Retail

Retail Space on First Avenue – 186 1st Ave, East Village

Address: 186 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10009
Price: $10,000/month
Square Feet: 700 SF
Type: Retail Space

Property Overview:

Located on First Avenue in the heart of the East Village — one of downtown Manhattan’s most vibrant, authentic, and culturally rich neighborhoods — 186 1st Avenue offers 700 SF of retail space at a competitive price point. Ideal for coffee shops, beauty salons, barbershops, small boutiques, art galleries, or service-based businesses. Situated between East 11th Street and East 12th Street, this space benefits from strong foot traffic from local residents, NYU students, artists, musicians, and visitors drawn to the East Village’s legendary dining, nightlife, and independent boutiques, as well as proximity to Tompkins Square Park and Stuyvesant Park.

Key Features:

Prime East Village / First Avenue Location:

• Situated on First Avenue, a busy north-south thoroughfare that serves as a commercial spine for 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 East 11th Street and East 12th Street, placing your business in a densely populated residential and commercial corridor with strong community ties and steady foot traffic from local residents, students, artists, and musicians.
• Just steps from Stuyvesant Park (15th-17th Streets between First and Second Avenues) and Tompkins Square Park (7th-10th Streets between Avenues A and B), both beloved neighborhood green spaces generating foot traffic from dog walkers, families, and park visitors.
• Minutes from St. Mark’s Place (8th Street), 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 is a true 24/7 neighborhood, with strong foot traffic from residents, NYU students, artists, musicians, young professionals, families, and tourists at all hours.
• Stuyvesant Park and Tompkins Square Park draw daily visitors from dog walkers, families, skateboarders, and attendees of 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.

Well-Proportioned Retail Layout – 700 SF:

• 700 SF of well-proportioned retail space — ideally sized for a coffee shop, beauty salon, barbershop, small boutique, or art gallery.
• Attractive storefront with good street-level visibility on First Avenue, a busy downtown corridor with constant pedestrian and vehicular flow.
• Functional floor plan suitable for a coffee counter with limited seating, a salon with 2-3 stations, or a small retail boutique with curated merchandise.
• 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.
• At $14.29 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 First Avenue, Second Avenue, 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.

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 First Avenue.
• Stuyvesant Park and Tompkins Square Park visitors — daily visitors to both parks, including dog walkers, families, skateboarders, and attendees of 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 bubble tea shop
• Beauty or nail salon
• Barbershop
• Small boutique or concept store
• Art gallery or frame shop
• Tattoo or piercing studio
• Pet supply or grooming
• Flower shop

Highlights:
✔ 700 SF of retail space on First Avenue in the East Village
✔ $10,000/month — solid value at $14.29 per square foot
✔ Attractive storefront with good visibility on a busy downtown corridor
✔ Steps from Stuyvesant Park, Tompkins Square Park, and NYU
✔ 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:

186 1st Avenue offers a solid opportunity for small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking well-located, affordable retail space in the heart of the East Village — one of downtown Manhattan’s most vibrant, culturally rich, and historically significant neighborhoods. With 700 SF of functional, flexible space, a prime First Avenue location steps from Stuyvesant Park, Tompkins Square Park, and NYU, and access to a loyal, high-traffic customer base of residents, 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 just over $14 per square foot.

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