4. Rizzoli Bookstore, Bringing Luxury to Books

Rizzoli is an independent bookstore that first opened in 1964. With marble floors, wood-paneled bookcases, and elaborate chandeliers, the store’s interior was made to resemble 19th century luxury Parisian apartments. From 1964 to today, the store has specialized in illustrated books and international literature.

Rizzoli Books was founded by Angelo Rizzoli, an Italian publisher. Rizzoli also had a lesser-known career as a film producer in Europe, and was a producer on films such as La Dolce Vita (1960), 8 1/2 (1963), and Red Desert (1964).

In the 1970’s, Rizzoli opened more bookstores in Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and other cities across the United States. Also during the 1970’s, future designer and art collector Robert Polo worked part-time at Rizzoli’s flagship store.

Rizzoli relocated to West 57th Street in 1985, and then when the Midtown building was demolished, it moved to Broadway in NoMad in 2015, where it remains today. Though the other Rizzoli bookstores across the country have closed, Rizzoli opened a new boutique store in 2010 at the Italian market chain Eataly, specializing in cooking and food books.