Retail

Retail Space on East 3rd Street – 189 E 3rd Street, East Village / Alphabet City

Address: 189 E 3rd Street, New York, NY, 10009
Price: $15,000/month
Square Feet: 1,000 SF
Type: Retail Space

Property Overview:

Located on East 3rd Street in the heart of the East Village / Alphabet City — one of downtown Manhattan’s most vibrant, culturally rich, and historically significant neighborhoods — 189 E 3rd Street offers 1,000 SF of retail space at a competitive price point. Ideal for coffee shops, beauty salons, barbershops, small boutiques, art galleries, fitness studios, or service-based businesses. Situated between Avenues A and B, this space benefits from strong foot traffic from local residents, NYU students, artists, musicians, and visitors drawn to the East Village’s legendary nightlife, dining, and independent boutiques, as well as proximity to Tompkins Square Park.

Key Features:

Prime East Village / Alphabet City Location:

• Situated on East 3rd Street, a quiet, tree-lined residential block in the heart of Alphabet City — the easternmost section of the East Village, one of downtown Manhattan’s most vibrant, culturally rich, and historically significant neighborhoods, known for its punk rock history, street art, community gardens, independent boutiques, legendary nightlife, and world-class dining.
• Located between Avenue A and Avenue B, placing your business in a densely populated residential and commercial corridor with strong community ties and steady foot traffic.
• Just steps from Tompkins Square Park (7th-10th Streets between Avenues A and B), a beloved neighborhood hub featuring a farmers’ market (Sundays), dog run, playgrounds, concerts, and community events — generating strong foot traffic from dog walkers, families, skateboarders, and park visitors.
• Minutes from St. Mark’s Place (8th Street), First Avenue, Second Avenue, Ludlow Street, and the Lower East Side — all lined with boutiques, restaurants, bars, music venues, and nightlife.
• Short walk to the East River Promenade, offering beautiful waterfront walking, running, and biking paths with stunning views of the Williamsburg Bridge and Brooklyn.

High-Traffic, 24/7 Neighborhood:

• The East Village / Alphabet City is a true 24/7 neighborhood, with strong foot traffic from residents, NYU students, artists, musicians, young professionals, families, and tourists at all hours.
• Tompkins Square Park draws daily visitors from dog walkers, families, skateboarders, and visitors attending the weekly farmers’ market, concerts, and community events.
• Strong daytime foot traffic from residents and NYU students, plus strong evening and weekend traffic from the area’s renowned bars, restaurants, and music venues — making this a true 24/7 destination.
• The neighborhood’s independent, anti-chain ethos makes it ideal for unique, locally-owned businesses that offer authenticity, creativity, and personalized service.

Spacious & Flexible Retail Layout:

• 1,000 SF of well-proportioned retail space — ideally sized for a coffee shop, beauty salon, barbershop, small boutique, art gallery, fitness studio, or service-based business.
• Attractive storefront with good street-level visibility on East 3rd Street, a quiet but convenient residential block with steady local foot traffic.
• High ceilings and open floor plan (characteristic of the East Village’s historic tenement buildings), allowing for creative merchandising, art displays, or custom build-outs.
• Large windows providing abundant natural light and prime window display opportunities.
• Potential for original architectural details such as exposed brick, tin ceilings, or hardwood floors — adding authentic East Village character.
• Potential for back-of-house space, storage, fitting rooms, or office areas depending on configuration.
• At $15 per square foot, this represents solid value for retail space in this prime East Village location.

Excellent Transit Access:

• Moments from the First Avenue subway station (L) , providing a direct connection to 14th Street, Union Square, Williamsburg, and Bushwick.
• Close to the 2nd Avenue station (F) , Astor Place station (6) , 8th Street/NYU station (N, R, W) , and 14th Street/Union Square station (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W) .
• Multiple bus routes serve Avenue A, Avenue B, and 14th Street (M9, M14, M15, M8).
• Convenient for East Village residents, NYU students and faculty, artists, and commuters from across the city and Brooklyn.

Vibrant, Diverse & High-Traffic Customer Base:

• Local residents — dense, diverse community of the East Village, including young professionals, families, artists, musicians, and longtime residents.
• NYU students — over 50,000 students and thousands of faculty/staff at NYU, many of whom live, study, and socialize within walking distance of the East Village.
• Tompkins Square Park visitors — daily visitors to the park, including dog walkers, families, skateboarders, and attendees of the weekly farmers’ market, concerts, and community events.
• Nightlife and dining crowd — the East Village is famous for its legendary bars, restaurants, music venues, and nightlife, drawing visitors from across the city and around the world.
• Ideal for businesses such as:
• Coffee shop or cafe
• Beauty or nail salon
• Barbershop
• Small boutique or concept store
• Art gallery or frame shop
• Fitness or yoga studio (small-format)
• Tattoo or piercing studio
• Pet supply or grooming
• Specialty food, chocolate, or wine shop

Highlights:
✔ 1,000 SF of retail space in the East Village / Alphabet City
✔ $15,000/month — solid value at $15 per square foot
✔ Attractive storefront with good visibility on a quiet residential block
✔ Steps from Tompkins Square Park, St. Mark’s Place, and Avenue A
✔ High ceilings and authentic East Village character (exposed brick, tin ceilings)
✔ Functional, flexible layout perfect for coffee shop, salon, barbershop, or boutique
✔ Strong, diverse, 24/7 foot traffic — residents, students, artists, and visitors
✔ Excellent transit access — L, F, 6, N, R, W, 4, 5, Q trains

Conclusion:

189 E 3rd Street offers a solid opportunity for small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking affordable, well-located retail space in the heart of the East Village / Alphabet City — one of downtown Manhattan’s most vibrant, culturally rich, and historically significant neighborhoods. With 1,000 SF of functional, flexible space, a prime East 3rd Street location steps from Tompkins Square Park, and access to a loyal, high-traffic customer base of residents, NYU students, artists, musicians, and visitors, this property is perfect for coffee shops, beauty salons, barbershops, small boutiques, or art galleries looking to thrive in a neighborhood known for its independent spirit, creative energy, and legendary street life — all at a competitive price point of $15 per square foot.

Contact us today to schedule a private tour and secure this East Village retail space!