214 Sullivan Street, located in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, has a rich and varied history. The current six-story Renaissance Revival building was completed in 1899, designed by architect John P. Voelker as a factory and loft space. It was constructed on the former site of the Sullivan Street Methodist Episcopal Church, built in 1839. The building's facade features buff-colored brick and terra-cotta, with distinctive architectural details such as Ionic columns and a modillioned roof cornice.
WIKIMAPIA
Before the construction of the present building, the site was significant for its religious and cultural contributions. In 1862, the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church purchased the former Sullivan Street Methodist Episcopal Church. This congregation was central to the African American community in what was then known as "Little Africa." The church is noted on historical maps as the "Colored Bethel" (1879) and the "African Methodist Church" (1887). In 1895, the parish of Our Lady of Pompeii briefly occupied the site after moving from Waverly Place.
VILLAGE PRESERVATION
After its construction in 1899, the building served as a paper box factory until 1969, when it was converted into commercial office space. Over the years, it has housed various tenants, including the Lion's Den music venue, which operated from 1990 until December 2007. The Lion's Den hosted performances by artists such as Ben Folds, Lady Gaga, and Dashboard Confessional. In January 2008, the venue reopened as Sullivan Hall.
WIKIPEDIA
Today, 214 Sullivan Street continues to function as an office building, reflecting its industrial origins and the dynamic cultural history of Greenwich Village.