Leonora Desar

Our latest anonymous interviewee, 34, has seen it all from where he stands guard over a high-end Midtown West co-op.

From husbands hiring private detectives to spy on their wives to potentially threatening situations, there is nothing this doorman hasn’t experienced.  

Here’s what he had to tell us about dealing with dangerous characters, being named in a resident's will, and what makes the difference between a good and great tip.  

We recently chatted with a 52-year-old doorman who works in a Greenwich Village rental complex surrounded by some of the best restaurants and nightlife in the city. He's been a doorman for 30 years, having worked in Chelsea, on Central Park South and on Sutton Place before moving to the Village about four years ago.

This week's doorman has watched over the same large rental building on the Upper East Side for 27 years. With his warm, friendly smile, the 57-year-old sentry is one of the most beloved doormen in the neighborhood and an excellent information resource.

Here’s his inside scoop about the 'hood and his job.

What is the hardest thing a resident ever asked you to do?

The hardest thing was being asked to lie--I don’t do that.  I can't say what it was, though.

What part of your job do you enjoy most?

Our latest anonymous interviewee is a 35-year-old Chelsea doorman who’s only two months into the profession after a stint in the arts.  

But don’t let his short tenure fool you--this guy is the go-to on the area, from the tastiest Philly cheesesteak to the best time and place (and time) to find a parking spot. 

Sure, New York City owners (and even renters) will pay a premium to live in a doorman building. But it’s not enough just to have one. They want a doorman who’s actually good.

We grilled some NYC brokers about what makes a doorman great in the eyes of a buyer.
 
Here’s the scoop on what makes them stand out ….and what makes them truly suck. 

1. Serious about security

Our latest anonymous interviewee is a 36-year old doorwoman who has been standing guard over a condo building in the West ’80s for about a year.  Here’s what she had to say about her work hood... and what it’s like being a doorwoman.

Best and worst things about the neighborhood: I guess the worst thing about this neighborhood would be the parking. I don't drive, but when people find a spot here, it's like they won the lottery.