I worked in Midtown on the overnight shift at Photo-Lettering from 1982-1988 before I began carrying a camera everywhere and chronicling what I find infrastructurally interesting, and this was way before the intenet. Thus, I didn’t roam around on my lunch hour, which happened to be 2-3 AM; I would just head to the deli on the corner or the all-night Blimpie on 3rd Avenue and East 45th. Thus, I’m just now discovering notable architecture in the area including this terra cotta beauty at #56 West 45th, called by Tom “Daytonian” Miller the Goupil Building.
The tall, 17-story tower was developed by George Backer and built by architects Wallis & Goodwillie, who also maintained offices in the completed tower. It’s a rare example of neo Gothic terra cotta. We were still in an era of fine detail, so notice the monk’s heads, each with a subtly different expression, above the huge second-story arched window. A large retail establishment was leased to French print and painting dealer Goupil & Co., hence the building’s name. The AI wikipedia robot elaborates on Goupil:
Goupil & Co. (or Goupil & Cie.) was a major 19th-century French art dealership and print publisher that grew into an international business. Founded by Adolphe Goupil in 1829, it was a central force in the art market and had a global network of branches, including locations in Paris, London, Berlin, Brussels, and New York. The firm specialized in 19th-century academic artists, and its activities spanned from publishing prints to dealing in original artworks.
In 1915, after only two years, Backer sold the building to industrialist Conrad Hubert, owner and president of the American Ever Ready Company. You guessed it, the company produced and distributed a brand still in use today, Eveready Batteries. He was there just a short time as well and in 1921, new owner Herman Lakner renamed it the Lakner Building, which was emblazoned on the top floor, visible in a 1940 tax photo.
In subsequent years the building housed renowned architects Buchman & Kahn and American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and later in the 1960s, several gold and jewelry wholesale firms, near the adjacent Diamond District.
Forgotten Fan Michael Schwenk suggested this building to the Daytonian for a profile.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
11/26/25
4 comments
From what I could find the current owner is Gatsby Enterprises. That sounds Great!
That would be East 45th not West 45th if it’s 3rd Ave.
OK, fixed.
Hey, I know that place! There is a park leading to a truck alley (or at least what used to be a truck alley) across the way.
When you’re out to lunch and looking for a bite to eat, it is very easy to miss the beautify of these buildings when hunting your next meal. You also have a wild mix of old and new in this part of the 40’s with lots of Art Deco by Bryant Park.
I used to work in the area myself. I was always impressed by the variety of food available at any given time of day. Neighboring parts of Manhattan can feel like a food desert in comparison.