181 MacDougal Street

Greenwich Village | built 2024

Open on the map4 entries

Written with AI from the source each entry cites, then fact-checked.

  1. 1633

    Director General Wouter van Twiller reportedly builds his country house on this farmland

    An earlier building on the site, according to the Landmarks Preservation Commission's 1969 Greenwich Village report: in 1633 Wouter van Twiller, Director General of New Netherland, built a country home on his farm here, beside the old Indian Road. The report says the house was still standing as late as 1795. The same block of West Eighth Street, at the MacDougal Street end, was later covered by Greek Revival houses and then by one-story shops.

    Source: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

  2. 1846

    Two Greek Revival houses with fluted doorway columns go up at 179 and 181 MacDougal Street

    An earlier building on the site: the pair of houses at Nos. 179 and 181 MacDougal Street, built in 1846, had fluted columns at their doorways and faced MacDougal Street. Thomas Norris ran small stables on part of the lot in 1851, with their entrance on Eighth Street.

    “…a pair of handsome Greek Revival houses which once faced on MacDougal Street (Nos. 179 & 181), built in 1846 with fluted columns at the doorways…”

    Source: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

  3. 1892

    Gonfarone's Italian restaurant becomes popular in two earlier houses on this site

    Two earlier Greek Revival houses here, one of them the original 181 MacDougal Street, are combined into a hotel and restaurant in the early 1870s. The widow Caterina Gonfarone takes over the business and switches the cooking from French to Italian. In 1892 she hires Anacleto Sermolino as cashier, and he popularizes an enormous 50-cent dinner and adds a musical trio. Patrons include Mark Twain, O. Henry and Enrico Caruso.

    Source: Daytonian in Manhattan

  4. 1937

    The old Gonfarone's buildings are demolished for a one-story store building

    A restaurant effort to revive Gonfarone's after Prohibition fails, and the New York Times reports the closing on April 20, 1930. A hotel for men later occupies the earlier Greek Revival houses on this site. In April 1937 architects Leon and Lionel Levy file plans for a one-story store and office building, and the old houses are demolished.

    Source: Daytonian in Manhattan

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