January News Roundup

The start of 2020 marked some notable media highlights for the neighborhood such as grabbing several “best of” titles, the opening of exciting establishments.  Stay up-to-date with the latest Flatiron District News with our monthly roundup of notable highlights.

Restaurants & Bars

• James Beard Award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr opened his newest destination concept in Fotografiska, the new, New York location of the Stockholm-based photography museum. The European café-inspired restaurant, Verōnika doesn’t shy away from the opulence in its own design, with luxe brass chandeliers, a marble bar and a bohemian mural of a forest. “The design is pretty awe-inspiring, very sexy,” he said. “I’m inspired by the whole space and the fact that it is a museum celebrating photography.”(via Yahoo Lifestyle).
• Named one of the Most Exciting Coffee Shops of 2019: ‘The Counter by Joe’ with Todd Snyder Collaboration: The cozy, quick-service cafe with bar and table seating for 16 guests plus standing room represents a collaborative effort between Joe and the Todd Snyder New York flagship store for menswear at Madison Square Park in Manhattan (via Daily Coffee News).
• The Clocktower and Junoon (two Michelin starred restaurants in Flatiron) landed spots on Thrillist’s “Best Restaurant Week Spots” list Now closed Flatiron Lounge was named one of the “14 Bars That Changed Cocktails Forever in America” (via Thrillist).
• The newest Urbanspace food hall opened up in Midtown this month with 15 vendors and plenty of options for the lunch crowd including Flatiron oldest sandwich spot Eisenberg’s opening an outpost. Eisenberg’s is offering a slightly reduced menu of its classic NYC deli sandwiches and their famous milkshakes and egg creams (via 6 Sq Ft).
• Cosme‘s Husk Meringue was named one of the Best Desserts in NYC grabbing the title “Best for wanting to lick your plate” (via Thrillist).

BID Businesses

• Warner Bros. released proposed renderings for its first official Harry Potter flagship store in the heart of New York City next to the iconic Flatiron building at 935 Broadway. Spanning three floors and over 20,000 sq. ft., the space will provide fans with a number of exciting retail experiences that evoke the magic of the Wizarding World including everything from personalized robes and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans to a brand-new range of house wands with a design exclusive to the New York location (via Cision PR Newswire).
• Stationery chain Papyrus, which once had over 450 stores throughout the U.S., is shutting the doors of its standalone stores. The company that has operated the retail chain is reportedly closing all of its locations nationwide, citing “current challenges of the retail industry.” Two Papyrus stores are located with Flatiron: 655 Sixth Avenue & 940 Broadway (via Fortune magazine).
• Learn about the architecture and design of the Poster House museum – “The design… responds to both the unique qualities of the institution within the cultural landscape of New York City and the exceptional urban conditions of its site in the Flatiron district near Madison Square Park” (via E-Architect).

Real Estate & Commercial 

• The first installation of the glass windows has begun on COOKFOX Architect’s 24-story Flatiron District project at 39 West 23rd Street featuring a two-tower residential complex. 39 West 23rd Street looks like it can be completed by the end of 2020 or sometime in early 2021 at the latest (via New York YIMBY).
• Haven Life Insurance Agency (Haven Life), the customer-centric life insurance innovator backed and wholly owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), today announced its inclusion in Built In NYC’s list of Best Places to Work in 2020. Companies are selected based on compensation data and employer benefits (via Yahoo Finance).

Around the Neighborhood

• Stuffed Koslas popped up all over NYC to raise awareness for Aussie Wildlife including a plush koala spotted clinging to a Flatiron District pole (via Pedestrians TV).
• The New York Times Sunday Review’s feature reminded people to “Look Up” from our phones more often to take in wonders around us like the Flatiron Building (via New York Times).

Header and Thumbnail Photo: Harry Potter renderings via Warner Bros.