The pandemic has devastated Madison Avenue storefronts. But luxury retailers are now back in business, breathing new life into this world-famous shopping district.

Earlier this year, IWC Schaffhausen opened its flagship store at 60th Street and Madison Avenue, and in September, French jewelry house Boucheron opened its first New York boutique at 65th Street.

It also boosts real estate. brand new Giorgio Armani Residences At 760 Madison Ave., its 10 apartments sold in July after hitting the market less than a year ago (the penthouse went under contract for $32.5 million).

Megadeveloper Related now Building a 1,200-meter apartment-hotel-retail tower on 58th StreetLegion Investment Group and Nahla Capital’s 22-unit luxury apartment tower on 83rd Street received $195 million in construction financing.

The list goes on but it’s definitely the most exciting new project hitting the high street surreyIt opens on Friday.

new five star Corinth hotel It’s from British developers Reuben Brothers, who plan to give New York’s other grandiose hotels a run for their money. Located on 76th Street, the hotel is just steps from Carlyle and just a block from Mark’s. Surrey plans to outdo its neighbors by combining the excitement factor with its Casa Tua, the city’s first to run a food and beverage program.

His other weapon? Ultra exclusive real estate. “The Surrey was built in 1926 as a residential hotel and was always a home away from home for many famous New Yorkers,” says Susan de França of Douglas Elliman, sales manager for 14 residences in Surrey. “Most of the buyers so far are people who live in New York, a lot of them are people who live nearby. These are legacy transactions where people say, ‘I want to pass this on to the next generation because it’s such a rare thing.'”

DeFrança has already sold half of the new two- to three-bedroom units and is giving away the rest (the 16th-floor penthouses have not yet been released).

There are currently four condos on the market; 15A is the most expensive at $15.95 million. The 3,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom features Calcutta marble, white oak chevron flooring and a 27-foot great room. Number 14C, asking $11 million, is a 2,127-square-foot, two-bed, two-and-a-half bath place.

It has a terrace of approximately 200 square meters. Surrey is also a surprisingly good neighbor; adds interest to the entire Madison Avenue corridor and creates an unrivaled bar hopping tour.

Start with a sip reminiscent of Miami or Aspen at Casa Tua, followed by one of Bemelman’s martinis “so big you can drown in them.” End the evening with a whiskey at Mark Bar and sleep upstairs, where rare residential unit 1503 is on the market for $6 million.

The 2,815-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom residence is listed by Corcoran’s Janet Wang. What’s good for the goose is great for the hunter, as prices move up and down in Madison.