Shoe In: Views From This $25M New York City Co-Op in Central Park West Are Among The City’s Best

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The 18th floor apartment sports park and skyline views. (Mike Tauber)

Need a reason to love New York again? Look no further.

The swoon-worthy views from this sprawling Central Park West co-op, located on the 18th floor of the historic Majestic, will remind you. Four covetable terraces overlook the park and Manhattan skyline.

The 5,000-square-foot apartment is equally impressive. For starters, it comes with serious fashion cred. For nearly two decades, footwear executive George Malkemus (of Manolo Blahnik fame) lived there with husband/business partner Anthony Yurgaitis. The pair ran the shoe brand’s U.S. operations for 37 years, catapulting it into a global empire.   

The apartment is impressive–inside and out. (Mike Tauber)

Past and present “Manolo” fans include Princess Diana, Paloma Picasso, and Carolina Herrera — not to mention the entire staff of Vogue magazine. And after “Sex and the City” protagonist Carrie Bradshaw confessed to having a religious experience in the Manolo Blahnik store back in 2000, sales at Neiman Marcus alone topped 30,000 pairs a year.

“Manolo” aficionado Carrie Bradshaw brought worldwide attention to the brand. (Lauren Fleishman for The New York Times)
At one point, Carrie figured she spent over $40,000 on her beloved Blahniks. (“Sex and the City”)

But back to the listing, which is held by Realtor John Burger with Brown Harris Stevens. It comes just a month after Malkemus’ death. Asking price for the five-bedroom, six-bath co-op: $25 million.

In an email to The New York Times, Yurgaitis called the residence “the ultimate New York home.”

A private elevator opens up to a gallery-like foyer. (Mike Tauber)

For good reason. It’s the combination of two units acquired by the couple in 2002 and 2004, then meticulously renovated with the help of the architect Annabelle Selldorf. There are light oak floors, oversize windows, and nearly 10-foot ceilings throughout.

A gallery and foyer, reached via private elevator, leads to the spacious 35-foot main living area. Floor-to-ceiling French doors open up to two of the aforementioned bluestone-lined terraces.

Being on the 18th floor of the Majestic “has to be the most perfect spot.”

“You get that perfect relationship between park, skyline, and sky,” says Burger. If you’re too high on Central Park, you’ve lost the park when you sit down.”

All of the terraces are lined in bluestone. (Mike Tauber)
The couple hosted many dinner parties in the spacious dining room. (Mike Tauber)
The large eat-in kitchen is equipped with stainless-steel appliances, cabinets, and countertops. (Mike Tauber)

An inviting dining room easily accommodates up to 18 guests. Just outside, terrace number three captures views of The Dakota and The San Remo. Directly adjacent, the custom-designed eat-in kitchen features top-of-the-line appliances — Sub-Zero refrigerator and double freezer, 48-inch professional Wolf range, double Viking wall ovens, and Sub-Zero wine cave.

Yurgaitis told the Times the primary bedroom suite — especially its 22-foot private terrace — was his favorite part of the apartment.

“I always enjoy stepping out with my morning coffee and a paper,” he said, “and once the stars come out, an evening cocktail on the terrace is always the perfect nightcap.”

The luxe primary suite features a private terrace. (Mike Tauber)
The apartment’s huge walk-in closet rivals the one in the movie where Mr. Big proposed to Carrie with a pair of Blahnik heels. (Above, Mike Tauber; below, “Sex and the City”)

The suite also sports a sitting room, wet bar, dual marble bathrooms, walk-in closet, and double dressing area. Of the apartment’s four additional bedrooms, one is converted into a library; another into an office.

Just steps from Central Park, the 90-year-old Art Deco-style Majestic is among the city’s finest pre-war cooperatives. Among the well-known residents: actors Milton Berle and Zero Mostel, fashion designer Marc Jacobs, and comedian Conan O’Brien.

Elaine Raffel

Elaine Raffel