In his October 22, 2014 Stack's Bowers blog, Harvey Stack recounts the history
of the firm's West 57th street location. -Editor
A current article in Bloomberg's Business extols expansion in New York City, with a story
about the recently completed “ONE57” building on West 57th Street. As you probably know, 123 West
57th Street is the address of our Stack's Bowers coin store and has been since 1953, when the
Stack family, looking toward a future of growth, relocated the shop to the art, cultural and elite
shopping center of New York.
The new ONE57 is the tallest office and hotel building in New York, with the first 25 floors a
Hyatt hotel. The balance comprises residential apartments; the Penthouse has been sold for $98
million! It is now considered one of the most luxurious and costliest locations in New York. The
major portion is so high that it overlooks the entire Central Park located two city blocks to its
north.
In the early 1940s, as New York business and cultural establishments moved north of Herald
Square, Stack’s moved from 23rd Street to a more prestigious location on West 46th Street. In 1946,
at the end of World War II, they moved from 32 West 46th Street to 12 West 46th Street and this
store became a home for many famous collectors, as well as for youngsters beginning their
collections. Many of these youngsters grew up to become famous collectors. On the second floor of
the building just a few steps from Fifth Avenue, they established their own auction gallery.
But neighborhoods sometimes change in New York and many of the locations on 46th Street became
discount appliance stores, cheap clothing establishments and by 1953, it was no longer an appealing
place for a coin store or gallery and also became less of a "walk in” type of location.
My father, Morton, Uncle Joe (Joseph B.), and I searched for new quarters. As luck would have it
we found a vacancy at 123 West 57th Street, (our present location) between the Avenue of the
Americas (originally 6th Avenue) and 7th Avenue. This store was a one-block walk from Fifth Avenue,
the home of Tiffany’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Bulgari, Black Starr and Gorham, to mention a few high-end
retailers on that street.
Also near the new store could be found Carnegie Hall, the famous Russian Tea Room, the Great
Northern Hotel (now the Parker Meridian), the last fully operating Horn and Hardart Restaurant (a
landmark), the Buckingham Hotel and the Buckingham Steinway Hall. West 57th Street was always
considered a fashionable walking street with some famous eateries. While only 11 blocks north of
our previous store, it was a great improvement and remains a desirable location today.
Accessibility has never been a problem and for those who want to come by train, two different
subway lines are located at each corner of the Stack's Bowers shop.
Stack's was lucky to find such a divine location and we built another warm, home-like
atmosphere, with sit-down showcases and coins of all value on display or in stock, a section for
books and albums for sale, and walls lined with items related to numismatics or to people portrayed
on worldwide coins. Collectors came often to Stack’s to view the coins, meet fellow collectors, and
discuss numismatics. We had a very extensive library where specialists could gather special
information, and our staff was composed of many specialists. Our staff produced a world record
number of different auction catalogs and price lists. Many staff members moved on, often to other
numismatic endeavors including as curators, and some continued to help Stack’s prepare
catalogs.
West 57th Street attracts diverse people, many of whom look in our windows, and some who stop in
our shop. You will often see bankers, trust officers, lawyers, actors, directors, writers and
authors, politicians and other noted personalities. The street is one of the art centers of the
city and only two blocks north is Central Park South, boasting many famous hotels (including the
Plaza) and, of course, Central Park itself. Slightly west is Columbus Square, which anchors the
southwest corner of Central Park.
Over the decades there have been changes — buildings torn down and new ones erected alongside
the older buildings. The charm of the area remains. As Stack’s grew over the last 60 years we
expanded to include an entire floor at 110 West 57th Street that includes a special room to display
and show lots for a forthcoming auction and offices for catalogers and staff, as well as an auction
gallery where we conduct some of our New York City public auction sales.
We welcome collectors and visitors daily from Monday to Saturday. We are open to the public
weekdays from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM. If you wish to buy or sell coins,
look at displays or ask questions of our staff we invite you to come by. We look forward to
welcoming you, getting to know you and helping you with all your numismatic endeavors. The Stack
family recognized the positive attributes of this dynamic location in 1953, and we are proud that
we have remained right here, offering the same unparalleled personal service in our great city of
New York.
To read the complete article, see:
Revisiting the Coin Shop at 123 West 57th Street, New York City
(www.stacksbowers.com/NewsMedia/Blogs/TabId/780/ArtMID
/2678/ArticleID/64806/Revisiting-the-Coin-Shop-at-123-West-57th-Street-New-York-City.aspx)
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Wayne Homren, Editor
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization
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