Hook & Ladder Company 8 is an active FDNY firehouse at 14 North Moore Street in Tribeca, Manhattan. Opened in 1903, it is one of New York’s most recognisable fire stations and is best known on screen for its Beaux-Arts façade and corner position on North Moore Street and Varick Street.
Hook & Ladder Company 8 appears in Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II (1989), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024), Hitch (2005), Seinfeld, and How I Met Your Mother. It is most closely associated with the Ghostbusters series, where the building serves as the exterior of the team’s headquarters. The original 1984 film used the real New York firehouse for the exterior, while the interior firehouse scenes were shot elsewhere because the station remained active.
In Ghostbusters (1984), Hook & Ladder Company 8 is used as the exterior of Ghostbusters headquarters. The façade and main entrance establish the team’s base in Manhattan and became one of the most recognisable location images of 1980s cinema.
In Ghostbusters II (1989), the firehouse returns as the exterior of the Ghostbusters’ headquarters, continuing the building’s role from the first film as the team’s New York base.
In Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), the firehouse is referenced as the former headquarters, and Winston Zeddemore is said to have bought the building again at the end of the film. In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024), it returns as the active Ghostbusters headquarters in New York.
In Hitch (2005), Hook & Ladder Company 8 appears briefly as part of the Tribeca streetscape. In Seinfeld and How I Met Your Mother, the building is also used as a recognisable New York exterior location.
In Seinfeld, Hook & Ladder Company 8 appears in the episode “The Secret Code” (1995), where Kramer becomes obsessed with helping the fire department because he believes he knows New York better than the firefighters themselves. After spending time at the firehouse and offering shortcut routes, he gets his chance when a firefighter is knocked unconscious and Kramer takes over on the back of the hook-and-ladder truck. The building is used as the exterior of the firehouse in that storyline.
Seinfeld (1989)
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters is completely identified with New York, its locations were actually split between New York and Los Angeles in a very effective way.
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is inseparable from New York in tone, most of the series was filmed in Los Angeles. The series used real New York locations for key establishing shots.
Tacombi Nolita
Tacombi Nolita appears in The Jim Gaffigan Show (2015–2016). It is in Season 2, Episode 3, “Ugly,” and places the scene at 267 Elizabeth Street.
Joe’s Pizza
Joe’s Pizza appears in Spider-Man 2 (2004), Seinfeld (1989–1998), Along Came Polly (2004), and Sex and the City. It is most famous on screen from Spider-Man 2, but in Seinfeld it is also used as Paisano’s Pizza.
Katz’s Delicatessen
Katz’s Delicatessen appears in When Harry Met Sally… , Donnie Brasco, Across the Universe, We Own the Night, and The Jim Gaffigan Show (2015–2016).
Pete’s Tavern
Pete’s Tavern appears in Two for the Seesaw (1962), Seinfeld (1989–1998), Rounders (1998), Sex and the City (1998–2004), and several other productions.
Peter McManus Cafe
Peter McManus Cafe appears in Highlander, Radio Days, Keeping the Faith, The Other Guys, Seinfeld, Law & Order, Saturday Night Live, and Broad City.
Empire Diner
Empire Diner appears in both film and television, including Manhattan, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Men in Black II, Law & Order, and many more.
Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Cathedral
Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Cathedral appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998), House on Carroll Street (1988), and Elementary (2012–2019).
Times Square
Times Square has served as a filming location for numerous iconic movies, with famous scenes shot in the area.
Hotel Edison
Hotel Edison appears in The Godfather (1972), Seinfeld (1989–1998), Bullets over Broadway (1994), and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014).