High above the bustling entrance of The Home Depot at 124-128 West 23rd Street in New York City, a stone lion’s head gazes down, an unexpected detail for a modern home improvement store. Just below, carved letters “SB” within a cartouche offer a silent clue to the building’s rich past, hinting at a time when this location was the heart of luxury shopping. This is not just any Home Depot; this is Home Depot 23rd Street Ny Ny, a retail space steeped in history.
From Department Store Grandeur: The Stern Brothers Era
The “SB” stands for Stern Brothers, once a name synonymous with upscale department stores. Over a century ago, the area south of Madison Square Park, known as Ladies’ Mile, was Manhattan’s premier shopping district, and Stern Brothers was among its crown jewels. On the northern edge of this glamorous stretch, Stern’s rose to prominence as briefly the largest department store in New York. They were pioneers, embracing innovative technologies like plate glass to create expansive street-level windows. These windows weren’t just for display; they invented “window shopping,” allowing passersby to admire the merchandise within.
Founded in 1867 by brothers Louis, Isaac, Bernard, and Benjamin Stern, the store initially opened on Sixth Avenue near 23rd Street. As their business thrived, they sought larger premises, relocating in 1878 to 32 West 23rd Street. They commissioned Henry Fernbach, a German-born architect renowned for synagogue designs like the Central Synagogue, to create a six-story cast-iron Renaissance Revival masterpiece. Following Fernbach’s death in 1883, the Sterns turned to another German architect, W.M. Schickel, to manage further expansion.
By 1892, Schickel had dramatically expanded Stern’s footprint westward to 40 West 23rd Street. He skillfully replicated Fernbach’s design for the western wing and added a central section featuring a grand arched entrance, seamlessly uniting the two wings. The result was an enormous structure, possibly still New York City’s largest cast-iron facade. Painted a dazzling white, the building stretched across eight city lots and became a beloved landmark, affectionately nicknamed “the big wedding cake on 23rd Street” for its ornate beauty and impressive scale.
Stern’s flourished alongside other prestigious retailers on the block, including Teller & Co. (later Bonwit Teller) and Best & Co. The Stern brothers themselves were deeply involved in the daily operations, with at least one always present to greet customers, impeccably dressed in cutaway tailcoats. Adding to the refined shopping atmosphere, pianists on every floor provided live music, an early example of curated retail ambiance. However, by 1913, the tide of luxury retail was shifting uptown, and Stern’s followed, relocating to 42nd Street opposite Bryant Park. The department store continued to expand, eventually growing to two dozen branches across three states before becoming part of Federated Department Stores. In 2001, the remaining Stern’s locations were rebranded as Bloomingdale’s or Macy’s, and the Stern Brothers name faded into history.
Rebirth and Modern Retail: From Neglect to Home Depot
While Stern Brothers disappeared, their iconic 23rd Street building endured, though not without challenges. For a period, the magnificent facade suffered neglect, even enduring the indignity of being painted pink as the area lost its retail prominence and transitioned to manufacturing and shipping. However, in 1968, its fortunes began to turn when Jerome M. Cohen and his partners acquired the property. They initiated a comprehensive restoration of the cast-iron facade, breathing new life into the historic structure. Showrooms and offices soon filled the building once more.
In 1986, Hasbro, Inc., the renowned toy and board game company, became a major tenant. They hosted toy fairs within its walls and even provided the backdrop for a memorable scene in the Tom Hanks movie “Big.” Hasbro remained for nearly two decades before Home Depot moved in during 2004.
Today, Home Depot is the anchor tenant, but the building also houses other businesses, including a separate entrance at 40 West 23rd Street leading to office and showroom spaces, previously occupied by clothing designer Marc Ecko. In a fitting twist of fate, Home Depot has brought the building back to its retail origins, catering to the unique needs of Manhattan residents.
Home Depot 23rd Street NY NY: Tailored for the City Dweller
This Home Depot 23rd Street NY NY location isn’t a typical suburban big-box store. As the company’s first Manhattan store, it is specifically designed for apartment and brownstone dwellers. Occupying 108,000 square feet across the street level, mezzanine, and basement, including space at 28 West 23rd Street, it offers a curated selection of 20,000 products, expanding to 100,000 with special orders. In a nod to the building’s department store heritage, this Home Depot even features a doorman to greet customers, a subtle echo of the Stern brothers’ era of attentive service, even if the greeter’s attire is more orange apron than cutaway tailcoat. Home Depot 23rd Street NY NY successfully blends historical grandeur with modern retail practicality, offering a unique shopping experience in the heart of Manhattan.
