Arlo Hotels guide: Nine amazing facts you didn’t know about SoHo
Soho is a district in New York City located within Manhattan. With around 20,000 people per square mile, this is one of the most densely populated areas in NYC. SoHo, has a lot to offer, from luxury boutiques to high-end art galleries to world-class restaurants and other establishments. This neighborhood is incredibly vibrant. To help you appreciate SoHo further, Arlo Hotels presents this list of amazing facts about this prime NY commercial spot.
1) In 1836, John Jacob Astor bought a massive chunk of land — almost 100 acres to build a road eventually known as Broadway. Be sure to try and catch a show while in NY.
2) SoHo, an industrial area until the 1950s, saw an influx of artists wanting to take advantage of the large, empty spaces for their studio spaces.
3) The first gallery in SoHo was Artists Space opened its doors in 1973.
4) In 1978, a group of artists called “The Wooster Group” moved into a former metalworking factory and opened a theater that became known as The Theater for the New City.
5) SoHo is now home to over 600 art galleries.
6) Because of its proximity to Chinatown, SoHo has a strong Asian presence. There are many Korean businesses in the area.
7) The most popular shopping destination is Broadway between Houston and Grand Street, with many boutiques, bookstores, and restaurants. Arlo Hotels has several locations in the area, making it easy to enjoy your shopping experience.
8) New York is the only city in the world where street graffiti is legal. The famous street artist Jean-Michel Basquiat started his career here creating graffiti. He has several permanent murals around SoHo.
9) SoHo was initially pronounced “Zo-ho.” In 1971, the name changed to “So-”h”-o.” This pronunciation has grown popular over the years.
