News

November News Roundup

Dec 1, 2020

November’s news highlighted this year’s Holiday Installation, “Point of Action”, newly opened restaurants, and the continued impacts of COVID-19 on the district. Stay up-to-date with the latest Flatiron District News.

Restaurants & Bars

Hiroki Odo, owner of o.d.o., a Michelin-starred 12-seat counter restaurant has launched a new casual sushi line in Brooklyn called HALL by ODO (via Wall Street Journal).
Grub Street reviews the newly opened Milu who offers uniquely delicious menu and a different spin on takeout (via Grub Street).
Made Nice — the fast-casual restaurant from the Eleven Madison Park crew — has closed nearly four years after it opened due to pandemic-related downturn (via Eater NY).
Atoboy and Cote are listed at #7 and #42 respectively for Time Out New York’s best restaurants in NYC right now (via TIme Out New York).
GreenMatters lists Veggie Grill’s Moroccan Lentil Soup and Three-Bean Chili as their favorite vegan soups (via GreenMatters).
Connie Chung, chef at MIlu, spoke with The New York Times about how the pandemic inspired a kitchen-share scene among chefs (via The New York Times).
Nomad Bar makes #13 in the 2020 World’s 50 Best Bars ranking (via Forbes & TIme Out New York).
ilili‘s Philippe Massoud and La Pecora Bianca‘s Dave Ferrara spoke with PIX11 about autumn outdoor dining in Flatiron (via PIX11).
Numerous district restaurants such as The Breslin and Hill Country Barbeque are listed for their stellar Thanksgiving spread (via 6sqft, Cheddar, Eater NY, & NY Post).
Michelin three-star restaurant Eleven Madison Park has joined a growing list of high-end establishments in New York to offer takeout and delivery services for the first time, as the hospitality industry as a whole continues to bounce back from the Covid-19 pandemic (via Total Food Service).
Eater’s Tanay Warerkar reports that Milu’s Yunnan brisket bowl was the best dish he ate last week (via Eater NY).
Sagaponack and Isabelle’s Osteria opened this November (via Eater NY).
Eataly executive, Dino Borri spent a Sunday with The New York Times, perusing around Rizzoli Bookstore, Madison Square Park, and of course Eataly (via The New York Times).
Former Barney’s headlining chef, Mark Strausman debuted his namesake new eatery, Mark’s Off Madison, a relaxed, but stylish, spot where patrons can enjoy the O.G. Madison salad, Straussie’s bagels, and other menu favorites (via Eater NY, Guest of a Guest, & Women’s Wear Daily).

District Businesses

Alper Tutus, owner of Memories of New York, spoke with The New York Times about the tourism wipe out due to the coronavirus lockdown, and how it has impacted sales at his 25-year-old souvenir store (via The New York Times).
Former fashion designer and professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, Liz Collins’s visual expression emphasizes textiles and explores the crosscurrents of art, craft, and design. Her latest project is not in an art gallery, but rather at the Ligne Roset flagship in Manhattan’s Flatiron District (via Elle Decor).
James Mettham, executive director of the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership spoke with the Wall Street Journal about the surge in storefront vacancies and slow increases in foot traffic (via The Wall Street Journal).
The NoMad Hotel is bringing its New York City design to the hotel brand’s first location, NoMad London (via Wall Street Journal).
Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership’s executive director, James Mettham joined Peter Knutson and Dag Folger of Architecture Plus Information to co-author an op-ed on innovative use of public spaces. Mettham, Knutson, and Foger discuss how the creative design of public space can make workplaces somewhere where employees don’t HAVE to be but WANT to be (via Crain’s New York)
While the physical Harry Potter New York store at 935 Broadway does not yet have a firm opening date, their online store has opened in time for the holidays (via MuggleNet).
The James New York, a quintessential four-star hotel near the iconic Madison Square Park launched their biggest savings promotions for Black Friday, which included up to 50 percent off their best rates (via Conde Nast Traveler).
The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership, Brooklyn-based design firm FANTÁSTICA, and internationally renowned photography museum Fotografiska New York are piloting an innovative curbside seating module called Fast Casual as part of the Open Restaurants program, creating more outdoor seating where people can meet, eat, and relax in the Flatiron District (via Patch).

Real Estate

SL Green Realty Corp. and its joint-venture partners have closed on a $1.25 billion construction loan for a major redevelopment of One Madison Avenue. The property is situated next to Madison Square Park, between Park and Madison avenues and East 23rd and 24th streets and will occupy the entire city block (via Crain’s New York Business, DesignBoom, Global Banking & Finance Review, Global Construction Review, New York Business Journal, & New York YIMBY).
The stunning ArtDeco skybridge on the MetLife buildings by Madison Square Park is being demolished (via Gothamist and Untapped Cities).
Swann Galleries has renewed its lease for 21,200 square feet at an office building close to Madison Square Park (via New York Business Journal).
Life Time Inc. is preparing to open new fitness centers in New York City, and Bahram Akradi, Life Time’s founder, chairman, and CEO, is looking for more real estate in the Flatiron District (via New York Business Journal).
WeWork added a 156,000-square-foot space in the Flatiron district during the third quarter (via Yahoo Finance).

Around the Neighborhood

New York City marked Veterans Day by placing wreaths at the Eternal Light Flagstaff in Madison Square Park (via CBS 2 News at Noon).
The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership unveiled “Point of Action,” a public art installation by Studio Cooke John. Located on the Flatiron Public Plaza, the installation asks people to step inside circles under the metal frame, putting people in the spotlight and encouraging them to safely connect with those around them. The installation is an element of the Partnership’s “23 Days of Flatiron Cheer” (via 6sqft, amNewYork, Arch Paper, NBC New York, Women’s Wear Daily, & Untapped Cities).