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11.5 million has been set for a 19th‑century townhouse on Gramercy Park that once belonged to actress Uma Thurman. The four‑story, 4,160‑sq‑ft home at 143 E. 19th St., built in 1843, is currently empty, though the listing photos show a tastefully furnished interior. The sellers, Helene Rottblatt and Alan Boss, are well‑known for running Chelsea flea markets for over forty years and are embroiled in a long‑standing divorce.
From 1976 to 2019, the couple operated the flea markets that drew celebrities such as Andy Warhol and everyday New Yorkers seeking antiques and oddities. Boss also founded the Metropolitan Pavilion on 18th St. between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, which recently hosted the Manhattan Vintage show. Thurman owned the townhouse for about a year before selling it to Rottblatt and Boss in 2005 for roughly $5 million. Prior to Thurman, the property was owned by restaurateur Lynn Wagenknecht, who co‑founded The Odeon in Tribeca with her then‑husband Keith McNally.
The property carries a $3.9 million mortgage debt, with TD Bank suing the sellers last year to recover a $3.2 million loan. Rottblatt claims her signature on the mortgage documents was forged, a claim Boss denies. The house sits in the heart of the Gramercy Park Historic District, a block famed for its “block beautiful” townhouses. Its red‑brick façade is framed by low‑rise neighbors that allow abundant natural light.
Inside, the townhouse features four original wood‑burning fireplaces with marble mantels, wide‑plank pine floors, pocket shutters, and original moldings. Modern upgrades include whole‑house radiant heating. The ground floor hosts a chef’s kitchen that opens onto a terrace and garden, a living room, and a dining area. A bedroom with a fireplace provides warmth for winter evenings, and a home office or den is also available.
The second floor contains a primary bedroom that spans the entire level, illuminated by tall front and rear windows, and a secondary suite that can serve as a home office or den. The third floor offers three additional bedrooms, while the basement houses a guest bedroom and a recreation room. The layout was restored and renovated about fifteen years ago, preserving historic details while adding contemporary comforts.
Boss told Gimme Shelter that selling the house is a way out of the prolonged divorce, which began before COVID and has been slow. He noted that his wife had not agreed to sell until now because the situation demanded it. Boss, who will turn 86 soon, said the stairs were too much for him, while Rottblatt, 81, also confirmed the presence of mortgage debt but could not disclose the exact amount.
Despite the townhouse’s grandeur, Thurman never lived there. Boss explained that the natural light was the house’s most appealing feature, but paparazzi would have made it impossible for her to stay. At the time of purchase, Thurman was divorcing Ethan Hawke and living nearby at 1 Lexington Ave. She bought the property “just in case she’d lose the condo,” but Boss believed she would not reside there. Thurman’s father, Robert Thurman, once hosted events for Tibet House at the Metropolitan Pavilion.
The listing is handled by Matthew Lesser and Tori Landon of Leslie Garfield.
