| Building Address: | 161 Bowery, New York NY 10002 |
| Zip Code: | 10002 |
| Neighborhood: | Soho |
| Borough: | Manhattan |
| Stories: | 7 |
| Year Built: | 1920 |
| Building Class: | B |
| Block & lot: | 00424-0006 |
History of 161 Bowery, Manhattan, NYC
Located on the Bowery in Manhattan, 161 Bowery is an ornate seven-story building originally constructed in 1900 as a factory and commercial space. Designed by architect William Dilthey, the building exemplifies a blend of Renaissance Revival and Neo-Classical architectural styles. Its façade features a carved limestone front extending to the second story, incorporating pilasters with unfluted shafts and Italian Renaissance capitals topped with vases, while the seventh story is adorned with fluted pilasters in the same style.
The building replaced Flynn’s Music Hall, a venue that closed amid early 20th-century reform efforts aimed at cleansing the Bowery of its notorious nightlife. Commissioned by the estate of Nehemiah U. Tompkins, Dilthey's design sought to reflect the Bowery's changing character from a disreputable entertainment district to a more respectable commercial area.
On its two-story limestone and cast-iron base, Corinthian columns and decorative swags support four classical urns, imbuing the structure with a refined elegance more typical of department stores than factory buildings. Initially, the ground floor was leased to James E. Bristol, a dealer in hotel and restaurant fixtures, presaging the Bowery's later identity as Manhattan's restaurant supply district. Upper floors housed manufacturers including cigar companies and apparel firms through the early 20th century.
Throughout much of the 20th century, the Bowery was known as New York’s "Skid Row," marked by flophouses and poverty, though the building at 161 Bowery remained a symbol of architectural distinction amidst decline. Around the 2000s, the Bowery began a renaissance, evident in the transformation of 161 Bowery’s former factory spaces into modern residences.
In 2014, artist Shepard Fairey completed a large mural on the building’s exposed southern wall, commissioned by the Little Italy Street Art Project, symbolizing the neighborhood's cultural revival. Despite being covered with white paint that obscured some of Dilthey's delicate neoclassical details, 161 Bowery still stands prominently as a testament to the major changes the Bowery experienced at the turn of the 20th century and beyond.
161 Bowery
161 Bowery,
New York,
NY
10002,
USA
This seven-story, 25,346 square foot, redeveloped boutique Class A creative office building
is located at the epicenter of Manhattan's Midtown South technology corridor.
The property is situated at the confluence of Manhattan’s popular downtown live/work/play neighborhoods including SoHo,
NoLiTa, Lower East Side, East Village, Greenwich Village, West Village, and TriBeCa. Surrounded by some of New York City’s best dining, nightlife, retail, housing, hotels, and culture,
161 Bowery optimizes livability and attracts modern companies that value convenience, accessibility, technology, and area amenities.
Building Details:
Stories: 7
Total area: 25,346 sq ft
Year built: 1920
Last renovated: 2014
161 Bowery, Manhattan, NYC is a 7-story boutique office building, offering unique amenities that enhance its appeal as a creative workspace. Key features include:
- Wired NYC certified connectivity for optimized digital operations.
- A rooftop lounge providing a sophisticated social space.
- Street-level retail, integrating commerce with community.
- High ceilings and open floor plans, ideal for tech and creative tenants.
- In-suite cafes for convenient refreshment options.
- Exposed ceilings and operable oversized windows, capturing an industrial aesthetic with abundant natural light.
- Prime location at the intersection of vibrant neighborhoods like SoHo, NoLiTa, Lower East Side, East Village, Greenwich Village, West Village, and TriBeCa.
Office Tenants at 161 Bowery, Manhattan, NYC
161 Bowery is a seven-story building originally built in 1920 and redeveloped in 2016, offering approximately 25,000 square feet of office space with modern amenities. The suites feature 12-foot ceiling heights, open floorplates, direct fiber-optic internet connectivity, exposed ceilings, oversized operable windows, and in-suite cafes, providing attractive, contemporary work environments.
Notable office tenants at 161 Bowery include:
- UPROXX – Entertainment and popular culture news website occupying a full-floor suite of approximately 3,300 square feet on the seventh floor.
- Something Special Studios – Creative firm leasing about 3,300 square feet on the sixth floor.
- Magna Digital – Tech firm occupying around 3,300 square feet on the seventh floor.
- Kik Interactive – Social media company with office space in the building.
- Space 150 – Advertising company tenant.
- Brainly – Multinational educational startup leasing office space.
Internet providers near 161 Bowery, Manhattan, NYC include:
- Verizon Fios: Offers high-speed internet with plans starting at 300 Mbps and reaching up to 2 Gbps, known for excellent customer service and competitive pricing, with availability in much of Manhattan.
- Astound Broadband Powered by RCN: Provides both cable and fiber services, with affordable plans starting at $35, offering unlimited data and speeds up to 1.5 Gbps, though coverage may vary in some neighborhoods.
- Spectrum: Offers widespread coverage with speeds up to 1 Gbps, suitable for streaming and gaming, with plans starting at $50 per month, and bundled services available.
161 Bowery is a commercial building located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NYC. Built in 1920, it stands 7 stories tall and consists of 7 units.
The building is accessible via several public transportation options:
- Buses: M1, M103, M15, and M21 are nearby routes.
- Subways: The closest subway stations include Broadway-Lafayette Street (served by the B, D, F, M trains), Bleecker Street (served by the B, D, F, M, 6 trains), and 2nd Avenue (served by the F train).
- Trains: The nearest train station is the Harlem Line, but it requires additional transit to reach Bowery.
The cross streets for 161 Bowery are Bowery and E 3rd Street and Bowery and E 4th Street.
