What’s New

July News Roundup

July news highlights include restaurant openings and announcements, new office tenants, new hotel construction's making progress. Stay in the know with the latest Flatiron News.

Restaurants & Bars

• Junoon reopened and relocated after closing for a year (via Eater NY).
• Sona, an elegant Indian cuisine restaurant, was featured in "The 15 Hottest New Restaurants in Manhattan, July 2021" (via Eater NY)
• Bambu, a Vietnamese-inspired beverage shop, opened at 38 East 23rd Street (via Patch).
• Both Eataly's Serra by Birreria and Glass Ceiling NoMad were featured in "Five New rooftops for business-friendly outdoor dining" (via Crain's New York).
• Pastry Chef Dominique Ansel opened his new Dominique Ansel Workshop featuring Ansel's famous Viennoiseries and croissants (via New York Times).
• Little Mad, a Korean-American spot lead by Executive Chef Sol Han opens on 110 Madison Avenue. The Korean-American menu is made with French and Italian techniques featuring beef tartare with shiitakes, soft shell crab, and Shin Ramyun-inspired crispy duck noodles with umami foam (via Time Out New York).
• Cote lands a spot of "19 Places to Find Refreshing Frozen Cocktails in New York City" (via Eater NY).
• Honeybrains was profiled and discussed their neuroscience-influenced menu (via THE CITY).
• Mark's Off Madison owner Mark Strausman expands food offerings to four menus (via New York Times).
• Mista Oh, a woman-owned Korean restaurant, is featured for its Korean barbecue, fried rice, and soft tofu stew (via Forbes).
• Bounce Sporting Club, an upscale sports bar and club, sets the perfect environment to watch the Olympics with "Hail Mary" drinks, chicken strips, and pig in a pretzel (via Gotham).
• Sarashina Horii, one of Tokyo's oldest soba shops, opened at 45 East 20th Street (via Eater NY).
• Hill Country Barbecue Market was featured in "Where to Find Iconic Texas Dishes in NYC" (via Eater NY).
• Giorgio's of Gramercy's Baked Alaska with strawberry and gelato was featured (via Untapped Cities).
• The Breslin at The Ace Hotel reopened with a new menu of Bone Marrow Butter, Fried Head Cheese, Stuffed Pig's Foot, and Charred Lamb Burger (via Gothamist).
• Mister French will relocate from Lower East Side to 14 East 21st Street this September. L'Adresse opened their second location at 1184 Broadway offering contemporary American fare of burgers and seafood dishes  (via Real Estate Weekly).
• Local restaurants Cote and Milu were featured on the "Restaurants Are Upping Their Soft Serve Ice Cream Game in NY" list (via Thrillist).
• Gramercy Tavern is mentioned in "NYC Restaurant Week is back this summer and here’s what you should order at its best spots" (via Time Out New York).
• Danny Meyer, Restaurateur and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, and other spots have required all employees to get vaccinated to work. Additionally, customers too need to be fully vaccinated to dine (via Washington Examiner).
• NuLeaf, a “plant positive” restaurant, opens its first of two locations on 23 West 23rd Street (via Time Out New York). 
• Star pastry chef Eunji Lee has signed on with Hand Hospitality Group to open a pastry shop near the Flatiron Building. Details about the shop, including its name and exact address, are still under wraps. The pastry shop is slated to open in February of next year (via Eater New York).

District Businesses

• Bungalow 5, a modern furniture and lighting company, relocates to 933 Broadway (via Commerical Observer).
• Harry Potter NYC flagship store debuted two immersive Virtual Reality experiences. Fans can enjoy flying over Hogwarts in Wizards Take Flight and explore the school in Chaos at Hogwarts (via Yahoo! Entertainment).
• The James NoMad offers 10% discount for every night guests can go without their phones to incentives "digital detox". The discount comes with a package featuring mediation and yoga classes (via Business Insider).
• The Ritz-Carlton Residences plans to launch sales the first week of August and open later this year. The hotel building features 16 homes on the penthouse floors and will feature a culinary program by José Andrés, and access to the gym, spa, and rooftop bar (via Architectural Digest).
• INNSiDE by Melia New York NoMad hotel offers "Gossip Girl"-themed hotel package for guests to experience Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen (via Travel + Leisure).

Real Estate

• Flexport a freight and customs firm moves in at 50 West 23rd Street 4th floor. The space conisists of nine conferences rooms, eight breakout rooms, six phone booths, and a kitchen (via Commercial Observer).
• Flatiron Building owners filed a petition with New York State Supreme Court to sell the property ( via Real Estate Weekly).
• Owners of Mondrian Park Avenue Hotel, Cushman & Wakefield arrange the sale of the building (via NY Business Journal).
• Simplebet, a global sports betting technology firm, plans to relocate to 373 Park Avenue South on the 9th floor (via Real Estate Weekly).
• Avalanche Studios Group, a Swedish video game developer and publisher, signed a lease at 1245 Broadway and plans to move in early 2022 (via Real Estate Weekly).
• One Madison Avenue completes demolition work and structural reinforcement is underway. The property will add an additional 27-story office tower on the existing building (via New York YIMBY)
• Flatiron District is ranked second highest square footage leased in the second quarter (via Commercial Observer).
• Publishers Weekly and JB Drax Honoré signed a lease at 49 West 23rd Street with roughly 6,000 square feet each (via Commerical Observer).
• Electra America Hospitality Group and AKA acquired the Roger New York hotel. The 194-room boutique hotel was sold for $19 million and is planned to open mid-2022 (via REBusiness Online).
• Boston Properties acquires 360 Park Avenue South, a 20 story office property (via Boston Real Estate Times).

Around the Neighborhood

• Music on the Green is a series of free concerts by Carnegie Hall's Ensemble Connect hosted by Madison Square Park Conservancy. The performances pair with Maya Lin's "Ghost Forest" and other nature-inspired works by Claude Debussy, Aaron Copland, Duke Ellington, Caroline Shaw  (via Time Out NY).
• "Ghost Forest" by Maya Lin in Madison Square Park features dead Atlantic white cedars from New Jersey to spark converstations about climate change (via CentralJersey.com).
• CUNY's Baruch College opened its Pedestrian Plaza on East 25th Street between Madison Avenue and Park South Avenue this month. The plaza was in the works for a full decade (via Patch).
• Coming early 2022, Brier Patch will open his installation of 100 intertwined wood desks in Madison Square Park (via The Architect's Newspaper).

Header Photo Credit: NYC Council Member Carlina Rivera
Thumbnail Photo Credit: Sarashina Horii
Main Page Photo Credit: Carnige Hall

New York City Council Approves Expansion of Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership BID’s Boundaries, Nearly Doubling District’s Size

- Beginning in 2022 the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership will bring supplementary sanitation, safety, and other services to a larger footprint that includes 20^th Street, Sixth Avenue, and more of NoMad -

 New York, July 30, 2021 – The New York City Council yesterday voted to approve legislation that will expand the boundaries of the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District (BID) as of January 1, 2022. The expansion will nearly double the size of the BID, bringing the Partnership’s supplemental sanitation and safety services, homeless outreach, public space management and beautification, marketing, business support, and advocacy to a larger footprint that will include 20^th Street, the Sixth Avenue gateway to the district, and more of NoMad.

Map of the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership BID, with the original
BID boundaries (orange) and the expansion areas for 2022 (blue).

Since its inception in 2006, the Partnership has served Flatiron and the southern part of NoMad. Increasingly, business owners, property owners, and residents just outside of the BID’s original boundaries have expressed a need for BID services on their blocks. As the district and surrounding areas have evolved, the need has grown for broader public realm services and enhancements, districtwide promotions and advocacy, and a more cohesive neighborhood identity.

“For 15 years, the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership has helped cement the reputation of Flatiron and NoMad as two of New York City’s most vital and exiting neighborhoods and now we look forward to having the same impact in an expanded footprint,” said James Mettham, executive director of the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership. “Our new stakeholders can look forward to cleaner streets, more inviting public spaces, and more support for small businesses. We are grateful to Mayor de Blasio and the City Council, in particular Speaker Corey Johnson and Members Carlina Rivera and Keith Powers, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and Community Boards 4 and 5 for their support of our BID expansion.”

“The work of BIDs across the city is more important than ever as we help businesses and neighborhoods recover from the pandemic and adapt to post-pandemic life,” Mettham added. “We are committed to ensuring that the new areas of our BID – and every block in Flatiron and NoMad – are special places that make people want to live, work, visit, and play here in the heart of Manhattan.” 

The areas joining the BID include 1,384 properties, 344 of which are commercial; more than 20 existing or under-construction hotels; a diverse array of retail and dining; a plethora of cultural destinations and historic sites; a growing residential community; and the dynamic Sixth Avenue mixed-use corridor.

The City Council’s approval of the BID’s expansion follows four years of planning and stakeholder engagement by the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership in close coordination with the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), and a thorough public review process that was temporarily delayed by the COVID pandemic. The expansion plan has been widely embraced by neighborhood stakeholders.

"Congratulations to the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership on their concerted effort to make this expansion possible. It has been a pleasure working with the Flatiron Partnership and Steering Committee over the last few years to help them realize this expansion. I am very proud of the City Council's vote today to expand the boundaries of the BID, which will ensure important services can be provided to the local businesses and residential community who call Flatiron home," said New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

"I'm so excited to see the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District officially expand its boundaries with this important City Council vote today. This expansion will bring important services to community members in my District, including additional sanitation services, community outreach, and street activation, and I look forward to continuing to work with the BID on new initiatives in these wonderful neighborhoods," said New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera.

“Since 2006, the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership has helped anchor Flatiron and NoMad as two of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. This expansion will allow more New Yorkers to benefit from their continued support for local businesses, sanitation services, public space maintenance, and more. I’m proud to be supporting the expansion, and I thank the Mayor, Speaker Johnson, Council Member Rivera, Manhattan Borough President Brewer, and Community Boards 4 and 5 for their work,” said New York City Council Member Keith Powers.

“We are grateful for this vote of confidence from our neighborhood stakeholders. We look forward to bringing our expertise to a larger territory in this vibrant part of New York City,” said Michael T. Cohen, President of the Tri-State Region at Colliers International and Chairman of the Board of the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership. 

Throughout the COVID pandemic, the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership’s staff has been on the streets every day, responding to stakeholders’ evolving needs and helping to ensure that public spaces have remained safe, clean, and beautiful. Since May 2020, the Partnership has managed the City’s Open Streets program in Flatiron and NoMad, opening the roadbed on stretches of Broadway, 20^th Street, 22^nd Street, and 28^th Street to pedestrians and cyclists for greater social distancing. Additionally, the Partnership has worked with local restaurants on outdoor dining on sidewalks and streets through the City’s Open Restaurants program.

This summer, the Partnership collaborated with the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to create the new Flatiron Slow Street, which has transformed Broadway between 21^st Street and 23^rd Street into a more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly thoroughfare. The project is part of the Partnership’s long-term vision of a pedestrian-focused Broadway corridor through Flatiron and NoMad, which has also included the construction of the Flatiron Public Plazas in 2009 and Manhattan’s first Shared Street, from 24^th to 25^th Street, which was unveiled in 2017.

While the pandemic greatly reduced the number of commuters and tourists coming to Manhattan’s central business districts, momentum toward recovery continues to build. Pedestrian volumes in the Flatiron Public Plazas were up 80% by the end of June 2021, compared with June 2020. Both ground-floor retail leasing and commercial office leasing increased in Q2 2021. More than 60 new businesses have opened – or announced plans to open – in the district since July 2020.

The New York City Department of Small Business Services oversees the city’s BID program. A BID is a nonprofit organization made up of property owners and commercial tenants who are dedicated to promoting economic development and improving an area’s quality of life. There are 76 BIDs operating in New York City that invest over $170.5 million to serve 93,000 businesses in all five boroughs and maintain 152 public spaces.

>> Download Full Press Release

New Neighbor: Dominique Ansel Workshop

A warm welcome to Dominique Ansel Workshop, a croissant counter, located at 17 East 27th Street. Inspired by Santa's workshop, the shop includes Chef Dominique's pastry production kitchen, a test kitchen to develop new recipes and an event space for demos and chef collaborations.

"For us, the shorter the distance from the oven to your mouth, the better the croissant. So we wanted to create a little croissant counter right here inside of our pastry kitchens in Flatiron, where our team can bake fresh pastries for the neighborhood each and every morning. And with Madison Square Park just a block away, our guests can grab a few croissants and a cup of coffee, stroll to the park, and enjoy. We feel right at home here!" said Chef Dominique.

Guests can be in the center of the process by overlooking the counter and seeing the chefs making freshly-baked menu items like viennoiseries and pastries. The menu includes various croissants and pastries like the pain au chocolat with three batons of chocolate, the Huckleberry & Venilla Riz Au Lait Cube with homemade huckleberry jam and arborio rice pudding, and the Honey-Roasted Peach Danish with lemon thyme and almond frangipane. The workshop also cranks out savory dishes like quiche and a French omelet breakfast sandwich. Additionally, La Colombe coffee & Palais des Thés teas are served. A variety of hot or iced beverages are available like Espresso, Cold Brew, Matcha Latte, and Lemonade. 

The workshop comes to us from James Beard Award-winning Pastry Chef, Dominique Ansel who is responsible for creating some of the most sought after pastries in the world, including the Cronut® (named one of TIME Magazine’s “25 Best inventions of 2013”), The Cookie Shot, Frozen S’more, Blossoming Hot Chocolate, and many more.

Dominique Ansel Workshop is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday through Sunday from 8 am to 6 pm.

Dominique Ansel Workshop, 17 East 27th Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue), @DominiqueAnselWorkshop

Photography Credit: Dominique Ansel Workshop

Q2 2021 Flatiron Market Report

The Q2 2021 Market Report provides an economic snapshot of the district from April through June 2021. Flatiron and NoMad’s commercial office leasing increased 33% mirroring pre-pandemic volumes seen in Q1 2020. Availability rates increased due in large part to two new large office developments entering the market including 23 West 20th Street and The Textile Building (295 Fifth Avenue). 

Ground floor retail leasing continued to increase with most signings occurring along Broadway between 25th and 31st Streets near major office, hotel, and residential developments. New tenants including Harry Potter New York, The FRIENDS Experience, and Dominique Ansel Bakery helped increase activity in the district. Additionally, pedestrian volumes were up 80% by the end of June compared with June 2020.

Read the full Q2 2021 Market Report. 

Warm Welcome Back to Junoon

After closing last summer due to the pandemic, Junoon has reopened at a new location offering a more intimate and relaxed dining experience. Now located at 19 West 24th Street, the restaurant continues to redefine Indian cuisine through a modern style and innovative spirit.

"We are very excited to be opening in a new location in the Flatiron district because this neighborhood has been our home for over a decade now. I remember my father Rajesh (Junoon owner) driving a 15-year-old me, my brother, and my mom past the 27 west 24 street location in 2009 and at the time, there was only one restaurant on that street (there's now Eataly, which opened the same year as us, and five other restaurants on our block!). We are now a just 2-minute walk from the famous flatiron building, the gorgeous Madison Square Park, the original Shake shack, the original Eataly, world-renowned Eleven Madison Park, and more, so there is a lot of inspiration for us in this area, and we hope that we can be a source for inspiration to our future neighbors!", says Executive Chef Akshay Bhardwaj.

Their new space focuses on fusing Indian artistry and modern elegance through natural elements placed throughout the restaurant. At the entrance, guests are greeted with an abstract painting of the "Tree of Life" by Dolly Unihan, a nod to the central theme. The "Tree of Life" sandstone sculptures stand eight feet tall to the leather banquettes and Carrara marble bar within the front dining room. In the main dining room, guests can see an open chef's counter amd watch desserts being made.

Diners can expect an elegant menu of longtime favorites and new additions. The restaurant offers guests lunch, dinner a la carte, a three-course prix fixe for $85 a person, and a Chef's Tasting Menu featuring seven courses for $115 a person. The carte features Indian street food, small plates, and classic Indian fare, like Crispy Eggplant, Dahi Vada, Tandoori Octopus, Smoked Masala Ribs, and Tellicherry Duck. Additionally, there's a selection of housemade breads and Indian sweets like Hara Partha and "Cricket," a chikoo shrikhand mousse named after India's national sport.

Pictured: Tandoori Octupus

Hermat Pathak, Junoon's mixologist, curated a beverage menu ranging from zero to full-proof cocktails embracing herbs, fruits, spices, and teas used in Indian cooking. The Mumbai Margarita includes mango purée, rose-chili syrup, and cilantro-chili Maldon salt. The East India Gin Tonic features Junoon's house tonic, elderflower, orange blossom liqueur, and paan leaf.

Pictured: Mumbai Margarita 

Later this year, the restaurant will also debut the Junoon Market, a retail area for guests to purchase everything from housemade spices, saucesand specialty tea blends to desserts and baked goods to-go.

Junoon is open for lunch Thursday through Sunday from 12 pm to 3 pm. Dinner service available dinner  Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 5 pm - 10:30 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 5 pm - 11:30pm.

Junoon, 19 West 24th Street, 212-490-2100, @junoonnyc

New Neighbor: PLANTA Queen

Meet the new restaurant PLANTA Queen located at 15 West 27th Street. Set in a sprawling, bi-level space including a bar and lower-level speakeasy, the environmentally sustainable eatery serves bold vegan and vegetarian cuisine in a ambiant setting. The mission of the restaurant is to continuously expand the power of plant-based living by creating a dining experience that encourage guests to let loose and feel nourished, balancing indulgence with wellness. 

“We’re excited to finally share PLANTA with the greatest city in the world, and as the heart of New York City, the Flatiron neighborhood is the perfect place for us to start and grow,” says Founder and CEO Steven Salm, a New York native. “The community in the neighborhood is exceptional, with so many businesses and restaurants coming out to support each other. We’re thrilled to be here. We believe the power of plants can change the world, and that power begins with our plates. For our health, for the health of our communities, and for the wellbeing of our planet—plants are key. Every PLANTA experience is a step toward a greener future. Our dedication to environmental sustainability is interwoven throughout every part of our business, from our sourcing to our restaurant design to our packaging to our partnerships, we seek to put more back into the world than we take. PLANTA is for the planet.”

Curated by Chef Lee, the PLANTA Queen menu features longtime favorites across five different sections: Sushi, Chilled & Raw, Dumplings, Small Plates, and Wok & Noodles. Signature dishes include the Ahi Watermelon Nigiri, Rainbow Roll, Pad Thai Slaw, Crispy Gyoza, General D’sCauliflower, Spicy Seoul Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles, and Pineapple Fried Rice. 

Additionally, PLANTA Queen’s beverage list includes full-proof, stunning cocktails like the Herb Your Enthusiasm and Mez-CalMe Maybe; a non-alcoholic Free Spirit section crafted with Seedlip; cold-pressed juices and sake, beer, wine and hard cider options. For dessert, guests can pick from matcha cheesecake, vegan chocolate cake, or house-made mochi.

PLANTA Queen’s NoMad location was designed by studioICRAVE with 140-seated bi-level space. The restaurant including a bar with 14 seats, an open kitchen, a front lounge seating, a large main dining room, and an underground speakeasy dubbed "The Dragon’s Den" that doubles as a private dining area. The main floor focuses on using simple materials in innovative ways. The NoMad location is outfitted with Asian-themed metalwork, woven pendant lights, and a rose gold bar. 

The restaurant strives is to create plant-based experience with a positive, long-term impact in mind. The restaurant aims to challenge the current perceptions of plant-based living and strives to nourish the body and soul. 

Planta Queen opens for brunch, lunch and dinner Monday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 11 pm. Make reservations here.

Planta Queen, 15 West 27th Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Broadway), @plantaqueen

Photography Credit: Giada Paoloni for PLANTA Restaurants

New Neighbor: MEET on Madison

The Flatiron Partnership is excited to welcome MEET on Madison, the newest location of MEET Hospitality, a meeting and event venue that redefines the office workspace and offers customized serviced events. Located at 41 Madison Avenue, MEET on Madison partnered with Rudin Management and Tabletop Building to provide space for teams to reunite and work in-person and hybrid for meetings and events.

“MEET Hospitality is thrilled to establish its first threshold in Madison Square Park. The neighborhood is so vibrant and alive. We love how it continues to re-invent itself with such a rich history and the ability to provide a crossroads for many of New York City’s most dynamic industries, from fine arts and design to finance and technology. The location could not be more ideal,” shared Sara Schiller, Co-Founder and CEO. 

MEET on Madison aims to foster focus and creativity with meeting and event spaces. Their 7,000 square foot space has five main rooms differing in sizes and layouts, which allows for flexibility, exclusive access, and different programming. Each room has luminous ceilings that mimic the natural hue of daylight, state-of-the-art technology, and catering from renowned New York City eateries.

Designed with Method Design, guests are greeted with custom floral art installations by Dead Flowers NYC and large-scale landscapes by American photographer David Benjamin Sherry. 

Additionally, MEET Hospitality offers MEET Eats, a catering program that partners with local New York City favorites and brings it into the meeting experience. Their menu features Shake Shack, Milk, Magnolia Bakery, Katz's Delicatessen, and more.

MEET on Madison is currently welcoming meeting and event requests from September 2021 and beyond. Request a proposal here.

MEET on Madison, 41 Madison Avenue (Between 25th Street and 26th Street), @meethospitality

Photos Credit: MEET on Madison

Q2 2021 Flatiron Pedestrian Report

The Partnership collects pedestrian counts on the Flatiron Public Plazas via three cameras that anonymously tally the number of people passing through. The Q2 2021 Pedestrian Report summarizes counts from April 1 through June 30, 2021.

In Q2, daily foot traffic was 37% higher than last quarter, marking an additional 9,494 pedestrian movements in the heart of the district per day. The plazas are now operating at 63% of pre-pandemic pedestrian volumes.

Click here for the Q2 2021 Pedestrian Report.

Celebrating Fourth of July Guide 2021

Celebrate Independence Day this weekend in the neighborhood with special treats and offerings.