Pokémon's timing is just about right, said Faith H. Consolo, vice chairwoman of Garrick-Aug Associates, another broker specializing in retail space.

The combined division will have 150 brokers specializing in rental properties.

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.

David Winokur, executive vice president of Winokur Realty, a broker specializing in the Garment District, said that the addition of new types of tenants was pushing rent levels higher.

But Dr. Schulman said people searching for an appropriate surrogate could get help from a broker specializing in the field.

While walking on the beach, daughter Randie met another girl, who turned out to be the daughter of Peter A. Brandenberg, a retail broker specializing in anchor stores.

"This just proves that fashion is back on both Fifth Avenue and 57th Street," said Robert K. Futterman, a broker specializing in retail space.

In reaction, some family clothing stores have started making inventory purchases through a broker specializing in small shops.

"People have stopped going to inns in droves," said William Oates, a broker specializing in inn acquisition and operations.

"The retail investor wants to be in the stock market," said Jay Goldinger, a Beverly Hills broker specializing in debt securities.