Walk down Broadway in SoHo and you’ll see a sea of glass storefronts and tourists clutching shopping bags. It’s loud. It’s crowded. But if you stop at the corner of Houston and Broadway, you’re looking at a building that basically anchors the entire history of the neighborhood. 598 Broadway New York isn’t just some random office block; it’s a twelve-story Beaux-Arts giant that has survived the garment trade, the artist loft era, and the eventual invasion of high-end retail.
Most people just walk past the ground floor entrance. They don't see the complexity.
The Architectural Bones of 598 Broadway New York
This place is old. Built in 1897, it was designed by Robert Maynicke, a guy who basically helped define the "lofted" look of Manhattan. It’s got that classic limestone and terra cotta facade that makes SoHo look like SoHo. Honestly, when you look up at the ornate cornices, you realize they just don't build things with that kind of ego anymore. It was originally known as the Loft Building, which is a bit literal, but it fits.
Back in the late 19th century, this was the heart of the "Ladies' Mile" adjacent mercantile district. Think silk, buttons, and wholesale garments. The ceilings are massive. We're talking twelve to fourteen feet in some spots. This wasn't for aesthetics; it was for industrial machinery and stacking crates of fabric to the moon. Today, those same high ceilings are why tech firms and fashion brands fight over the lease.
Space is the ultimate luxury in Manhattan. At 598 Broadway, you get it in spades.
Why the Location at Houston Street Changes Everything
Being on the corner of Broadway and East Houston is a double-edged sword. On one hand, you’re at the gateway to SoHo. On the other, you’re dealing with the perpetual chaos of the Houston Street thoroughfare. It’s the border. North of you is NoHo and Greenwich Village; south is the core shopping grid.
The building sits right above the Broadway-Lafayette subway station. If you work there, your commute is literally under your feet. That accessibility is a huge reason why the building hasn't faded into obscurity like some of the smaller side-street lofts. It’s visible. It’s loud. It’s central.
The Shift from Manufacturing to Creative Class
In the 70s and 80s, these floors weren't filled with people in Allbirds drinking oat milk lattes. It was grittier. Like much of SoHo, 598 Broadway went through a period of transition where artists moved into the vacant industrial spaces because the rent was dirt cheap and the light was incredible.
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The light!
Because it’s a corner building, the windows wrap around, flooding the deep floor plates with natural sun. For a painter in 1975, that was everything. For a software developer in 2026, it’s the difference between feeling like a cubicle drone and feeling like a human being.
Current Tenants and the Modern Mix
You’ve got a weirdly interesting mix of companies in there now. It’s not just one thing.
- Fashion and Showrooms: Because of the history, brands like Hugo Boss have kept a presence here. It makes sense. You want your buyers to come to a place that feels like "Old New York" but functions like a modern gallery.
- Tech and Creative Agencies: The open floor plans are perfect for the "collaborative" vibe that companies still pretend to love.
- Retail: The ground floor is a different beast entirely. It’s high-traffic, high-rent, and currently occupied by brands that can handle the massive foot traffic coming off the subway.
What Most People Get Wrong About SoHo Real Estate
There’s this myth that all these buildings are owned by shadowy overseas conglomerates. While some are, 598 Broadway New York has often been managed by groups like Olmstead Properties. These are local players who understand the specific headaches of landmarked buildings.
You can’t just go around changing the windows.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is a beast. If a pane of glass breaks, you can't just run to Home Depot. It has to be historically accurate. This is why the building still looks so damn good after 120-plus years, but it’s also why the build-outs for new offices take forever and cost a fortune.
Inside the Units: The "Loft" Reality
If you’re lucky enough to get inside one of the upper-floor offices, the first thing you notice isn't the view—though the view of the Empire State Building to the north is pretty killer. It’s the columns.
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Large, cast-iron columns punctuate the space. They are structural, meaning you can't move them. Designers have to work around them. Some paint them matte black to look industrial-chic; others leave them raw. They are constant reminders that this building was meant to hold heavy weight. It was a machine for working.
The floors are often the original wood, scarred from decades of moving heavy equipment. People pay extra for those scars now. It’s "character."
The Infrastructure Headache
Let's be real for a second. Old buildings are temperamental.
Plumbing in a 19th-century skyscraper is a nightmare. Elevators are often small and a bit slow, though 598 has been modernized significantly. You have to balance the soul of the building with the need for high-speed fiber-optic internet and HVAC systems that don't sound like a jet engine taking off.
It’s a constant tug-of-war between 1897 and 2026.
Why 598 Broadway Still Matters Today
In a world where everyone is talking about the "death of the office," 598 Broadway stays relevant. Why? Because it’s an experience. You aren't just going to a glass box in Midtown. You’re going to a piece of New York history.
For a brand, having "598 Broadway" on your business card says you’ve arrived. It says you’re part of the SoHo elite, but you’re grounded enough to be on the Broadway side of things. It’s a status symbol that you can’t manufacture with a new build.
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Navigating the Neighborhood
If you're visiting for a meeting or just exploring, the immediate vicinity is a gauntlet.
- The Food: You’re steps away from Katz’s Delicatessen if you want to walk east, or Balthazar if you want the classic SoHo power lunch.
- The Coffee: Every block has a specialized roaster, but the real ones know the small spots tucked into the side streets like Mercer or Crosby.
- The Transit: The F, M, B, D, 6, R, and W trains are all within a five-minute radius. It’s arguably the best-connected corner in the city.
The Future of the Landmark
Is it going residential? Probably not. The zoning for "Joint Living-Work Quarters for Artists" (JLWQA) in SoHo is a legal labyrinth that most developers don't want to touch if the commercial side is still printing money. 598 Broadway is perfectly suited for the "hybrid" work era. Small to mid-sized firms love these 5,000 to 10,000 square foot floor plates.
It feels like a boutique. It feels intentional.
Actionable Steps for Exploring or Leasing
If you're looking at 598 Broadway New York as a potential home for your business, or you're just a fan of New York architecture, here is how you handle it.
- Check the LPC Filings: If you want to see the true history of renovations, the Landmarks Preservation Commission database is public. You can see every permit ever filed for the building's facade.
- Vibe Check the Entrance: Broadway entrances can be chaotic. If you’re a tenant, check the freight entrance situation on the side streets. That’s where the real work happens.
- Look Up: Next time you’re at the corner of Houston, stop. Ignore the light turning green. Look at the transition between the stone and the metalwork on the top three floors. It’s some of the best craftsmanship in the city.
- Verify the Square Footage: In these old lofts, "loss factors" (the difference between the space you pay for and the space you actually use) can be high. Always bring a tape measure if you're signing a lease.
This building has survived the Great Depression, the 70s fiscal crisis, and a global pandemic. It isn't going anywhere. It’s a stubborn, beautiful piece of the New York skyline that reminds us that while retail trends die, good bones last forever.
For those tracking commercial availability, keep an eye on local brokerages like CBRE or Newmark, who often handle the higher-floor transitions. Most vacancies here don't last more than a few months because the demand for "true loft" space in SoHo consistently outpaces the supply of buildings that actually have the infrastructure to support modern tech.
The era of the garment worker is over, but the era of the Broadway powerhouse is still very much alive.