New York Central Art Supply

Profile

Benjamin Steinberg opened New York Central Art Supply in 1905 just down the street from his Second Avenue home, which he came to after emigrating from Russia. Passed down from father to son, the store has been run by Benjamin's grandson Steven Steinberg since 2001. Through the years, the Steinbergs have cultivated relationships with artists such as Chuck Close, James Rosenquist, and Andy Warhol by delivering the highest-quality and hard-to-find items, whether they were in stock or not—a practice that led to the introduction of products like Charbonnel etching inks, Sennelier oil colors, and Isabey brushes to the States. The knowledgeable staff helps amateurs and professionals sort through the immense selection, which includes 4,000 shades of pastels and hundreds of colored pencils. The entire upstairs floor is devoted to more than 3,000 papers from around the world, for watercolors, decorating, and drawing. A couple of blocks down Third Avenue is the affiliated New York Central Framing Annex, where students get 10 percent off. — Caroline Kinneberg