I posted this in Character & Plot realism, and fhsk suggested I post here as well:
My plot now involves the history of elevators around the world. I know the first ever passenger lift was installed in 1857 in the Haughwout building,(448 Broadway & Broome Street), but I need to know what is in the building today. The ground floor appeared to be let to Staples up until this year, and I found an article online saying that it is now let to Bebes clothing - google street view however is still showing Staples.
I know this is a long shot, but if anyone here could tell me who is in that building (especially on the second floor), if Staples had more than one floor, and most importantly, if that lift is still there, I'd be really grateful.
I could make it up, but I'd like it to be as accurate as possible. Thanks!
After a bit more research, I think the elevator is still operational, but I'm not sure what store is in the ground floor.
I am probably going to use creative liscence and put an Abercrombie in there, as it is a chain (as Staples & Bebe are) and the darkness in A & F combined with the old lift works well for my story. However, is it completely unrealisitc that A& F would go into an older building?
Many thanks!
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82,449 / 50,000
nov. 8, 2009 - 10 14
Just bumping this thread. Surely someone works in SoHo and can answer this question.
----------~Erin
New York City Municipal Liaison
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43,695 / 50,000
nov. 8, 2009 - 20 35
Now my curiosity is peaked! I'm going to try to run down there tomorrow.
I'll report back!
13,476 / 50,000
nov. 8, 2009 - 22 06
Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer but I can say that there are many old buildings in Manhattan (where Soho is located) that have large upscale or chain shops on the ground floor. Broome and Broadway would get a lot of foot traffic so it is absolutely possible there could be an A&F in that building.
----------I'm an out-of-work stay-at-home-dad too-old-be-a-slacker-but-yet-I-still-somehow-am guy - let's do this!
1,904 / 50,000
nov. 9, 2009 - 02 36
I used to work in this building up to March of this year! The Haughwout Building is at 490 Broadway on the corner of Broadway and Broome. You can google it for the historical context, but it had Staples on the 1st floor for many years and is now being replaced with Bebe (renovations commencing).
The wood paneled elevator is indeed manual, requiring an elevator attendant to operate it. The man for the job (which he shares with a younger African American), is Ramon, an older Latino gentleman with a moustache. He's somewhat of a grouchy figure if he doesn't like or know you but is in actuality a real sweetheart.
The rest of the building houses offices. Second and third floors - The Corcoran Group (One of the top real estate firms in the city), the rest of the floors, I think there's a lingerie wholesaler, an architect's office...not really sure to be honest.
The spaces have high, high ceilings, structural columns, pressed tin ceilings, large oversized windows...
40,631 / 50,000
nov. 15, 2009 - 12 55
I've just seen this - thanks for your help!
The elevator attendant doesn't really fit, so I probably won't include it. By mannual, do you mean you have to pull across the doors yourself? Is it really dark and bumpy?
I can't believe someone on here has actually been there - it seemed like such a long shot!
38,674 / 50,000
nov. 21, 2009 - 16 36
I used to work at 239 Centre St - not far from 448 Broome - where the elevator was an ancient Otis. I believe it was something like the 4th elevator installed in NYC, or maybe the 4th that Otis ever made. There were no doors on the elevator car itself, and no roof; just a pair of curved steel bars like the top of a birdcage, with the elevator cable attached to the top.
I only rode in it once, as it wasn't generally used. It was slow and shaky, and somewhat nerve-wracking.
239 Centre St consists of apartments that have been turned into small offices, so it probably wouldn't do for your story. Nevertheless, it does suggest that there may be a good few ancient elevators scattered around SoHo, so if you can't find one in the perfect location, you could probably invent one.