Vying for a Manhattan forever-home, retailers are racing to buy their storefronts

Prime city retail storefronts are so rare that businesses are opting for the nuclear option — buying.  Kering and Prada bought their stores on Fifth Avenue last year for $835 million and $963 million respectively. Now, Uniqlo is purchasing 100,000 square feet of retail it already occupies at 660 Fifth Ave. from Vornado. Uniqlo bought…