Madison Avenue, extending from East 57th Street to East 86th, is tell-tale NYC. From flagship stores of the most revered designers to art galleries and elegant five-star hotels, it’s the largest shopping destination in North America—and one of the most lavish.
The Madison Avenue Business Improvement District is the not-for-profit public and private partnership representing the area’s businesses. President Matthew Bauer says a visit to Madison Avenue can easily be included in any New York itinerary, as it’s located just a short walk from the city’s most popular attractions.
“Luxury brands have flocked to Madison Avenue because it’s located at the center of the most affluent and desirable residential neighborhood in Manhattan: the Upper East Side,” he says.
The district is home to boutiques housed in historical, mid-19th-century buildings that feature designers’ full collections. Shoppers can find brands like Givenchy, Hermès, Prada, and Balenciaga, as well as more than 40 sidewalk cafés and restaurants with tastes from renowned chefs, from light fare to fine cuisine. The nightlife on Madison Avenue—a dazzling display of cabaret and jazz performances and cigar lounges—helps NYC live up to its reputation as the city that never sleeps.
For operators focusing on luxury stores, Madison Avenue BID recently launched exclusive shopping experiences titled ‘Madison Avenue Preferred Privileges,’ where shoppers can visit 75 participating boutiques and receive high-service amenities, including:
- Personal greetings by store managers
- Private shopping, before or after regular store hours
- An appointment with an in-store personal shopper or stylist
- Complimentary refreshments
- In-hotel fashion consultations
- Complimentary delivery of purchases to their Manhattan hotel
Some of the participating retailers are Barneys New York, Christian Louboutin, Marc Jacobs, and Stella McCartney.
“Madison Avenue is the exclusive NYC member of the USA Luxury Shopping Consortium, and tour operators can create and download a customizable voucher, the ‘Luxe Pass,’ for the Madison Avenue Preferred Privileges program via the consortium’s website,” Bauer says.
For more information, contact Bauer or go to madisonavenuebid.org.
Top photo: Madison Avenue Business Improvement District
Photo by Julienne Schaer
For more shopping information check out 5 takes on shopping across the U.S.
