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Iconic, Near Century-Old Roosevelt Hotel Will Close At The End Of October

David Cruz

Published Oct 10, 2020

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David Cruz

Published Oct 10, 2020

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The elegant Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown will close this month because of lagging business caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to reports.

The 96-year-old hotel, a throwback inn that covers an entire city block and is complete with old-school chandeliers, enormous vases, and grand lobby, will reportedly close at the end of October after struggling financially to keep its doors open during the pandemic.

"Due to the current, unprecedented environment and the continued uncertain impact from COVID-19, the owners of The Roosevelt Hotel have made the difficult decision to close the hotel and the associates were notified this week," the spokesperson wrote in a statement to WABC-TV. "The iconic hotel, along with most of New York City, has experienced very low demand and as a result the hotel will cease operations before the end of the year. There are currently no plans for the building beyond the scheduled closing."

Workers were informed about the closure to the city-block-sized hotel on social media, according to NY1. The Hotel Trades Council, the union representing workers, said that the Roosevelt's owners violated the 60-day notice informing employees that they plan to close. A spokesperson for the hotel did not immediately respond to inquiries on why it did not inform staffers of the closure 60 days before it is set to close.

Gothamist's Editorial Director Jen Carlson toured the hotel five years ago, capturing the grandeur of the hotel:

"You don't need to be a guest to enjoy the lobby and its surrounding areas, which are not only the centerpiece of the place, but also the best refuge when you have time to kill in Midtown. In there you'll find a bustling scene (tourists, sure), with a bar overlooking it... but go even higher, to the mezzanine level, to escape it all—there you'll find one of the most perfect spots in all of Midtown. You can bring a book, or even a drink from the bar up there, where you'll find tables for two (paired with old sunken, comfy chairs) overlooking the lobby. In the 30 or so hours I spent at the hotel, I rarely saw anyone utilizing this space."

The 16-story structure named after President Theodore Roosevelt (who died in 1919) is located on West 45th Street near Madison Avenue. It's also known for its subterranean tunnel that connected to nearby Grand Central Terminal, offering a link to guests heading out for a night on the town. As Carlson wrote in a separate article in 2015, the tunnel has since been sealed, but the pathway to where it led remained intact.

"It looks almost like an old subway entrance, and our guide told us it used to lead to a tunnel, which is now closed off. Through the rolling metal gate (which was closed when I was originally taken there) you can see a set of steps, along with some signage for Sarar's, a clothing store located on the same block as the hotel."

The hotel has also been immortalized on film, appearing in movies such as "Wall Street," "Malcolm X," and "Men In Black 3."

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David Cruz

David is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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