Restoration Hardware – Broadway at 22nd Street, New York, New York

As the stretch of Broadway between Union Square and Madison Square Park became known as "Ladies’ Mile," in the latter half of the 19th century, residential buildings were converted to commercial storefronts, and new buildings were constructed to create strings of retail stores offering dry goods, clothing, and home furnishings. The fashionable shopping district also included sections of Fifth and Sixth avenues.

The Italianate brownstone structure that today houses Restoration Hardware was built in 1861-62 as a commercial building by architect Griffith Thomas. (The building was also known as the Mortimer Building after its owner, Richard Mortimer, who owned real estate throughout Manhattan.) Thomas, who decades later would be praised by the Architectural Record as "the most fashionable architect of his generation," produced a refined building that would blend comfortably in with the elegant residences nearby. Note the Renaissance detailing such as the pediments over the windows.

J. & C. Johnston Dry goods was one of the first tenants, while on one of the floors above the business college of Stratton & Packard did business. The offices of the makers of Dr. Jayne’s Expectorant were here as early as 1863 when this ad was published:

DR. JAYNE's EXPECTORANT will afford immediate relief by removing the difficulty of breathing and producing an easy expectoration, where by all irritating and obstructing manners are removed from the lungs. Having maintained its reputation, in all parts of the world, for over a quarter of a century, it is confidently recommended as the best remedy ever offered for the diseases it professes to cure. Sold by agents and druggists everywhere, from whom may also be obtained Dr. D. JAYNE's SANATIVE PILLS, a prompt and effectual cure for costiveness, sick headache, and all bilious affections

A contemporary tenant offered Grover & Baker’s "highest premium elastic Sewing-Machines for sale." For those patrons not interested in doing the sewing themselves, the same business would do "family sewing, embroidering, braiding, quilting, tucking, etc., beautifully executed on the Grover & Baker Sewing-Machine."

The American Institute of Architects, which was founded in 1866, established its offices here. On November 16, 1869 the third annual convention was held, chaired by President Richard Upjohn, in an effort to unite American architects and share ideas on "artistic, scientific and practical efficiency of the profession."

It was here In February 1871 that New York’s elite gathered to view an exhibition of paintings, valued at $3,300, which were to be raffled off for the benefit of the orphans of Civil War soldiers in the Union Home and School.

In 1912 architectural firm Rouse & Goldstone was called in to add a sixth floor to the building. The roof was removed and the attic space raised. Square, inset windows were inserted just under the new cornice.