You’ve probably stood right in front of it without even realizing. 100 W 33rd St NY NY isn't just a random coordinate on a map; it's the address for the Manhattan Mall, a place that feels like a fever dream of New York City’s retail past and its weird, transitional future. If you are looking for it, you’re likely trying to find the JCPenney—which, heads up, closed years ago—or you're trying to figure out how to get into the PATH train without getting swept away by the human tide of Herald Square.
It sits right there at the intersection of 33rd and Sixth Avenue. It's loud. It’s crowded. Honestly, it is one of the most high-traffic spots in the entire world, situated directly across from the behemoth that is Macy’s flagship store.
The Identity Crisis of 100 W 33rd St NY NY
What is this place, exactly? Well, it used to be the Gimbels department store. That was the big rival to Macy’s back in the day—think Miracle on 34th Street vibes. But Gimbels went bust in the 80s, and the building underwent a massive transformation to become the Manhattan Mall. For a long time, it was a vertical shopping center, which is a bit of a weird concept for New Yorkers who prefer walking blocks rather than riding escalators through ten floors of Auntie Anne’s scents and discount clothing racks.
But things changed. Retail changed. Now, 100 W 33rd St NY NY is more of a massive office complex with some retail remnants clinging to the bottom.
The biggest tenant for a while was JCPenney. It was their big play for Manhattan. It occupied the lower levels and drew in suburbanites and tourists alike who wanted familiar prices in an unfamiliar city. Then 2020 happened. The store shuttered, leaving a massive hole in the building’s street presence. Today, the upper floors are dominated by office tenants, including some big names in advertising and tech, while the basement level serves as a vital artery for the city’s transit system.
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Why people get lost here
Navigation is a nightmare. Seriously. Because 100 W 33rd St NY NY sits on top of the 33rd Street PATH station and is adjacent to the 34th Street–Herald Square subway hub, the "ground floor" is a relative term. You might enter on 33rd Street thinking you're on level one, only to find yourself spiraling down toward the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, and W trains. It’s a subterranean labyrinth.
If you're looking for the entrance to the PATH to get back to Jersey City or Hoboken, it’s tucked in there. People often mistake the mall entrance for the subway entrance, and vice versa. It’s a classic NYC tourist trap—not the kind that steals your money, just the kind that steals twenty minutes of your time while you try to find the "Up" escalator that actually works.
The Architecture of a Hybrid Space
The building itself is an interesting mix of old-school grit and 80s glass-and-brass aesthetics. It was designed by the firm architecture plus (and others over the years) to maximize every square inch of that valuable Midtown dirt. Unlike the sprawling malls of the Midwest, this one is tall. It’s a box. A giant, functional box that houses thousands of workers who spend their days staring out at the Empire State Building, which looms just a block to the east.
Vornado Realty Trust owns the place. They’ve been pivoting the building away from its "shopping mall" roots for years. They saw the writing on the wall. Retail is hard; office space (at least pre-remote work booms) was the golden goose. Even now, they’ve been looking at ways to revitalize the ground floor to make it less of a dead zone and more of a "destination."
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The facade is mostly glass now, reflecting the chaotic energy of Sixth Avenue. On any given Tuesday, you’ll see food trucks lined up outside, delivery guys on e-bikes weaving through pedestrians, and at least three different people trying to sell you "comedy show" tickets. It is Manhattan at its most concentrated.
Surviving Herald Square
If your destination is 100 W 33rd St NY NY, you need a survival strategy.
- Avoid the 34th St crossing if you can. Cross at 32nd and walk up. The 34th Street intersection is where dreams of a "relaxing walk" go to die.
- The PATH entrance is your friend. If it’s raining, you can navigate a lot of this area underground, though it smells like stale pretzels and transit dust.
- Don't expect a full mall. If you’re showing up expecting 100 stores, you’re about five years too late. Check the current directory before you make the trip for a specific brand.
There’s a certain irony to this address. It sits in the shadow of the Empire State Building, yet it’s entirely utilitarian. It’s not a monument. It’s a machine. It’s a place where people work, commute, and occasionally buy a last-minute pair of socks because they stepped in a puddle on the way to a meeting.
The Future of the 33rd Street Corridor
What’s next? There’s constant talk about "Penn District" revitalization. Since 100 W 33rd St NY NY is a stone's throw from Penn Station, it’s caught up in the massive billions-of-dollars plan to make this part of Midtown less... well, depressing.
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Expect more "amenity-heavy" office spaces. That’s the buzzword. Think roof terraces, fancy gyms, and high-end food halls instead of the old food court vibes. The city wants this area to feel like a modern tech hub, competing with places like Hudson Yards. Whether they can actually scrub away the chaotic soul of Herald Square remains to be seen. Honestly, the chaos is kind of the point of this neighborhood.
If you are heading there for an office appointment, give yourself an extra ten minutes. The security desks are efficient, but the sheer volume of people entering and exiting can be a bottleneck. And if you're there for the PATH, keep your head up. The signage is okay, but the crowd flow is a better indicator of where to go. Just follow the people who look like they’re in a hurry—which, in New York, is everyone.
Getting there without losing your mind
Most people take the subway. The N, R, Q, W or the B, D, F, M will drop you right there. If you’re coming from Jersey, the PATH is literally underneath you. If you’re crazy enough to drive, there are garages on 31st and 32nd, but you'll pay a kidney in parking fees. Just take the train.
100 W 33rd St NY NY is a landmark of transition. It’s a ghost of the department store era, a relic of the 90s mall craze, and a flagship for the modern corporate office. It’s a weird, bustling, confusing, and essential piece of the Manhattan grid.
Next Steps for Your Visit
If you're planning to visit 100 W 33rd St NY NY today, check the building's current security protocols if you're headed to the office floors, as many Midtown towers have moved to app-based guest passes. For those just passing through, skip the ground-floor chains and walk two blocks south to Koreatown (32nd St) for some of the best food in the city. If you need a quiet spot to decompress from the Herald Square madness, the Greely Square Park tables across the street offer a decent (if noisy) place to sit for a minute before heading into the PATH station.