Retail

Prime Retail Space on Second Avenue – 157 Second Ave, East Village / St. Marks Place

Address: 157 Second Avenue, New York, NY, 10003
Price: $30,000/month
Square Feet: 1,263 SF
Type: Retail Space

Property Overview:

Located on Second Avenue in the heart of the East Village — one of downtown Manhattan’s most vibrant, historic, and culturally rich neighborhoods — 157 Second Avenue offers 1,263 SF of prime retail space at a premium price befitting this high-traffic, iconic corridor. Ideal for boutiques, concept stores, restaurants, cafes, fitness studios, art galleries, or service-based businesses. Situated between East 9th Street and East 10th Street, this space benefits from proximity to St. Marks Place, Tompkins Square Park, NYU, and some of the city’s best dining, nightlife, and transit.

Key Features:

Prime East Village / St. Marks Place / Second Avenue Location:

• Situated on Second Avenue, a major north-south thoroughfare that serves as a commercial spine for the East Village — one of downtown Manhattan’s most vibrant, historic, and culturally rich neighborhoods, known for its punk rock history, street art, independent boutiques, legendary nightlife, and world-class dining.
• Located between East 9th Street and East 10th Street, placing your business at the epicenter of one of downtown Manhattan’s most dynamic, heavily trafficked, and culturally significant corridors.
• Just steps from St. Marks Place (8th Street) — one of New York City’s most iconic, historic, and heavily trafficked streets, known for its vintage shops, record stores, restaurants, bars, and punk rock history.
• Minutes 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.
• Close to NYU’s main campus (over 50,000 students, faculty, and staff), Astor Place, Union Square, and the Lower East Side.

Massive Foot Traffic – 24/7 Downtown Hub:

• Second Avenue in the East Village is one of downtown Manhattan’s busiest pedestrian and vehicular corridors, drawing a constant flow of local residents, NYU students, artists, musicians, young professionals, shoppers, diners, nightlife seekers, and tourists 24/7.
• St. Marks Place (just a block south) generates massive foot traffic from vintage shoppers, foodies, and nightlife enthusiasts, with many visitors spilling over onto Second Avenue.
• NYU has over 50,000 students and 15,000 faculty/staff, many of whom live, study, and socialize within blocks of Second Avenue — creating consistent daily demand for food, coffee, services, and retail.
• Tompkins Square Park draws daily visitors from dog walkers, families, skateboarders, and attendees of the weekly farmers’ market, concerts, and community events.

Spacious & Flexible Retail Layout:

• 1,263 SF of well-proportioned retail space — ideally sized for a boutique, concept store, restaurant, cafe, fitness studio, art gallery, or service-based business.
• Attractive storefront with excellent street-level visibility on Second Avenue, a busy downtown corridor with constant pedestrian and vehicular flow.
• High ceilings and open floor plan, allowing for creative merchandising, dining room layouts, or custom build-outs.
• Large windows providing abundant natural light and prime window display opportunities facing Second Avenue’s steady foot traffic.
• Potential for back-of-house space, storage, fitting rooms, or kitchen/office areas depending on configuration.
• At $23.75 per square foot, this price reflects the premium nature of 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 Second Avenue, First Avenue, and 14th Street (M15, M14, M8, M9, M101, M102, M103).
• 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 and faculty — over 50,000 students and thousands of faculty/staff, many of whom live, study, and socialize within walking distance of Second Avenue.
• St. Marks Place shoppers and diners — thousands of daily visitors to St. Marks Place, one of downtown Manhattan’s most iconic shopping and dining streets.
• 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:
• Boutique or concept store (apparel, accessories, vintage)
• Restaurant, cafe, or wine bar
• Fitness or yoga studio
• Art gallery or frame shop
• Beauty or nail salon
• Tattoo or piercing studio
• Specialty food, chocolate, or wine shop
• Record store or music shop

Highlights:
✔ 1,263 SF of prime retail space on Second Avenue in the East Village
✔ $30,000/month — premium location at $23.75 per square foot
✔ Attractive storefront with excellent visibility on a busy downtown corridor
✔ Steps from St. Marks Place, Tompkins Square Park, and NYU
✔ High ceilings and open floor plan — ideal for boutique, restaurant, fitness, or gallery
✔ Strong, diverse, 24/7 foot traffic — residents, students, shoppers, and nightlife seekers
✔ Excellent transit access — L, F, 6, N, R, W, 4, 5, Q trains and multiple bus routes

Conclusion:

157 Second Avenue offers a prime opportunity for retailers, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs seeking a high-visibility retail space in the heart of the East Village — one of downtown Manhattan’s most vibrant, historic, and culturally rich neighborhoods, steps from iconic St. Marks Place and Tompkins Square Park. With 1,263 SF of flexible, well-proportioned space, a prime Second Avenue location in the center of the East Village’s bustling retail and nightlife district, and access to a diverse, high-energy, 24/7 customer base of residents, NYU students, shoppers, and nightlife seekers, this property is perfect for boutiques, concept stores, restaurants, fitness studios, or art galleries looking to thrive in one of New York City’s most dynamic and beloved neighborhoods — at a premium price befitting this prime location.

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