The first people to hang out at the red brick, Queen Anne–style building that opened in 1885 at 222 Bowery were working-class men. But this was the 1880s, and to keep young men who were “not yet hardened” from getting sucked into sin, the YMCA built their first New York branch at 222 Bowery and called it the Young Men’s Institute. Fast forward to now, and 222 Bowery is now a subdivided, renovated storefront presentation space in lower Manhattan. Generously donated by Bulbro Bowery Corp. This space for artists has been generously donated by Bulbro Bowery Corp. 222 Bowery is a Building located in the Nolita neighborhood in Manhattan, NY.