The Woolworth Building

Often forgotten these days - Frank Woolworth’s headquarters at 233 Broadway was the tallest building in the world for 17 years and to this day remains an architectural masterpiece. 

Photo: Library of Congress

By 1911 F.W. Woolworth had 586 of his ‘Five-and-Dimes’ stores throughout the country and he was a very wealthy man. He hired a not yet famous Cass Gilbert to design his new headquarters in downtown Manhattan. 

At the time the Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower was the tallest building in the world at 700 feet. Woolworth actually sent a team to precisely measure the Met Life Tower in order for his building to surpass it. His 60 story ‘Cathedral of Commerce’ was completed in 1913 in the Neo-Gothic style and was 792 feet tall. (Remember, skyscrapers were a new concept at this point in history so this was a big deal.) Woolworth paid $13.5 million in total from his personal fortune to finance the project.

To commemorate the building’s opening, Woolworth hosted a 900 person dinner on the 27th floor. It was packed with a who’s who from financiers to Senators and President Woodrow Wilson himself turned on the building’s lights with the push of a button from Washington D.C.!

Photo: Getty Images

During its tenure as an office building, more than 12,000 workers were employed and occupied its premises. I find it fascinating (mainly because we forget just how important the railways used to be) that there were 10-15 railroad companies as tenants early on. Inventor Nikola Tesla also had an office in the Woolworth Building but he was evicted after one year because he couldn’t pay his rent! In its 90 year history it’s been through at least 2 major facade renovations and achieved landmark status in 1966.

Woolworth's office. - Photo: ‘Cathedral of Commerce’

Did you know that Foot Locker owned the building (in a roundabout way) prior to 1998? In the 1960’s the F.W. Woolworth Company decided to expand into footwear and purchased Kinney Shoes. The Kinney Shoes Company then branched out into different shoewear sectors, Foot Locker being one of them. After Woolworth's Department Stores closed, the company strategically focused its efforts on its most prosperous venture, the Foot Locker chains and changed its name to The Venator Group.

In 1998 The Venator Group sold The Woolworth Building to The Witkoff Group for $137.5 million.

Photo: Chris Baker

More recently, Alchemy Properties bought the top 30 floors for $68 million to convert them into luxury condos. They are stunning! Now branded as The Woolworth Tower Residences, the amenities are… white-glove service, the Gilbert Lounge, Woolworth Pool, a Fitness Studio, Wine Cellar and Tasting Room, Bike Room and Resident-Only Lobby. 

Here are some images of the five-story 10,000sf Pinnacle Penthouse apartment listed at $59 million. If stairs aren’t your thing, there is a one-story 2 bedroom and 2.5 bathroom apartment listed for $6.8 million.

Photos: Sothebys

Photos: Chris Baker

Photo: TimeOutNY

Pro Tip: If you're in the area you HAVE to go see the lobby. I got yelled at while trying to take photos so this one is from TimeOutNY. It's gorgeous inside!