When you think of New York’s top attractions, museums, theater, architecture, and restaurants are likely what come to mind. People don’t think of New York as a factory town, but the reality is that historically New York was the capital of American manufacturing, with over one million related jobs.
Even today, the city is home to numerous makers of clothing, chemicals, metal products, furniture, and packaged food — with almost a quarter of a billion dollars’ worth of specialty chocolate alone exported from the city each year. A number of factories offer fascinating behind-the-scenes tours, making for a unique and unexpected way to spend an afternoon.
- Brooklyn Brewery (79 North 11th Street, Brooklyn. Subway: L (Bedford Ave.), free tours on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, no reservations needed, or $10 tours Monday through Thursday at 5 p.m. that include a free souvenir glass and tastings of four beers, ticket information at http://brooklynbrewery.com/visit/visiting-the-brooklyn-brewery.)
Brooklyn Brewery offers 30-45 minute tours of the brewery and packaging room all weekend long (tours on the half-hour from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday) as well as weekday tours that offer tastings and souvenirs. A hugely popular attraction, the tours can get crowded — but the beer is tasty, and there are often unique offerings on tap that aren’t available in wide release.
(photo by tonnoro)
- Steinway and Sons (1 Steinway Place, Astoria, Queens. Subway: N/Q (Astoria-Ditmars Blvd.), tours from September through June, Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. until noon for groups up to 15 people, book by e-mailing info@steinway.com or calling 718-721-2600)
Steinway and Sons has made some of the world’s finest pianos for over 160 years — and their factory tour has been rated one of the country’s top 3 factory tours in the country by Forbes magazine. The morning-long tour shares some of the company’s history as well as showing the entire process of building a piano, from raw wood to veneers to tuning, with all of the parts being carefully assembled on the factory floor.
- Streit’s Matzo (148-154 Rivington St., Manhattan. Subway: F (Delancey St.), J/M (Essex St.), tours available year-round by appointment, call 212-475-7000)
Streit’s is America’s only family-owned and operated matzo company, making the unleavened bread that Jews eat during Passover along with many other Kosher food products, including noodles, candy, soup, cookies, and sauces. A tour of their factory lets you see the matzo-making process, which hasn’t changed since the 1930s.  Jewish law mandates that the baking process takes no more than 18 minutes, which ensures that the dough does not have time to rise. Men still break the matzo into sheets by hand at the end of the packing line, just like they did almost a hundred years ago when the factory opened.
(photo by Matt Howry)
- Van Brunt Stillhouse (6 Bay Street, Brooklyn. Subway: 2/3/4/5 (Borough Hall) to the B61 or B57 bus, tours every Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.)
Van Brunt Stillhouse makes Whiskey, Rum, Grappa, and Moonshine at its artisanal distillery in Red Hook, Brooklyn — including the first small-batch rum made in New York City since the Prohibition Era. The distillery is almost brand new, started in 2012 by a television editor working for The Daily Show (which is also an excellent tourist destination, incidentally — free tickets to see tapings are often available at http://www.thedailyshow.com/tickets). While a video tour is available on the distillery’s website (http://vanbruntstillhouse.com/tour/), you can see the real thing — and visit the tasting room — on weekend afternoons.
(photo via vanbruntstillhouse.com)
- UrbanGlass (647 Fulton Street, Brooklyn. Subway: 2/3/4/5 (Nevins St.), tours every Saturday at 1 p.m.)
UrbanGlass is a design studio devoted to art and design using glass, hosting over 200 artists in a collaborative workspace. Glassblowing, kiln casting, lampworking, mosaics, stained glass, and other techniques are all practiced in the space, with classes offered to students and the public. In addition to an art gallery open from Wednesday to Sunday (noon to 6 p.m.) and a retail store, free tours are offered each Saturday at 1 p.m.
(photo by fdecomite)
- (Tours not currently available.) Mast Brothers Chocolate (105A North Third St., Brooklyn. Subway: L (Bedford St.), tours, when offered, are Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m., $9.99 per person at Brown Paper Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/126791/, otherwise much of the factory is still visible from the storefront)
Mast Brothers is New York City’s only bean-to-bar chocolate maker. From roasting to grinding to flavoring, visitors to the shop or on their tour (when it has been offered) can see the entire process from start to finish, and enjoy samples of the high-end artisanal chocolate, available in a range of flavors including Serrano peppers and black truffle.
(photo by Scott Stockwell)
