The Park Central Hotel is a 31-story, 935-room hotel located at 870 7th Avenue (between West 55th and West 56th Streets) in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, New York.
Built in the pre-Depression late-twenties, its grand opening took place on June 12, 1927. It occupies the east half of the city block between 7th Avenue and Broadway; anchoring the west half is 1740 Broadway.
The Park Central has changed names several times since its opening. Originally named the Park Central Hotel, it was sold and became the Park Sheraton in the 1950s, then was sold again in the 1980s becoming the Omni Park Central, and finally reverted to its original name in the 1990s. It has since downsized from 1,450 rooms to make space for the Manhattan Club, which is the 266-unit, all-suite timeshare portion of the hotel, located at the north side of the hotel at 200 West 56th Street.
Today, the Park Central is an independent hotel managed by Highgate Holdings.
Named Park Central because of its close proximity, but no actual views, of Central Park, it is a historic building with an extensive history. It has housed such iconic figures as Jackie Gleason, Mae West, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who kept a suite there.
It is most infamous as the site of the murder of mobster Albert Anastasia, which took place on October 25, 1957 in the hotel's barber shop. Earlier, in 1928, the Jewish gangster and well-dressed prototype of the modern don, Arnold Rothstein, was shot and mortally wounded during a card game at the Park Central. In more recent times, it has housed many more modern-day celebrities and celebrity events, such as casting calls and parties.