BONUS: There used to be a tavern in the basement of the Flatiron Building
The first basement level of the Flatiron Building was once the Tavern Louis, which was in operation when the building opened and later became a speakeasy. Irving Berlin visited there once and brought a famous jazz band from the Cotton Club in Harlem to perform. The basement levels extend beyond the footprint of the building and go under the road itself, meaning there was plenty of space for people to mingle and dine.
Old photographs reveal a bustling space with glass mirrored columns and marble walls. The same pillars are located in the same place today, along with marble wall slabs next to the elevator and at the staircase. The restaurant and bar could be accessed directly from a staircase on the street, and there is still a brick outline of where the staircase ended. In the cleaning closet are some remnants of the men’s bathroom with marble stalls and wooden water tanks.
Next, check out the Top 10 Secrets of the Flatiron Building!