F: The New York Merchandise Mart, The Appellate Division Courthouse, New York Life Building

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The New York Merchandise Mart leases 100 showrooms to global manufacturers of tabletop, gift and houseware items in the building known as the New York Merchandise Mart. "The shows are great because this is where all the trends start," explains Burns, who serves as senior vice president and director of the property, and is also a Flatiron Business Improvement District (BID) board member. The 42-story tower with its black glass and brown aluminum facade covers 500,000 square feet and is owned by the Rudin Management Company, one of New York City's premiere real estate enterprises. "I love that it's a Rudin building and one of the safest in the city," notes Burns. "Many of our tenants are from abroad and this is the location of their U.S. business to meet their customers. When they get here, we hope to give them a great experience."

The bi-annual exhibits for retail store buyers attract approximately 10,000 individuals to the Flatiron area, for which Burns describes as "the coolest, hottest and what retailers want" from luxury to middle-priced brands. In addition, celebrities and fashion designers continue to play an important role in the industry. From bridal registry gifts to restaurant cutlery to the "green" trend in packaging, stylish collections with high-profile names such as Martha Stewart, Donna Karan and Vera Wang occupy the initial 24 floors of the building, which is the site of the twice-annual tabletop presentations, with a significant turnout by retailers based on encouraging economic growth in sales and the prospect of better business.