Google Maps (2011)
When Century 21 closed in 2020, it left a major void at 1972 Broadway at West 66th Street. The four-story building, fully occupied by the retail brand since 2011, has been slow to renew leases despite its prime real estate location. Once home to a Barnes & Noble that closed in 2011, the space now has a new tenant taking over a section of the building. Thanks to Sharon Lutzi for the tip.
Advertisement
“Branches continue to play an important role in the way we serve our customers in combination with our mobile app, online website, and ATMs,” wrote a Wells Fargo spokesperson in a statement to ILTUWS about their forthcoming location. “We are actively investing in our branch network by opening new locations and refurbishing our entire network. As we optimize our branch network, we are focused on evolving our branch presence based on customer usage and the changing traffic patterns and retail landscape to best meet the banking needs of each community we serve.”
ALSO READ: New Elementary School Opening at 1972 Broadway
Currently, Wells Fargo operates three branches on the Upper West Side: Broadway at 70th, which has a bank and ATM, as well as Broadway at 82nd and Broadway at 89th. The multinational financial services company, with more than 70 million customers worldwide, is also in the process of moving into The Ansonia at the northwest corner of West 73rd Street, previously home to The North Face, which closed in 2023.
In a May 2025 Bloomberg story, CEO Charlie Scharf discussed his bank’s big plans for New York City. “I’m a little biased because I’m a New Yorker, but New York has really great opportunities for us,” the chief executive officer said at the branch — the fourth opened in the city in as many months. “Over time, we’d love to be a much, much bigger and even more important presence in the city than we’ve been.” It was reported that the bank may add upwards of 20 or more branches in NYC by the end of 2026.
Wells Fargo did not share a timetable for when it plans to open at 66th and Broadway but indicated that it is exploring options for the space and will share more information when ready.
Have a news tip? Send it to us here!
