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The fabulous transformation of Flatiron and Fifth.


In the mid-19th Century, Fifth Avenue from Washington square to 14th Street was a rich and elegant residential neighborhood. The homes were large and free-standing, with yards and gardens, and barns for the horses which drew family carriages, and sheds for the carriages - a luxury of space not known today.

Above 14th Street, there was the Avenue up to 23rd Street and nothing else - city-owned land which was rented out for farms and pasture. Nowadays, as this area goes through a third rebirth, Pier 1 Imports Pier 1 Imports Inc. (NYSE: PIR) is a Fort Worth, Texas-based retailer specializing in imported home furnishings and decor, particularly furniture, table-top items, decorative accessories and seasonal decor.  is at 71 Fifth and Vidal Sassoon Vidal Sassoon (born January 17, 1928) is a hairdresser.

Sassoon was born to Jewish parents in London. His father was from Thessaloniki in northern Greece with Iraqi origins, and his mother, whose family was originally from Kiev, was born in London.
 Hair Salon A hair salon (also called 'Hairdresser' and 'Hair Parlour')is a place where one goes to get their hair cut, as well as styled, highlighted or coloured.

There are many different types of hair salons that one can choose to go to.
 is at #90. The addresses between 15th and 16th Streets are: #73, Au Bon Pain Au Bon Pain (French: At the Place with the Good Bread) is a fast-casual bakery/cafe chain headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Louis Rapuano and Louis Kane founded Au Bon Pain in 1978. Pavailler contributed baking machinery to the venture. ; #79, Cosmetics Plus; #100, bebe, inc.; #104, Joan & David; and #108 Paul Smith's Men's Wear. Between 16th and 17th streets, one finds #85, Aeropostale, which is under construction; #89, Banana Republic banana republic
n.
A small country that is economically dependent on a single export commodity, such as bananas, and is typically governed by a dictator or the armed forces.
; #91, J. Crew; #95, Kenneth Cole Kenneth Cole is the name of:
  • Kenneth Cole (designer)
  • Kenneth Reese Cole, Jr., aide to Richard Nixon
  • Kenneth S. Cole, an American biophysicist
  • M. Kenneth D. Cole, who studied the effects of radiation on the human body as part of the Manhattan Project
 Shoes; #110, Emporio Armani Emporio Armani is a Giorgio Armani brand. Products encompassed by this brand include ready-to-wear clothes, sunglasses, perfume, accessories and watches. This specific branch is targeted toward younger buyers, offering less expensive and more mass produced items. ; #122, The Gap Kids; and #126, The Gap.

Along Fifth Avenue from 17th to 18th streets, there are: #101, Zara, the newest arrival; #103, Eileen Fisher Eileen Fisher is an American women's retail clothing designer. Her clothing is known for simplicity. In fact, Eileen Fisher has used non-traditional models in print advertisements, including employees of the company. ; #130, The Limited Express; and #140, Aveda. At #105, Barnes & Noble has always been there, it seems.

The area gradually evolved during the early 19th Century from farm to elegant residential. Later on, businesses and retail replaced residences.

In the 1880's, the area between 18th and 20th streets was home to #150 Fifth Avenue, built in 1888, which was the headquarters of the Methodist Church in New York New York, state, United States
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of
 and the Methodist Book Concern. No. 156 was the former Presbyterian Building, built in 1894. Look at the tops of these buildings; they still have their crosses. In fact, there were so many publishers of religious material in that area at that time it became known as "Pater PATER. Father. A term used in making genealogical tables.  Noster Row." Along the Row today is #111, Daffy's; #115, Nine West, Enzo Angolini and Victoria's Secret For the Sonata Arctica single, see Victoria's Secret (song)

Victoria's Secret is an American retailer of high quality lingerie and beauty products.[2]
, on the former site of Lord & Taylor. No. 146, Warehouse Clothing, is from London. At the home of the Methodists, #150. there are Skechers and Lenscrafters. Country Road from Australia is in the Presbyterian building, and at #160 is Club Monaco, from Canada.

On the next block, there is #135, The Body Shop, and #137, Otto Tootsi Plohound Shoes.

On the corner of 21st Street and Fifth is #149, Ann Taylor. Beyond that is where Broadway starts to cross Fifth, and #161, Restoration Hardware, which was the Glenham Hotel, built in 1861. It has the advantage of having a dual frontage on Fifth and Broadway. The Glenham was there when the Flatiron Building went up in 1902, the first true skyscraper. Originally known as the Fuller Building, it was erected to fit the triangle made by the crossing avenues and sort of looks like a flat iron in shape, hence the nickname which stuck: It is now officially "The Flatiron Building."

Across from the Flatiron is file reason this area came into being in the first place: Madison square. First a marsh, then a potter's field, after that a military outpost and a reformatory, before it became a park in 1844. By the end of the Civil War, as the city grew gradually northward, Madison square became the address at which to live. Retail followed residence up the Avenue. Shopping on Fifth Avenue was born.

However, when the homes moved northward, the shops did too. Lower Fifth Avenue was forgotten. Until recently - about five years ago - when this part of the Avenue underwent a rebirth, attracting new and exciting stores. Paul Smith and Daffy's were the first. Then there was a lull. But now, interest in new retail space in the area is increasing, it seems, week by week. The third rebirth doesn't show signs of letting up. The Flatiron area is becoming truly fabulous.

(Garrick-Aug's Faith Hope Consolo can now be seen on the Internet, including the popular retail column "The Faith Report" and listings with color photographs of store-front - and recent news articles on the retail market. Her home page is http://www.faith-consolo.com; her e-mail address is faith@faith-consolo.com.)
COPYRIGHT 1999 Hagedorn Publication
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1999, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Title Annotation:retail stores of New York City
Author:Consolo, Faith Hope
Publication:Real Estate Weekly
Date:May 19, 1999
Words:674
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