History of Trump Tower in Timeline
Trump Tower is a 58-story mixed-use skyscraper located on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It serves as the headquarters for the Trump Organization and includes the penthouse residence of Donald Trump. Several other members of the Trump family also reside, or have resided, in the building. The tower was built on the former site of the Bonwit Teller department store flagship location. Its construction and association with Donald Trump have made it a well-known landmark.
1929: Construction of Bonwit Teller building
In 1929, the Bonwit Teller building, an architecturally renowned building, was constructed and occupied the lot where Trump Tower would later be built.
1963: Huxtable Architecture Critic
In 1963, Ada Louise Huxtable became The New York Times architecture critic.
1977: John Hanigan becomes chairman of Genesco
In 1977, John Hanigan became the new chairman of Genesco and looked to sell off assets, leading to Trump's offer to buy the Bonwit Teller building.
July 1978: Hiring of Der Scutt as architect
In July 1978, Trump hired Der Scutt as the architect of Trump Tower, a year before the Bonwit Teller site was purchased.
May 1979: Closure of Bonwit Teller's flagship store
In May 1979, The Trump Organization closed Bonwit Teller's flagship store.
December 1979: Agreement to donate Bonwit Teller sculptures
In December 1979, Penelope Hunter-Stiebel and Donald Trump agreed that the Art Deco sculptures and the grille on the Bonwit Teller Building's facade would be removed and donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
1979: Huxtable Commented on Proposed Shape
In 1979, Ada Louise Huxtable commented on the "proposed faceted shape of the building".
1979: Opposition to rezoning
In 1979, the New York Committee for a Balanced Building Boom opposed the planned rezoning of the area for Trump Tower over fears Fifth Avenue's character would be changed by the construction of skyscrapers.
1979: Sale of Bonwit Teller building to Trump Organization
In early 1979, Genesco sold off many of the Bonwit Teller locations to Allied Stores, and the flagship Bonwit Teller building was sold to the Trump Organization for about $10 million.
February 1980: Trump letter about sculpture removal
In February 1980, Donald Trump wrote a letter stating that demolition would begin in three to four weeks and that the contractor was instructed to save the artifacts.
April 16, 1980: Bonwit Teller sculptures destroyed
On April 16, 1980, the grille and sculptures from the Bonwit Teller building were removed and destroyed. Trump claimed it was due to hazard concerns, expense, and potential construction delays.
September 1980: Hiring of Anthony Rafaniello
In September 1980, Anthony "Tony Raf" Rafaniello was hired for the Trump Tower project and spent a week planning a three-phase construction schedule.
October 1980: Hiring of Barbara Res as construction executive
In October 1980, Barbara Res was hired as the construction executive for Trump Tower. She was the first woman assigned to oversee a major New York City construction site.
November 1980: Trump comments on art
In November 1980, in a New York Magazine article, Trump contrasted the decor of his Grand Hyatt New York with the "junk I destroyed at Bonwit Teller."
1980: NYC transit strike
During the 1980 New York City transit strike, some undocumented Polish immigrants lived at the Trump Tower site while working.
July 1982: Topping out of Trump Tower
Trump Tower was topped out by July 1982, two-and-a-half years after the start of construction.
1982: Huxtable no longer NYT critic
By 1982, Ada Louise Huxtable was no longer The New York Times architecture critic.
1982: New York Times Architecture Review
In 1982, New York Times architecture critic Paul Goldberger contrasted the "reflective" Trump Tower with the nearby postmodern 550 Madison Avenue building.
February 14, 1983: Grand opening of atrium and stores
The grand opening of the atrium and stores in Trump Tower was held on February 14, 1983, marking a significant milestone in the tower's development.
May 1983: Falling glass windowpane
In May 1983, a glass windowpane fell from a crane installing windows on Trump Tower, hitting two pedestrians, one of whom later died from a skull fracture.
August 1983: Construction loan paid off; First residents moving in
By August 1983, the construction loan for Trump Tower was paid off using revenue from condominium sales, and the first residents were scheduled to begin moving in.
August 1983: Positive press for Donald Trump
In August 1983, a New York Times reporter noted that the only negative comments about Donald Trump were given off the record, indicating a shift towards more positive media coverage.
November 1983: Opening of atrium, apartments, offices, and stores
In November 1983, the atrium, apartments, offices, and stores of Trump Tower opened on a staggered schedule. The residential units sold out quickly, but commercial and retail spaces initially struggled to attract tenants.
November 30, 1983: Opening of ground-level stores
On November 30, 1983, the forty ground-level stores of Trump Tower officially opened for business, enhancing the tower's commercial appeal.
1983: Class-action lawsuit filed
In 1983, a class-action lawsuit was filed against the Trump Organization concerning unpaid pension and medical obligations to labor unions whose members helped build the towers.
1984: Ada Louise Huxtable's Retraction
In 1984, Ada Louise Huxtable refuted a quote attributed to her by William E. Geist in The New York Times, clarifying that her positive comment was about the building's proposed shape in 1979, not the finished tower. Huxtable was The New York Times architecture critic from 1963 to 1982.
1984: Tax break challenge rejected
In 1984, the New York Court of Appeals rejected the city government's initial challenge to the tax breaks given to Trump Tower.
1984: Penthouse design described
In a 1984 article in GQ magazine, Ivana Trump described the layout of the Trump Tower penthouse, including the living, dining, and entertainment rooms on the first floor, bedrooms on the second floor, and children's bedrooms on the third floor.
1985: High demand for store space
In 1985, Trump stated that over a hundred stores were seeking space in Trump Tower, and he began to describe the building as a "New York landmark."
1985: Lawsuit against state tax
In 1985, Trump was a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state in the New York State Court of Appeals concerning the payment of a 10% state tax on real estate transactions of $1 million or more.
1985: Penthouse sold for $15 million
In 1985, the penthouse in Trump Tower was sold for $15 million, highlighting the high value of the residential units.
1986: Store closures and high rents
By 1986, 15% to 20% of the original stores in Trump Tower had closed or relocated due to high commercial rents, which were the highest on Fifth Avenue.
1988: Commercial space exemption upheld
In 1988, the Court of Appeals also rejected the city's claim that Trump Tower's commercial space did not qualify for a tax exemption.
1989: Duvalier's residence discovered
In 1989, Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, the ex-president of Haiti, was discovered to have lived in a $2 million apartment on the 54th floor of Trump Tower.
March 1990: Bonwit Teller closes
In March 1990, Bonwit Teller closed its Trump Tower location after its parent company declared bankruptcy, marking a change in the tower's retail offerings.
1990: Trump testifies about undocumented workers
In 1990, Trump testified he was unaware that undocumented Polish immigrants were involved in the Bonwit Teller building demolition and Trump Tower project.
1990: Tax rebate ruling
In 1990, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that New York City had to give Trump $6.2 million in tax rebates related to Trump Tower.
September 1991: Galeries Lafayette opens
In September 1991, after a $13.7 million renovation, Galeries Lafayette opened in the space previously occupied by Bonwit Teller.
1991: Judge rules in favor of Polish laborers
In 1991, a judge ruled in favor of the Polish laborers, ordering the organization to pay the workers.
1991: Lawsuit against Pia Zadora
In October 1991, Trump successfully sued actress Pia Zadora and her husband to collect $1 million in unpaid rent, indicating legal challenges with residents.
1992: Journalist Wayne Barrett's book
In 1992, journalist Wayne Barrett concluded in a book that Trump did business with mobbed-up concrete companies and met with Anthony Salerno.
August 1994: Galeries Lafayette closes
In August 1994, Galeries Lafayette announced it would close its Trump Tower location, less than three years after opening, due to its inability to pay rent and taxes.
1994: Niketown opens
In 1994, the Niketown store opened in the building adjacent to Trump Tower, located at 6 East 57th Street.
1997: Grand Theft Auto Cover
In 1997, Trump Tower was featured on the cover of the video game Grand Theft Auto.
June 1998: Judge Kevin Duffy assigned to case
In June 1998, Judge Kevin Duffy was assigned the Polish laborers case, comparing it unfavorably to Charles Dickens' fictional case Jarndyce and Jarndyce.
1999: Sprinkler Law Passed
In 1999, the city passed a law requiring sprinklers in residential units. Trump lobbied against the proposal. The residential units in Trump Tower did not contain sprinklers because the structure had been built before 1999.
1999: Lawsuit settled
In 1999, the lawsuit concerning unpaid wages to Polish laborers was ultimately settled.
2000: Commercial space earnings reported
The New York Times reported in 2020 that rent from Trump Tower's commercial spaces had earned Trump $336 million from 2000 through the end of 2018.
2006: Forbes valuation of office space
In 2006, Forbes magazine valued the 300,000 square feet of office space in Trump Tower at up to $318 million.
2007: Bruce Willis buys apartment
In 2007, actor Bruce Willis bought a $4.26 million apartment in Trump Tower.
2007: Gucci rents space
Since 2007, the Italian fashion retailer Gucci has rented 48,667 square feet along Fifth Avenue in Trump Tower.
2008: Expiration of Genesco's lease
If Trump were to buy the Bonwit Teller building, his tower's ownership could be transferred to Equitable in 2008, once Genesco's lease expired.
2008: Grand Theft Auto IV Depiction
In 2008, Trump Tower was depicted in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV and its episodes The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony as Cleethorpes Tower.
2008: Qatar Airways rents space
Since at least 2008, Qatar Airways has rented commercial space in Trump Tower.
2008: Fine for removing public bench
Sometime prior to 2008, the Trump Organization removed the public bench and installed a counter selling Trump-branded merchandise. In 2008, they were fined $2,500.
2009: Carlos Peralta sells apartment
In 2009, Carlos Peralta, a billionaire businessman from Mexico, sold an apartment in Trump Tower for $13.5 million.
July 2010: Hillel Nahmad buys apartment
In July 2010, art dealer Hillel "Helly" Nahmad bought a second apartment in Trump Tower.
2010: Andrew Lloyd Webber moves out
In 2010, Andrew Lloyd Webber, known for musicals such as Cats, moved out of his 59th and 60th floor apartment in Trump Tower after 17 years of intending to do so.
2010: The Other Guys Filmed at Trump Tower
In 2010, the comedy film The Other Guys contained a car chase scene where Samuel L. Jackson's character drives his car into Trump Tower.
2010: AIA Guide and Fodor's Review
In 2010, the fifth edition of the AIA Guide to New York City and Fodor's New York City 2010 both described Trump Tower and its opulent features.
2011: Barrett questions Trump's business dealings
In 2011, Wayne Barrett questioned some of Trump's business dealings in a Daily Beast article and alleged that concrete was one of "several dozen" suspected mob connections Trump had.
2012: Mortgage loan taken out
In 2012, Trump took out a $100 million mortgage loan on the building.
2012: $100 million mortgage loan
In 2012, Trump took out a ten-year, personally guaranteed $100 million mortgage loan on Trump Tower.
2012: Trump's Vlog Post
In 2012, on the Trump Organization's YouTube channel, Donald Trump mentioned that Trump Tower played a role in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises.
2013: Condo prices decline
From 2013 to early 2024, the average per-square-foot cost of a condominium at Trump Tower nearly halved.
2014: Building valuation increase begins
Between 2014 and 2015, the building's valuation rose from $490 million to $600 million.
2014: Trump admits to working with mobbed up concrete guys
In 2014, Trump admitted that he had "no choice" but to work with "concrete guys who are mobbed up."
2014: Death of Baby Doc Duvalier
Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, a past resident of Trump Tower, died in 2014.
July 2015: Notice of violation for merchandise kiosks
In July 2015, the City of New York issued a notice of violation demanding a public bench be put back in place of one of the Trump merchandise kiosks in the lobby.
August 2015: Cristiano Ronaldo buys apartment
In August 2015, Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo purchased an apartment for $18.5 million.
2015: Campaign launch and store sales
After Trump launched his 2016 presidential campaign at Trump Tower in 2015, store in the atrium sold campaign memorabilia such as hats to fund his campaign.
2015: Building valuation increase
Between 2014 and 2015, the building's valuation rose from $490 million to $600 million.
2015: Addition of a second counter
By 2015, a second counter had been added in the public space passageway inside the Fifth Avenue entrance.
2015: Founding of Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
In 2015, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., was founded to manage Trump's 2016 U.S. presidential campaign and was headquartered within part of the space where The Apprentice was filmed.
2015: Energy Star score of 48 out of 100
In 2015, Trump Tower's Energy Star score was 48 out of 100, below the city's overall median Energy Star score.
2015: Trump Organization applies for a permit for the clock
In 2015, the Trump Organization applied for a permit for the clock located on the sidewalk opposite the main entrance.
2015: Self/less Filmed at Trump Tower
In 2015, the penthouse in Trump Tower was used as a filming location for the action film Self/less.
January 2016: Kiosks to be removed
In January 2016, a lawyer for the Trump Organization stated the merchandise kiosks would be removed in two to four weeks, before an expected court ruling.
March 2016: Campaign rent increase
In March 2016, the monthly rent paid by the Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign for its Trump Tower headquarters was $35,458.
August 9, 2016: Man posts video claiming to be an independent researcher
On August 9, 2016, a man posted a viral video on YouTube claiming to be an independent researcher who wanted to speak to Donald Trump.
November 8, 2016: Protests after election
On November 8, 2016, after Trump became president-elect, Trump Tower became a rallying point for protests, leading to increased security measures.
December 6, 2016: Woman stopped on 24th floor
On December 6, 2016, a woman reached the 24th floor of Trump Tower before being stopped by Secret Service officers.
December 2016: Low Yelp and Google reviews
In December 2016, Yelp reviews of Trump Grill averaged two-and-a-half out of five stars, while Google reviews averaged three of five stars.
2016: Trump's successful election
After Trump's successful 2016 election, the campaign headquarters was moved out of Trump Tower to office space in Arlington, Virginia.
2016: Petitions to relocate Niketown
During and after the 2016 U.S. presidential election, opponents of Trump's election created petitions to relocate the Niketown store.
2016: Trump Tower Novel Reported
During the last week of the 2016 presidential campaign, news media reported on the existence of "Trump Tower", a romance novel by Jeffrey Robinson.
2016: Increased visitation after Trump's election
Following Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and subsequent election, Trump Tower experienced a significant increase in visitation, leading to heightened security measures around the building for several years.
2016: Popularity among tourists
In 2016, Trump Tower gained popularity among New York City tourists, especially after Trump was elected president.
2016: Building valuation drop
In 2016, Trump Tower's value dropped from $630 million to $471 million due to reduced operating income and a decline in real estate value.
2016: Fine and order to remove sales counters
In 2016, the Trump Organization was fined $14,000 and ordered to remove the sales counters and reinstall the public bench.
2016: Wiretapping claim
In March 2017, Trump wrote several posts on Twitter claiming former president Barack Obama had wiretapped phones in the tower toward the end of the 2016 campaign.
2016: Insight Guides' Mention
Insight Guides' 2016 edition mentioned Trump Tower as "worth stopping by for a glimpse of the opulence synonymous with Manhattan in the 1980s" and that viewers of The Apprentice would recognize the atrium and the waterfall.
2016: Special Counsel investigation of Russian ties to the 2016 election
Paul Manafort agreed to forfeit his Trump Tower condo in September 2018, as part of a plea deal made during the Special Counsel investigation of Russian ties to the 2016 election.
January 2017: Protests Subside After Inauguration
Following Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2017, the protests around Trump Tower lessened. By the summer of 2017, security measures were eased, only being implemented when Trump was present at the location.
January 2017: 2020 campaign rent begins
From its launch in January 2017 until the end of 2018, the Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign paid more than $890,000 in rent for its Trump Tower headquarters.
January 20, 2017: No-fly zone over Trump Tower
Until January 20, 2017, the Federal Aviation Administration imposed a no-fly zone over Trump Tower.
March 2017: Trump claims wiretapping
In March 2017, Trump claimed on Twitter that former president Barack Obama had wiretapped phones in Trump Tower towards the end of the 2016 campaign.
April 2017: Department of Defense leases space in Trump Tower
In April 2017, the United States Department of Defense signed an 18-month lease for space in Trump Tower to house personnel and equipment dedicated to protecting the president.
July 2017: Secret Service moves command post
In July 2017, the Secret Service moved their command post from an apartment in Trump Tower to a trailer on the sidewalk.
October 2017: O'Brien discusses Renoir painting with Trump
In October 2017, Timothy L. O'Brien discussed the copy of the painting "Two Sisters (On the Terrace)" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir with Trump for his book, TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald. Trump repeatedly claimed his copy was the genuine work.
November 2017: Settlement documents unsealed
In November 2017, U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska ordered the settlement documents from the Polish laborers case unsealed.
2017: Removal of unauthorized kiosks
In 2017, New York City ordered the removal of two unauthorized kiosks in Trump Tower that were selling Trump's merchandise.
2017: Energy Star score of 44 out of 100
In 2017, Trump Tower's Energy Star score was 44 out of 100, below the city's overall median Energy Star score and lower than the 48 out of 100 score recorded in 2015.
April 7, 2018: Four-Alarm Fire at Trump Tower
On April 7, 2018, around 5:30 p.m. (EDT), a four-alarm fire occurred on the 50th floor of Trump Tower, resulting in the death of a resident and injuries to six firefighters. The fire was later attributed to overheated power wires.
April 2018: Minor Electrical Fire
Earlier in April 2018, before the larger fire on April 7th, a minor electrical fire at Trump Tower injured three people.
September 2018: Paul Manafort agrees to forfeit Trump Tower condo
In September 2018, Paul Manafort agreed to forfeit his Trump Tower condo as part of a plea deal during the Special Counsel investigation of Russian ties to the 2016 election.
2018: 2020 campaign rent paid
From its launch in January 2017 until the end of 2018, the Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign paid more than $890,000 in rent for its Trump Tower headquarters.
2018: José Maria Marin sentenced
In 2018, José Maria Marin, former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, was sentenced to four years in prison.
2018: Health inspection reports of mice
In 2018, health inspections reported "evidence of mice or live mice" in and around the Trump Grill kitchen, according to records obtained by the New York Daily News.
2018: Nike closes Niketown store
In early 2018, Nike closed the Niketown store as previously planned.
2018: Commercial space earnings reported
The New York Times reported in 2020 that rent from Trump Tower's commercial spaces had earned Trump $336 million from 2000 through the end of 2018.
May 2019: Failure to meet carbon emission standards
In May 2019, it was reported that Trump Tower, along with seven other Trump buildings in New York City, failed to meet the city's 2030 carbon emission standards, which were implemented as part of the city's "Green New Deal".
October 2019: ICBC continues to rent floors
In October 2019, Eric Trump stated that the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) was continuing to rent two floors.
October 2019: Trump residence change
Until October 2019, Trump Tower was the primary residence of Donald Trump, his wife Melania, and their son Barron.
2019: Cristiano Ronaldo lists apartment for sale
In 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo put his apartment on the market for $9 million.
2019: Gucci's rent reported
In 2019, Gucci's rent was $440 per square foot in Trump Tower.
May 2020: George Floyd Protests
In May 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, a series of pro-police-reform protests started in New York City. The "Black Lives Matter" mural in front of Trump Tower was announced in response to these protests.
July 2020: "Black Lives Matter" Mural Painted
In July 2020, activists, including New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, painted the words "Black Lives Matter" in large letters on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower.
2020: Gucci lease renegotiated
In 2020, Gucci renegotiated its lease in Trump Tower and received a rent reduction for extending it beyond 2026.
2020: José Maria Marin under house arrest
In 2020, José Maria Marin was placed under house arrest at his Trump Tower apartment.
2020: Revenue reported for 2020
In 2020, the revenue for Trump Tower was reported as $33.7 million.
2020: Commercial space earnings reported
The New York Times reported in 2020 that rent from Trump Tower's commercial spaces had earned Trump $336 million from 2000 through the end of 2018.
2020: Trump's unsuccessful re-election campaign
Trump's unsuccessful 2020 re-election campaign was headquartered in office space in Arlington, Virginia.
January 2021: Barricades Removed After Trump's Presidency
In January 2021, after the end of Donald Trump's presidency, the vehicle barricades blocking access to 56th Street from Fifth to Madison Avenues were taken down.
March 2021: PAC takes over campaign space
In March 2021, one of Trump's PACs took over the campaign's space on the 15th floor of Trump Tower for $37,541.67 per month.
September 2021: Tower placed on debt watch list
In September 2021, Wells Fargo placed Trump Tower on a debt watch list due to falling occupancy rates.
2021: GMAC Commercial Mortgage as official owner
As of 2021, the official owner of Trump Tower is GMAC Commercial Mortgage, according to the New York City Department of City Planning.
2021: Remodeling and renaming of Trump Bar to 45 Wine and Whiskey
In 2021, the Trump Bar, located in the lobby of Trump Tower, was remodeled and renamed 45 Wine and Whiskey and opened in November. It featured 39 photos of Donald Trump, and the drinks were described as overpriced.
2022: Cristiano Ronaldo sells apartment
In 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo sold his apartment for $7.18 million.
2022: Building Refinanced
In 2022, Trump refinanced the building with $100 million from Axos Bank.
July 2023: NYC DOT reminds Trump Organization about unauthorized structures
In July 2023, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) reminded the Trump Organization of its "2015 notification regarding unauthorized structures".
August 2023: Clock legality questioned by The New York Times
In August 2023, The New York Times reported that the clock outside Trump Tower was installed illegally, without the necessary permits. The Trump Organization had been notified about unauthorized structures in July 2023 after applying for a permit in 2015.
2024: Gucci as sole retailer
By early 2024, Gucci was the only large retailer remaining in Trump Tower's retail atrium.
2024: Value comparison
In 1983, laborers were allegedly paid $4 an hour, equivalent to $13 in 2024.
2025: Louis Vuitton to sublease space
The fashion house Louis Vuitton subleased the space in 2025 during the renovation of its own flagship store nearby.
2026: Gucci lease extended
In 2020, Gucci renegotiated its lease in Trump Tower and received a rent reduction for extending it beyond 2026.
2030: 2030 carbon emission standards
In May 2019, it was reported that eight of Trump's buildings in New York City, including Trump Tower, failed to meet the city's 2030 carbon emission standards, which were implemented as part of the city's "Green New Deal".
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