Lennon Ono's first apartment in New York is up for sale

A slice of music history has gone up for sale in New York. For fans of John Lennon And Yoko Ono who have more than $5 million in their pockets, the couple's first apartment in New York has been put up for sale.

Landing on the market with an opening price of $5.5 million, the apartment is a two-story loft-style building at 496 Broome Street in SoHo. In the 1970s, the SoHo area was a thriving place for the city's artists, as various old warehouse buildings, with their exposed brick and industrial details, were repurposed into apartments or studios. Lennon and Yoko were among those who crowded the area, now gentrified and sought after.

The couple moved to New York in 1971, leaving the UK after the Beatles split. At first they stayed at the St. Regis Hotel or in a rented apartment at 105 Bank Street in the West Village. When Lennon released his second solo album, “Imagine,” they decided to move to the city.

It is not known how much the couple paid for the apartment at the time of purchase, but it is unlikely to be the mind-boggling multi-million euro price it is listed for in 2024. However, in the years that Lennon and Yoko have owned the property, they made it historic with a lively cast of visitors. Their home became a meeting point for the artists, musicians and poets in their circle, including probably some notable names and potentially other members of the Beatles.

The couple quickly outgrew the property and moved uptown to the Dakota at Central Park West and 72nd Street. This complex was known to host many celebrities. Sooner or later Judy Garland, Paul Simon and Leonard Bernstein lived there. Lennon and Yoko owned five units in the luxury building, where they raised their son, Sean Yoko Lennon. It was outside this building that Lennon was tragically shot dead in 1980.

Even after the move, the couple kept their Broome Street home. The apartment's value has been further increased by its use as a recording studio or as a base for other creative pursuits.

Ono now lives on a farm in the Catskills, but still owns their apartment in the Dakota. After 53 years, she finally moves out of their first New York apartment and puts it up for sale on behalf of herself and her son.