Niigata.

While concentrating entertainment districts in front of the station is convenient for users, it is also a fact that it causes many inconveniences for urban planning and local communities. In particular, the Niigata station front is a redevelopment area where rents tend to rise, so independent stores are often eliminated before they can grow.

The Furumachi area has a high density of independent stores and can be considered an urban asset that is being lost in modern Japan. We hope that by leveraging Niigata's unique environment, the promising youth will lead the way in future city development.

Aiming to Become a City Landmark

On the wall of LION TOWER NIIGATA, we have installed a mural by New York-based artist Stephen "ESPO" Powers. Mural art is not just decoration; it can become a very important "cultural asset" for a city.

Stephen "ESPO" Powers Born in 1968. Lives in New York. Began writing graffiti under the name "ESPO" in 1984 at the age of 16. Moved to New York in 1994, published "Go Magazine," and quit writing in 1999 to become an artist. Since then, he has actively exhibited his work in galleries and museums worldwide. In 2005, in collaboration with Coney Island Mayor, he and a team of artists he curated painted signs and rides at the amusement park for the revitalization of Coney Island. He received a Fulbright scholarship in 2007 and painted murals in the city of Dublin. In 2015, he was commissioned by New York City to install his signs on utility poles around the city. While continuing to write love letters to communities in need of positive messages and art, he runs his own shop, "ESPO's Art World," in New York.

Property Overview Name: LION TOWER NIIGATA Location: 1416 Higashibori-dori 8-bancho, Chuo-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata-ken Floor Plan/Area: 125.47 ㎡ ~ 159.07 ㎡ Use: Retail/Office Structure: Steel frame, 9 stories Completion Year: 1988/06

Access "LION TOWER NIIGATA" is located along Higashibori-dori in the Furumachi area. <Access from Niigata Station> ・By Car/Taxi: About 10-15 minutes from Niigata Station. (Fare is approx. 1,200-1,800 JPY). ・By Bus: From Niigata Station Bandai Exit Bus Terminal, take a bus bound for "Furumachi," "Honcho," or "Shiyakusho." Get off at "Furumachi" bus stop, about a 5-minute walk. ・On Foot: About a 30-minute walk from JR Shin-etsu Main Line/JR Hakushin Line "Niigata Station." The route crosses the central part of Niigata City: Niigata Station → Bandai area → Bandai Bridge → Furumachi. ・From the Airport: About 20-30 minutes by car from Niigata Airport. The common route is to take the airport limousine bus to Niigata Station and then head to Furumachi.

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DNJ8TQLBrdmnmm848

Contact for this matter: Bestway Co., Ltd. Attn: Motohashi