You’ve probably walked past it without even realizing. If you’ve ever rushed out of Grand Central Terminal, squinting against the Manhattan sun and trying not to get run over by a yellow cab, you’ve been in the shadow of the Roosevelt Hotel New York City NY. It’s this massive, limestone-and-brick block that takes up an entire city square. Honestly, it looks like something out of a noir film. For nearly a century, it was exactly that—a place where jazz played, deals were struck, and every President from Truman to Eisenhower laid their head.
But then, things got weird.
In 2020, the Roosevelt didn't just close its doors; it basically vanished from the hospitality world. One day it was a Hilton-affiliated landmark, and the next, it was a ghost ship in the middle of Midtown. If you're looking for a room there today, you're out of luck. The story of the Roosevelt isn't just about a hotel closing down because of the pandemic. It’s a messy, complicated saga involving international politics, the New York City migrant crisis, and the slow death of "Old New York" luxury.
The Jazz Age and the "Guy Lombardo" Era
The Roosevelt Hotel New York City NY opened its doors in 1924. Think about that for a second. This was the era of Prohibition, flappers, and the first real boom of the American century. It was named after Theodore Roosevelt, obviously. They even had a plaque. It was the first hotel to have an in-house pet shop and a doctor on call, which was a huge deal back then.
If you ask any New Yorker over the age of seventy about the Roosevelt, they won't talk about the rooms. They'll talk about the Grill Room. That’s where Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played "Auld Lang Syne" for the first time on New Year's Eve. It started a tradition that literally every American follows today, even if they don't know why. The hotel was the epicenter of a specific kind of classy, mid-century vibe that we just don't see anymore. It wasn't "boutique." It was grand. It was loud. It was crowded.
Why did it actually close?
Most people think the Roosevelt died because of COVID-19. That’s only half the truth.
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The hotel is owned by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Yeah, you read that right. A foreign national airline owns a massive chunk of prime Manhattan real estate. For years before 2020, the hotel was bleeding money. It needed hundreds of millions of dollars in renovations to keep up with the shiny new towers going up at Hudson Yards or the renovated Waldorf Astoria. The pipes were old. The elevators were cranky.
When the pandemic hit, the owner basically saw an exit strategy. They announced the permanent closure in October 2020. People were devastated. The staff, some of whom had worked there for thirty years, were suddenly out of a job. It felt like the end of an era. For a couple of years, the building just sat there. It was dark. The gold leaf in the lobby started to dull.
The shift from luxury to the Arrivals Center
Fast forward to 2023. New York City was facing a massive influx of asylum seekers. The city's shelter system was buckling. In a move that surprised basically everyone, the city government reached out to the owners of the Roosevelt. They struck a deal. The "Grand Dame of Madison Avenue" became the city's primary intake center for migrants.
It is a surreal sight.
If you walk by 45 East 45th Street now, you won't see tourists in suits. You'll see families waiting in line. You'll see city workers in high-vis vests. The Roosevelt Hotel New York City NY transformed from a $500-a-night luxury destination into a massive humanitarian hub. It’s controversial, to say the least. Some neighbors hate it. Others see it as the most "New York" thing possible—a grand old building being used to house the next generation of people trying to make it in the city.
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What the Roosevelt looks like inside today
You can't just book a tour. Security is tight. But reports from inside suggest the transition has been rough on the old girl. The ornate moldings and the chandeliers are still there, but they’re shadowed by the sheer volume of people living there.
- The Lobby: Once the site of high-society weddings, it now functions as a processing center with desks, laptops, and medical screening stations.
- The Rooms: They were already "vintage" (which is hotel-speak for "small and old"), and now they are being used to house families of four or five.
- The Infrastructure: The building’s aging systems are being pushed to the absolute limit.
There’s this weird tension when you stand outside. You’re looking at a building that helped define the New York skyline for a hundred years, and yet its current purpose is entirely disconnected from its history. It’s a living museum that’s being used as a dormitory.
The ghost of Thomas Dewey
You can't talk about the Roosevelt without mentioning the 1948 election. This is where Thomas Dewey stayed while he waited to hear that he’d beaten Harry Truman. He was so confident he was going to win that he stayed in the Roosevelt suite, ready to make his victory speech.
Spoiler: He didn't.
The hotel became the backdrop for one of the greatest political blunders in American history. That's the kind of weight this place carries. It’s seen more history in its hallways than most cities see in their entire existence. It’s where the "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline essentially died.
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Will it ever be a hotel again?
Honestly? Probably not. Not in the way it used to be.
The cost to turn the Roosevelt back into a five-star hotel is astronomical. We’re talking about a complete gut job. Every wire, every pipe, every pane of glass needs to be replaced. Plus, there’s the "brand" issue. Once a hotel becomes a shelter, it’s hard to pivot back to luxury travel without a massive, expensive rebranding campaign.
The owners at PIA have flirted with the idea of selling the site for years. There’s been talk of tearing it down to build a massive office tower, similar to One Vanderbilt next door. But the building has a lot of fans. Preservationists would fight a demolition tooth and nail. It’s a landmark in spirit, if not always in legal status.
What you can do if you're a fan of the architecture
If you’re a history nerd or just someone who loves the look of the Roosevelt Hotel New York City NY, you can still appreciate it from the street.
- Look up: The exterior masonry is incredible. The Italian Renaissance style is still largely intact.
- Visit the neighboring bars: Places like The Campbell (inside Grand Central) offer a similar vibe to what the Roosevelt’s bar used to feel like.
- Check out the movies: If you want to see the interior in its glory, watch The Irishman or Men in Black 3. They filmed there for a reason. It had a look you just can’t replicate on a soundstage.
Actionable insights for the curious traveler
Since you can't stay at the Roosevelt, you need to know how to navigate the area and where to find that "Old New York" feeling elsewhere.
- Avoid the immediate block for hotels: If you're looking for a place to stay near Grand Central, look at the Library Hotel or the Andaz 5th Avenue. They offer the convenience of the location without the current chaos of the Roosevelt’s intake center.
- Understand the logistics: If you are traveling through Grand Central, be aware that the 45th Street side can be very crowded with city services and transport. It’s better to exit through the main concourse or the 42nd Street exits to avoid the congestion.
- Support the local businesses: Many of the small shops and delis around the Roosevelt have taken a hit since the hotel closed to regular tourists. Grab a coffee at a local cart or a sandwich at a nearby bodega; they’ve been through a lot of transitions in the last few years.
- Document the history: If you're into photography, the Roosevelt's facade is best captured during the "golden hour" when the light hits the limestone from the west. It’s one of the few remaining examples of that specific 1920s scale in Midtown.
The Roosevelt Hotel New York City NY isn't dead, but it is hibernating. Or maybe it's just entered a new, stranger chapter of its life. New York is a city of layers, and right now, the Roosevelt is a layer of struggle, transition, and survival. It's not the glamorous destination it once was, but in a way, its current role is just as important to the story of the city as the jazz bands were a century ago. Keep an eye on the news regarding PIA’s holdings—if they decide to sell, you’re going to see one of the biggest real estate battles in Manhattan history.