Midtown West – Shopping

Midtown was once home to the city’s grand department stores, and brands like A&S, Gimbel’s, and JCPenney all once had flagship locations at Herald Square. Today, only Macy’s survives, and the historic store still has original wooden escalators connecting departments. There’s also a modern department store, Target, located on 34th Street. The grandeur of the last century has given way to fast fashion, with numerous clothing chains opening shops in the area. The neighborhood’s retail is now centered in Hudson Yards, a luxury mall branded as The Shops. The Manhattan Mall closed during the pandemic and currently hosts pop-up and temporary exhibitions while awaiting a new anchor tenant. 

 

The Shops at Hudson Yards

The mall features fast fashion like UNIQLO, H&M, and Zara alongside luxury retailers like Dior, Cartier, Fendi, and Kate Spade. There are plenty of mall-centered snacks, like Blue Bottle Coffee, Dylan’s Candy Shop, and Shake Shack. But Hudson Yards also has upscale sit-down restaurants, including four restaurants celebrating Spanish cuisine through the Mercado Little Spain brand.

 

 A Box of Chocolates

For chocolate lovers, Midtown West has plenty of options. Li-Lac, Manhattan’s oldest chocolate house, selling candies since 1923, now has a location in Hudson Yards, as does Belgium chocolate maker Neuhaus. French chocolate chain La Maison du Chocolat, founded in Bayonne (France, not New Jersey), can be found in Moynihan’s Food Hall. And finally, Ghirardelli Chocolate, the San Francisco chocolatier, has a Herald Square location.

 

Lights, Camera, Flashcards

There’s one place in Manhattan guaranteed to fulfill your camera needs, and that’s B&H. The photo, video, and electronics store has been the leader in camera equipment since 1973. The store moved to 9th Avenue in 1997, and to celebrate its 50th anniversary, it even offered custom LEGO sets. A destination for professional photographers and hobbyists, skilled staff can answer questions, and the shop also offers vintage hardware – but be aware, it’s closed on Shabbat and some Jewish holidays.

 

Books, Books, Books

 There are several specialty bookshops located in Midtown West, like Printed Matter, which is focused on art books, new and rare. Printed Matter is a non-profit publisher and artists collective, selling more than 12,000 titles, while also hosting events and art events. Speaking of collectives, 1804 Books is a socialist bookshop celebrating revolution and overthrowing colonial empires. For a lighter read, check out The Drama Book Shop, a famed store stocked with plays and musical books. The shop rose to fame several years ago when Hamilton-creator Lin-Manuel Miranda made an investment to save it from rising rents.

 

Esposito Meat Market

This Italian butcher shop has been in business since 1932 and is known as a destination for sausages, imported cured meats, and specialty items like braciole, cotechino, and blood pudding sausage. They also offer harder to find animals like geese, pheasant, quail, rabbit, venison, and squab. For home cooks looking for a unique selection, the butcher also offers custom cuts. They even stock the hard-to-find New Jersey delicacy, Taylor Ham Pork Roll.