L
eonard Riggio’s former Manhattan residence, a 10th‑floor co‑op on 720 Park Avenue, is now on the market for $17 million. The listing, handled by Sotheby’s International Realty, is part of a larger liquidation of the couple’s assets by Louise Riggio, 78, who is selling hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of real‑estate and a significant portion of their art collection.
The co‑op, a white‑glove building designed by Rosario Candela in 1928, has long housed New York’s elite. The apartment’s private elevator landing opens onto a 35‑foot galley with geometrically inlaid floors and custom bookshelves. Although the interiors were reportedly designed by Peter Marino, they appear more understated than his usual leather‑rich style.
Leonard Riggio, who founded Barnes & Noble in 1971, grew up in Brooklyn as the son of a cab driver and former prizefighter. He began his book‑business career while attending NYU in 1965, running a popular student bookstore before taking out a loan to purchase Barnes & Noble. His vision of creating cozy reading spaces and in‑store cafés turned the chain into a household name.
The Riggio couple were avid art collectors. Their Park Avenue apartment once displayed works by Picasso and Magritte, and Louise sold much of the collection earlier this year at Christie’s. The auction featured over 30 masterpieces, including pieces by Andy Warhol, with an estimated value of $250 million. “It’s hard to say goodbye to old friends, but I won’t put them in storage,” Louise told the New York Times. “They need to be seen.”
The Manhattan listing follows the sale of their Palm Beach, Florida home last November for $81 million. That 8,005‑square‑foot modernist residence, with seven bedrooms and seven baths, was a major part of the estate’s portfolio. The Riggios also own a $1.89 million home in Wellington, Palm Beach County, and a Bridgehampton property that sold for $7.99 million after being listed for $5.62 million in 2015. The 1.2‑acre Bridgehampton estate includes a pool house, bocce court, and proximity to Main Street.
Despite these sales, one of the Riggios’ most prized holdings remains unsold: a 13‑acre property profiled by the Wall Street Journal in 2018, which hosts an impressive outdoor art collection featuring works by Mark di Suvero and Louise Nevelson.
Leonard Riggio passed away in September 2024 at age 83 from Alzheimer’s disease. His death preceded the current listing by roughly a year. The real‑estate portion of the Riggios’ holdings, including recent sales and current listings, totals approximately $103 million.
Louise Riggio’s ongoing divestment reflects a strategic shift away from the couple’s extensive real‑estate and art assets. While the 720 Park Avenue apartment is the latest property to go on the market, the remaining 13‑acre estate and other holdings suggest that the Riggio legacy will continue to influence New York’s cultural and real‑estate landscape.
