January 16, 2026
1129 Broadway Looks Up as Mr. Pink Lands in NoMad, New York
This January, a notable NoMad address takes on a striking new presence. Mr. Pink now sits atop Kew Management’s 1129 Broadway in NoMad, New York, joining a district-wide public art installation presented through the Flatiron NoMad Partnership’s Winter Glow program. The placement brings contemporary art to one of Broadway’s most historically layered sites and reinforces Kew’s long-standing role as steward of the block.
The story of 1129 Broadway reaches back to the late-19th century. At that time, the block was anchored by the Worth Hotel and the celebrated St. James Hotel. As commercial development accelerated, Edward T. King refused to sell his five-story brownstone at 1129 Broadway, even as neighboring properties rose dramatically in scale. His decision created one of New York City’s earliest development holdouts. For years, the brownstone stood wedged between much taller buildings, altering the block’s form and future.
The story of 1129 Broadway reaches back to the late-19th century. At that time, the block was anchored by the Worth Hotel and the celebrated St. James Hotel. As commercial development accelerated, Edward T. King refused to sell his five-story brownstone at 1129 Broadway, even as neighboring properties rose dramatically in scale. His decision created one of New York City’s earliest development holdouts. For years, the brownstone stood wedged between much taller buildings, altering the block’s form and future.
The site eventually evolved. After the King property was sold, the brownstone was removed and replaced by a one-story structure that became home to the renowned Carl H. Schultz mineral water shop, known as “The Sign of the Siphon.” Schultz’s flavored waters were served from marble counters beneath Tiffany lamps, drawing steady crowds (read more about the site’s history here). That modest building remains today and now houses Naya, a fast-casual destination offering bold, Lebanese-inspired flavors from an accessible, customizable menu.
Leslie Spira Lopez, who leads Kew Management, a family-run company for 75 years has a bottle of Carl H. Schultz mineral water from the original shop once located at 1129 Broadway. The image links past and present.
Since 1952, the block of Broadway between 25th and 26th Streets, 1123–1133 Broadway, has remained under Kew Management’s ownership. Over decades, the historic St. James and Townsend buildings were physically connected, while the historic holdout preserved space, light, and separation between them. That mix of persistence and adaptation defines the property’s character.
Now, that character extends skyward. Mr. Pink appears on the rooftop at 1129 Broadway as one of ten illuminated sculptures installed across NoMad and Flatiron. Created by French artist Philippe Katerine, the larger-than-life figure adds humor and unexpected visual excitement to the winter streetscape. It also invites passersby to pause, look up, and engage with the architectural environment.
“2026 is definitely looking up with Kew Management and Mr. Pink – both literally and figuratively,” says Lopez, President and CEO of Kew Management. The installation reflects a forward-looking view while respecting the block’s long arc of change. It places contemporary art directly onto a site shaped by history, commerce, and design.
Mr. Pink can be found at several NoMad and Flatiron locations:
- Flatiron North Plaza, 23rd St. and Broadway
- Hotel Seville NoMad, 22 E 29th St.
- Kew Management, 1129 Broadway
- Porcelanosa, 202 Fifth Avenue
- The Capitol Plaza, 50 W 27th St.
- The Church of the Transfiguration, 1 E 29th St.
- Virgin Hotels New York, 1227 Broadway
- BXP, 200 Fifth Avenue
Together, the installations form a walkable art trail across the district.
The program officially kicked off on January 15, 2026 with a public unveiling in the Flatiron North Plaza, including a free live jazz performance presented by The NoMad Alliance, lead producers of the annual NoMad Jazz Festival. The event underscores the neighborhood’s creative breadth, bringing community together through music and visual art into shared public space.
As locals and visitors search for Mr. Pink throughout NoMad, New York this winter, Kew’s 1129 Broadway exemplifies a place where history, food, art, and ownership align. The block has always attracted attention and creativity. This season, it happens to glow pink.