The rosette symbol used by Manhattan Town Center actually comes from a historic downtown building that stood on the site before the mall was built. In 1986, a historic structure called the Hopper Building was demolished as part of the downtown redevelopment that eventually created Manhattan Town Center. On the exterior of that building was a decorative stone rosette (a circular carved architectural ornament). Instead of discarding it, developers saved the rosette and adopted its design as the official logo for Manhattan Town Center to honor the history of downtown Manhattan. As the mall was completed in the late 1980s, the rosette motif was incorporated into the architecture, including limestone details and etched designs at entrances. The original rosette from the Hopper Building is still displayed in the Center Court fountain area today. Why it matters:The symbol was meant to represent a connection between downtown Manhattan’s past, present, and future—acknowledging the historic businesses and buildings that existed before the mall while creating a new retail center for the community.
