Rent/Lease Office 394 Broadway

History of 394 Broadway, Manhattan, NYC

Located between White and Walker Streets in Manhattan, 394 Broadway was constructed in 1864 by J.W. Southack to replace two older buildings he purchased seven years prior. Completed in 1865, the five-story structure was designed in the Italianate style, featuring a white marble facade above a cast iron base. Architectural details included two-story sperm candle arches, paneled spandrels, and a carved marble cornice.

Southack built the building as an investment, while continuing to run his own business at 194-196 Broadway. Early tenants included George A. Davis & Co., manufacturers and jobbers of men’s and boys’ clothing, who occupied the premises even before construction finished. The company supported the Civil War effort by contributing to the U.S. Sanitary Commission’s Metropolitan Fair in 1864.

By 1884, the building housed Beckel’s corset manufacturing firm, recognized for having one of the largest stocks of fine corsets in New York City. In 1895, renovations were made by architect M.C. Merritt, including the addition of new water closets and a rooftop structure for a 1,500-gallon water tank, which likely introduced the mansard floor.

In 1897, a fire nearly destroyed the building. At the time, tenants included M. Weil & Sons’ linens and white goods store on the ground floor, the Consolidated Manhattan Suspender Company factory on the second floor, shirt dealers Lehman & Koenig on the third, and the Standard Cloak and Suit Company occupying the remaining floors.

Throughout the early 20th century, 394 Broadway remained within the textile and garment wholesale industries, hosting companies such as A. Schaap & Sons, wholesale clothing and commission merchants. By the mid-20th century, despite a shift in the neighborhood from clothing to textiles, the building continued to accommodate textile businesses into the 1990s.

394 Broadway, Manhattan, New York, NY 10013

Primary Address: 394 Broadway

Secondary Address: 22 Cortlandt Alley

Neighborhood: Chinatown

Borough: Manhattan

Zip Code: 10013

Block & Lot: 00195-0006

Building Information

Building Type: Office with Commercial - 1 to 6 Stories (O5)

Year Built: 1920

Stories: 6

Building Size: 25,340 sqft

Lot Size: 4,840 sqft

Building Dimensions: Approximately 28 ft frontage x 175 ft depth

Historical and Architectural Details

Originally constructed in 1864-1865 as a five-story store and loft building with white marble cladding and Italianate design, including two-story sperm candle arches and a carved marble cornice.

The building was renovated in 1895, adding a stylish mansard floor and modern amenities of that time.

It has housed various textile, garment, and wholesale businesses throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Despite neighborhood changes, the building remained prominent in the textile industry into the late 20th century.

In the early 21st century, it transitioned to retail and interior design uses while maintaining its historic marble facade.

Location & Transportation

Closest Subway Station: Broadway & Canal St at SE Corner (Lines J, N, Q, R, Z, 6), approximately 0.066 miles away

Bus Route: Broadway/Walker St (X27), approximately 0.029 miles away

Additional Information

School District: 2

Community District: 1

Closest Police Station: 0.26 miles

Closest Fire Station: 0.22 miles

FEMA Flood Zone: X

Hurricane Evacuation Zone: 4

Internet Providers at 394 Broadway, Manhattan, NYC

Residents and businesses at 394 Broadway in Manhattan have access to multiple internet providers offering a variety of connection types, including fiber, cable, DSL, satellite, and fixed wireless. The primary providers serving Manhattan, including this location, are:

• Verizon Fios: Fiber service known for high speeds starting at 300 Mbps up to 2 Gbps. Well-reviewed for customer service and offers bundles with phone, mobile, and TV.
• Astound Broadband Powered by RCN: Offers both cable and fiber internet with competitive pricing and unlimited data. Fiber service is expanding extensively throughout Manhattan.
• Spectrum: Cable and fiber internet with speeds up to 1 Gbps. Widely available throughout Manhattan and offers internet, TV, and phone bundles.
• Xfinity: Provides cable internet with speeds up to 2 Gbps, widely available in NYC including Manhattan.
• Optimum: Cable and fiber internet with speeds up to 8 Gbps, serving parts of New York City.

Other available options include satellite internet providers like Viasat and HughesNet, as well as fixed wireless providers such as Starry Internet, catering to a variety of speed and service needs.

Connection types commonly available at this address cover:

• Fiber optic — offering the fastest and most reliable service with coverage expanding across the city.
• Cable — widely accessible, providing high speeds with extensive coverage.
• DSL — available but less common in dense urban areas compared to fiber and cable.
• Satellite and fixed wireless — generally fallback options where wired infrastructure is limited.

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