Limelight Marketplace in Chelsea

As I walked along the Avenue of Americas in Chelsea, I approached a beautiful 19th-century church that I had seen several times during my explorations of this area. But this time, something seemed different. The grounds were very manicured and the doors opened, as if for business. And it was.

The first stone was laid in 1844 and a century or so later, a dwindling congregation was replaced by a commune. This lasted for a short period of time before they moved on to Colorado a few years later. The Episcopal church then sold the property which became a drug-counseling organization and then subsequently a nightclub around 1983 called the Limelight. I read that Andy Warhol hosted the club’s opening-night, and soon the place was THE place to party. Just picture this in your mind, a beautiful 19th-century church turned – nightclub.

As the club became more and more popular, so did the number of visits from the police, who occasionally padlocked its doors after complaints about drug use and dealing. The Limelight closed in 2001, and other clubs operated in the space until 2007.

Today you have Limelight Marketplace, a shell of a stunning gothic looking church with beautiful upscale boutiques and restaurants inside. A cool little fifteen million dollar makeover, and a must-see on anyone’s list while visiting Manhattan. Simply incredible.