18th St Between 5th Ave and Broadway

While I can't find any information as to whether or not the Flatiron District is protected from any new development (One Madison Park would seem to suggest otherwise), I'm always delighted to see blocks such as this one retain much of their original charm. Like many streets in the area, there's an overload of commercial space, including shops and restaurants. 

The street is narrow, there aren't many trees, and the buildings are tall – so there's a canyon-like quality here. In the middle of the block is FDNY Engine 14, which sits directly across from Rosa Mexicano (originally the America restaurant- from which the outside decor still has many of the original neon stars and other touches).

There's a very strange Barnes & Noble location on the 5th Avenue side of the block, which if I understand correctly is actually a subsidiary of the regular company. Operating as Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, the store shares little in common with it's more popular brethren. I've had some difficulty pinning down much more information other than it seems to be associated with The New School (which has several buildings in the area). I've been in the store in the past, and it seems to be more like Strand Bookstore (which is far more fun anyway) than B&N.

Comments

[Kate]

Back in the 80's, that B&N location used to be the Barnes and Noble Sales Annex. You could get books at a real discount there. Growing up I used to spend hours in there. When it changed to all textbooks, I was a very distraught teenager.