City Living: The Garment District is the place to be for biz

Once the textile and fashion hub of New York City, the Garment District is now changing rapidly as more businesses from industries outside of fashion are moving in.

From advertising agencies and architecture firms to creative workspaces, tech, graphic design and lighting companies, the Garment District is now saturated with a new kind of creative buzz.

It is one which Garment District Alliance President, Barbara Randall says makes the area a “very exciting place to be right now.”

“It’s changed dramatically over the last five years,” she said. “It used to be a neighborhood that closed at 6 p.m. and everybody went home. Now with the mix of businesses in the buildings, it goes much later into the evening.”

Randall notes that 146 architectural firms and more than 100 tech companies in addition to advertising agencies like Razorfish and R/GA are attracting an influx of young professionals, new restaurants and bars.

“Over 50% of the tenancy here is non-fashion now,” she said, noting that many of the new tenants are small businesses with anywhere between five and 35 employees.

“It hasn’t been replaced with H&M or The Gap,” Randall said. “As you walk through the streets you’ll see interesting new uses of buildings by more independent companies. And a fair number of folks from the fashion industry are still here.”

Places like M&J Trimming, which has been in the neighborhood since the 1960s and specializes in the sale of ribbons, buttons, crystals and other DIY products still remain along with other bead shops on Sixth Avenue and fashion showrooms and wholesale outlets down the side streets.

Michael J. Cohen, owner of M&J Trimming at 1008 Ave. of the Americas says he likes the transformation.

“It’s still authentic even with the new businesses,” he said. “It’s good for people looking for something offbeat and grounded.”

In recent years Cohen has had to change his business to a more consumer-friendly one as facets of the garment industry migrated out of the area, many to overseas. That migration is a big reason why the district has changed so much.

He says the neighborhood’s grittiness is part of its allure.

“It still retains the old sense of New York,” he said. “To us this is a magical place. We couldn’t exist anywhere else.”

When creative workspace Grind moved to the Garment District in July, sales and marketing manager Anthony Marinos said the company wanted to be in the Garment District because there was nothing like it in the area.

“It offered lots of space and it’s close to all types of public transportation,” he said of the 14,374-square-foot space at 1412 Broadway.

The Garment District was never known as a residential spot. But as the various new industries opened up shop in the area in recent years, several new residential developments have been built, including the luxury Greywood, Emerald Green and Crystal Green buildings, adding to long-time residences like The Atlas and The Hartford co-op building.

Randall notes that hotels were the big catalyst of recent change. In 2008 boutique hotels like The Strand on 37th Street and The Refinery, on 38th Street started moving in.

According to Randall, since 2012 seven new hotels have opened in the Garment District. She noted that there are 28 in district now and 10 more in development.

“This is now a vibrant, 24/7 neighborhood,” Randall said, calling the changes an organic evolution. “We’re past the tipping point of change.”

 Find it:

The Garment District is located within Midtown South with a little overlap in Midtown West. It extends from 34^th/35th to 41^st/42nd streets, depending on who you talk to. From east to west it sits between Fifth/Sixth and Ninth Avenues.

Transportation

Trains:

1, 2, 3 to 34th Street-Penn Station and Times Square-42nd Street

A, C, E to 34th Street-Penn Station and 42nd Street-Port Authority

B, D, F, M to 34th Street-Herald Square and 42nd Street-Bryant Park

N, Q, R to 34th Street- Herald Square and Times Square-42nd Street

LIRR to 34th Street-Penn Station

Buses:

M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M11, M20, M34A, M42, M104

Library:

The closest library to the Garment District is the historic New York Public Library at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street and the Mid-Manhattan Library at 455 Fifth Ave.

Post office:

USPS, 223 W. 38th St., 212-819-9604

Crime:

The Garment District is covered by the Midtown South Precinct at 357 W. 35th St. According to the NYPD’s CompStat report, historically burglary, robbery and grand larceny auto complaints decreased significantly from 1990 to 2012. In 1990 there were 4,227 robbery, 3,513 burglary and 612 grand larceny auto reports to the precinct, compared to 183, 315 and 18 in 2012, respectively. For the week of Nov. 25, 2013 through Dec. 1, 2013, there were 12 misdemeanor assaults reported, compared to six in the same week last year.

To eat:

Barbara Randall, president of the Garment District Alliance, says the influx of various creative companies is making the Garment District a 24/7 hub for destination dining.

The Hudson Bond, 215 W. 40th St.

Part of one of the destination dining spots of the Garment District, The Hudson Bond offers dishes like Crème Brulee French Toast and grilled salmon nicoise for Sunday brunch. Or opt for tacos and Jamaican Jerk chicken anytime during the day.
212-719-1200

Andrew’s Coffee Shop , 463 Fashion Ave.

This family-owned restaurant has been in business since 1964. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days of the week. 212-965-1962

Mmm … Enfes, 70 W. 39th St.

Traditional Turkish street food is served up at this small Garment District hotspot. Dishes range from beef and chicken gozlemes to sigara boreks and simits.
212-827-0801

To party:

The Skylark Rooftop Bar, 200 W. 39th St.

The only access being through a building’s freight elevator entrance, one wouldn’t expect this chic 30th-floor space to offer panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and a close-up view of the Empire State Building and the New Years Eve ball. But it does. Specialty cocktails include the New York State of Mind and the Black Walnut Manhattan. 212-257-4577

Refinery Hotel Rooftop Bar and Lounge, 63 W. 38th St.

This newly opened rooftop bar at the Refinery Hotel is a mix of industrial and elegant as it retains some of the features of the building’s old purpose as a millinery factory while blending modern design. Majestic skyline views also await the happy hour crowd.
646-664-0310

Houndstooth Pub, 520 Eighth Ave.

Houndstooth Pub is a 6,800 square-foot space offering three levels to party, drink and indulge in some grub. 212-643-0034

To shop:

M&J Trimming, 1008 Ave. of the Americas

The experienced or novice DIY design types could indulge in a vast selection of ribbons, Swarovski crystals, rhinestones, buttons and ribbons. The bridal salon also offers veils and headpieces. 800-965-8746

 Robbie & Company Men’s Shop, 147 W. 35th St.

At this boutique, tailored suits, dress shirts, sports coats await the stylish man or a trendy groomsmen party. 212-904-1384

Paron Fabrics, 257 W. 39th St.

This family-owned fabric store has been in the Garment District for over 40 years. Their variety of fabrics such as silk, linens and woolens are appropriate for purposes ranging form clothing to home décor and theatrical set designs.

To do:

Fashion District History Walking Tour

The two-hour tour is led by self-proclaimed “garmento,” Michael Kaback. He leads visitors down memory lane of the Garment District’s heyday filled with anecdotes of his more than 35-years experience in the garment industry. Upcoming dates include Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 10 a.m. Mikesnyctours.com

Grind, 1412 Broadway

This members-only workspace opened a new branch in the Garment District in July. For $35 a day or $500 a month, creative types in the fashion, tech or advertising industries can utilize the space to work on projects. The space also hosts a free monthly speaker series named Rethink, held every second Tuesday. Grindspaces.com

Chashama, 266 W. 37th St.

Chashama’s Garment District location hosts multiple exhibits and performances of local artists year-round. Their current installation, “Luxuria Barbarica,” by Ridgewood-based artist Traci Horgen, will run through Jan. 6. Chashama.org

The buzz:

According to Barbara Randall, president of the Garment District Alliance, 10 new hotels are slated to be constructed in the Garment District within the next few years. The first of those, The Archer, will open in 2014. The 21-story luxury hotel will be located at 45 W. 38th St. and will feature a David Burke restaurant.

Other hotels include Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotels at 312 W. 37th St. and Le Soleil Hotel at 38 W. 36th St. Randall said the planned hotels could add an additional 1,253 rooms.

The hotel boom in the Garment District is part of a larger trend across the city. According to NYC & Co., the New York City tourism council, 39 hotels were unveiled in Manhattan between January 2011 and October 2013. There are 61 hotels in the pipeline for 2016 in the borough.

“New York City’s hotels are thriving and expanding at a rate never seen before from traditional tourist areas like Midtown Manhattan to neighborhoods across the five boroughs,” said a spokesperson at NYC & Co., noting that there are many hotels being developed around the 10036 zipcode. “Over the past six years, New York City has added 167 new hotels.”

According to the annual Garment District Alliance Economic Report, done by Price Waterhouse Cooper, the recently-opened hotels attracted about 908,000 people to the area last year.

Real estate

To rent:

320 W. 38th St. Two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit in the newly built Emerald Green building; 1,300 square feet: $5,600 per month.

100 W. 39th St. Studio, one-bathroom unit; 560 square feet: $2,900 per month.

To buy:

360 W. 36th St. #PH12. Four bedrooms, four baths with private terrace; 3,794 square feet: $4,400,000.

348 W. 36th St., #2N. One-bedroom, one-bathroom co-op; 900 square feet: $825,000.

Looking for a home in the Garment District?

1407 Broadway Real Estate, 212-944-6094

Q&A with Hadassah Zuberi Ben-Dor, Owner of Gargoyles

Hadassah Zuberi Ben-Dor owns and operates the Gargoyles at 323 W. 36th St. The shop specializes in vintage props such as statues, typewriters, porter chairs, trophies, sports equipment and old suitcases. She sells to companies like Polo Ralph Lauren and sometimes rents out to Broadway productions such as “Matilda.”

What is your favorite aspect of the Garment District?

The food; there is a variety for any palette. I tried Bangladeshi food for the first time here. I’m constantly telling tourists where to eat when they visit the store.

How are the people here?

I’ve made a lot of friends here. There is a mix of people from tourists to local artists, young designers and residents; and everyone is friendly.

How have you seen the neighborhood change?

Decades ago, and even up to 10 years ago, from the Javits Center to here was no-man’s land. It was dangerous but now there are so many shops, eateries and new developments.

This article was updated on Dec. 16th to reflect the following correction: Winoker Realty is now EVO Real Estate Group, a multi-service company focusing primarily on commercial office and retail leasing.