Located prominently on West 23rd Street in New York City, The Home Depot is more than just a home improvement store; it’s a landmark with a rich history embedded in its very structure. Above the main entrance, a carved lion’s head and the monogram “SB” offer a silent yet compelling clue to the building’s original purpose, hinting at a past far grander than nuts and bolts.
The “SB” stands for Stern Brothers, a name synonymous with luxury and elegance in New York’s Gilded Age. Over a century ago, this area south of Madison Square Park was the epicenter of New York’s premier shopping district, known as Ladies’ Mile. Stern Brothers was among the most opulent department stores of its time. Positioned at the northern edge of this fashionable stretch, it once reigned as the largest department store in New York. Stern’s was also a pioneer in utilizing plate glass windows, creating expansive street-level displays that invited passersby into the then-novel concept of “window shopping.”
Founded in 1867 by brothers Louis, Isaac, Bernard, and Benjamin Stern, the department store initially opened on Sixth Avenue near 23rd Street. As their business thrived, Stern Brothers sought larger premises, relocating in 1878 to 32 West 23rd Street. They commissioned Henry Fernbach, a German-born architect renowned for his ecclesiastical designs, including the Central Synagogue, to create a six-story cast-iron Renaissance Revival building. Following Fernbach’s death in 1883, W. M. Schickel, another German émigré architect, was brought in to manage further expansions.
By 1892, Schickel had significantly expanded Stern’s footprint westward to 40 West 23rd Street. He skillfully mirrored Fernbach’s original design for the western wing and added a central section featuring a grand arched entrance, seamlessly uniting the two wings. The resulting structure became what is believed to be New York City’s largest cast-iron facade. Painted a dazzling white and spanning eight city lots, the building was a spectacle, often nicknamed “the big wedding cake on 23rd Street” due to its ornate and imposing presence.
Stern’s flourished alongside other prominent retailers on the block, including Teller & Co. (later Bonwit Teller) and Best & Co. The Stern brothers themselves were a constant presence, with at least one always on hand to greet customers, all impeccably dressed in cutaway tailcoats. Adding to the refined shopping experience, pianists were stationed on each floor, filling the air with music – an early example of curated retail ambiance. However, by 1913, the tide of New York’s high-end retail was moving uptown. Stern’s followed suit, relocating to 42nd Street, across from 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.
Despite the departure of its namesake, the iconic building at 23rd Street endured. Though it faced a period of neglect, even bearing a temporary pink facade, the grandeur of its cast-iron architecture remained. For much of the 20th century, as 23rd Street lost its prestige retail status, the building served as manufacturing and shipping space for various businesses. A turning point came in 1968 when Jerome M. Cohen, chairman of Williams Real Estate Co., and his partners acquired the property and initiated a comprehensive restoration of the cast-iron facade, paving the way for showrooms and offices to occupy the space once again.
In 1986, Hasbro, Inc., the renowned toy and board game company, became a major tenant. They hosted toy fairs within its walls and even inspired a scene in the Tom Hanks movie “Big,” which was filmed on location. Hasbro remained for nearly two decades before The Home Depot moved in as the primary tenant in 2004, marking a new chapter for the historic building.
Today, The Home Depot West 23rd Street New York Ny, occupies a significant portion of the building, although clothing designer Marc Ecko maintains separate offices and showrooms accessible via a distinct entrance at 40 West 23rd Street. Interestingly, The Home Depot’s arrival has, in a way, returned the building to its retail roots, albeit with a modern twist catering to the needs of Manhattan residents. As the company’s first Manhattan store, this Home Depot is specifically tailored to apartment and brownstone dwellers. Spanning 108,000 square feet across the street level, mezzanine, and basement, including space in the adjacent 28 West 23rd Street, it stocks 20,000 different products, with access to 100,000 more through special orders. Adding a touch of its historical predecessor’s customer service, this Home Depot even features a doorman to greet shoppers – a subtle nod to the era of the Stern brothers, even if the greeter is not sporting a cutaway tailcoat. This unique Home Depot location seamlessly blends the building’s storied past with its contemporary purpose, offering a distinctive shopping experience in the heart of New York City.
