| Bulding Address: | 481 Eighth Ave, New York NY 10001 |
| Building Name: | Hotel New Yorker Office Portion |
| Building Alternate address: | 481 8th Ave |
| Zip Code: | 10001 |
| Neighborhood: | Penn Plaza/Garment |
| Borough: | Manhattan |
| Stories: | 18 |
| Year Built: | 1929 |
| Building Class: | B |
| Block & lot: | 00758-0037 |
The New Yorker Hotel History
The New Yorker Hotel, located at 481 Eighth Avenue in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, is an iconic Art Deco building designed by Sugarman and Berger. It opened on January 2, 1930, after a rapid construction period of just 22 months. Originally, the hotel stood 43 stories tall, including four basement levels, and featured approximately 2,500 rooms at its peak, making it one of the largest hotels in New York City.
The hotel was built on a site previously occupied by multiple buildings owned by Frederick Brown and the Manufacturers Trust Company. Construction began in early 1928, with excavation noted as one of the deepest ever in Manhattan at the time. The steel frame was manufactured by the American Bridge Company, employing thousands of workers. The hotel was state-of-the-art for its era, boasting a private power plant, an underground tunnel directly connecting guests to Pennsylvania Station, and numerous amenities such as ballrooms, private dining salons, restaurants, and one of the largest barbershops in the city.
The New Yorker quickly gained renown as a glamorous destination hosting celebrities, politicians, and sports figures. It was among the first hotels in the United States to install televisions in guest rooms in 1948, which the hotel proudly advertised as having “the greatest number of television sets under one roof.” The hotel’s distinctive tiered setbacks and the famed red "New Yorker" rooftop sign, installed in 1941, became prominent features of the Manhattan skyline.
During the 1950s, the hotel's popularity declined amid changing travel patterns and the demolition of the nearby Pennsylvania Station in 1963. It was acquired by Hilton Hotels but struggled financially and ultimately closed in 1972. In 1976, the building was purchased by the Unification Church and repurposed as apartments and dormitories.
The New Yorker Hotel reopened as a hotel portion in 1994. Since 2014, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has managed the hotel, which now offers over a thousand guest rooms while retaining much of its historic Art Deco charm. Its private power plant, used until 1967, was recognized as an engineering milestone. The hotel continues to be a notable New York City landmark with a rich history reflecting the city’s architectural and cultural evolution.
481 Eighth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City
Building Name: The New Yorker Hotel
Neighborhood: Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, NYC
Address: 481 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10001, United States
Coordinates: 40°45′10″N 73°59′37″W (40.75278°N 73.99361°W)
Opening Date: January 2, 1930 (original); June 1, 1994 (current hotel)
Building Details:
- 42 stories tall with 4 basement stories
- Approximately 1,000,000 sq ft (93,000 m²) total floor area
- Originally designed by architects Sugarman and Berger in Art Deco style
- Originally had 2,500 rooms; current hotel has 1,083 guestrooms and 64 suites
Usage: Mixed-use hotel building; lower floors used as offices and dormitories, upper floors operated as The New Yorker, A Wyndham Hotel
Location Details: Occupies western side of Eighth Avenue, between 34th and 35th Streets
Nearby Landmarks:
- Manhattan Center (west)
- One Penn Plaza, Madison Square Garden, Pennsylvania Station (southeast)
- Midtown Manhattan with proximity to Jacob Javits Center, Penn Station, Madison Square Garden, Times Square and the Empire State Building
Architectural Features:
- Art Deco style with green marble paneling in original lobby
- Original 23 elevators including passenger, service, freight, and connections to subway and ballroom
- Basement included tunnel linking to original Penn Station and subway lines, Coffee House cafe, and Mosaic Room ballroom
Historical Note: Nikola Tesla lived in rooms 3327 and 3328 until his death in 1943.
The New Yorker, A Wyndham Hotel, located at 481 Eighth Avenue, Manhattan, NYC, offers a range of amenities including:
- On-site Dining: The hotel features several dining options like Tick Tock Diner, Trattoria Bianca, and Butcher & Banker.
- Event Spaces: Over 23,000 square feet of historic event space.
- Convenience Amenities: Fitness Center, Business Center, Gift Shop, Concierge Service.
- Parking and Security: Secured parking and 24-hour security.
- Technology and Comfort: Free internet, Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs in rooms.
- Room Amenities: Air conditioning, safes, pillowtop mattresses, and eco-friendly toiletries.
- Additional Amenities: Laundry service, ironing service, dry cleaning, and tour/ticket assistance.
The hotel's Art Deco style and central location make it a popular choice for visitors to Manhattan.
Specific office tenants at 481 Eighth Ave are not publicly listed in available records, though the building houses commercial spaces managed by the Unification Church and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Historically, post-9/11 office tenants included displaced businesses from the World Trade Center and educational organizations like the Barbizon School of Modeling.
Educational Housing Services operates dormitory spaces on floors 24-27 for student accommodations, while psychotherapists and other commercial lessees have occupied portions of the 17th floor.
Internet Providers at 481 Eighth Avenue, Manhattan, NYC:
- Verizon: Offers Fios with speeds up to 2.3 Gbps, known for reliability and customer service.
- Spectrum: Provides cable internet services with speeds up to 1 Gbps and cable TV bundles.
481 Eighth Avenue, Manhattan, NYC Transportation and Cross Streets
Located in Manhattan, 481 Eighth Avenue is bordered by the following major cross streets:
- West 34th Street
- West 33rd Street (nearby)
- Eighth Avenue
Subway Lines Serving 481 Eighth Avenue
Subway lines with stops near 481 Eighth Avenue include:
- 1, 2, 3
- A, B, C, D, E, F, M
Bus Routes Near 481 Eighth Avenue
Nearby bus routes include:
- 108, 158
- M34-SBS, M34A-SBS
- BM2, M20
Train Services Nearby
Train services accessible near 481 Eighth Avenue:
- Empire Service
- Harlem Line
- Port Jefferson Branch
- Port Washington Branch
- PATH trains
Nearby Transit Stops
- W 34 St / 8 Av (1-2 minutes walk)
- 34 St - Penn Station
- 33rd Street
- New York Midtown (31st St & 8th Ave)
- 7 Av / W 34 St
