668 6th Avenue

 office building, 1850s construction

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4-story office building completed in 1851 as a rowhouse. Storefronts at the first and second stories were installed in 1869, and the building was partially converted for business purposes. In 1897, new storefronts were constructed and a rear extension was added to expand the existing store. Michael Rowan was the lessee; the name "M. Rowan" appears above the second-story show window. The upper floors became home the Shelter for Respectable Girls which was run by the Sisterhood of the Holy Communion. In 1913, the existing storefronts were clad in metal.

In 1920, the window openings at the third and fourth stories were enlarged while the building was in use as showrooms. In 1922, the fire escape was added. A new Certificate of Occupancy from 1922 indicates the presence of an ice cream manufacturer, a restaurant, and a dressmaker in the building. The ground floor housed Cafe 21 in the 1980s-2000s, and is currently occupied by Dos Toros.

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