<P> Trump Tower is a 58 - story, 664 - foot - high (202 m) mixed - use skyscraper at 721--725 Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets in Midtown Manhattan, New York City . Trump Tower serves as the headquarters for The Trump Organization . Additionally, it houses the penthouse condominium residence of the building's namesake and developer, U.S. President Donald Trump, who was a businessman and real estate developer when the tower was developed . Several members of the Trump family also live, or have resided, in the building . The tower stands on a plot where the flagship store of department - store chain Bonwit Teller was formerly located . </P> <P> Der Scutt of Poor, Swanke, Hayden & Connell designed Trump Tower, and Trump and the Equitable Life Assurance Company (now the AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company) developed it . Although it is in one of Midtown Manhattan's special zoning districts, the tower was approved because it was to be built as a mixed - use development . Trump was permitted to add more stories to the tower because of the atrium on the ground floor . There were controversies during construction, including the destruction of historically important sculptures from the Bonwit Teller store; Trump's alleged underpaying of contractors; and a lawsuit that Trump filed because the tower was not tax - exempt . </P> <P> Construction on the building began in 1979 . The atrium, apartments, offices, and stores opened on a staggered schedule from February to November 1983 . At first, there were few tenants willing to move in to the commercial and retail spaces; the residential units were sold out within months of opening . Since 2016, the tower has seen a large increase in visitation because of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and subsequent election--both his 2016 and 2020 campaigns are headquartered in the tower . </P> <P> Donald Trump, a prominent New York City real estate developer, had envisioned building a tower at 56th Street and Fifth Avenue since childhood, but he only formulated plans to develop the site in the mid-1970s, when he was in his thirties . At the time, the Bonwit Teller flagship store, an architecturally renowned building built in 1929, occupied the lot . The site was next to Tiffany's flagship store on 57th Street, which Trump considered the city's best real - estate property . Approximately twice every year, Trump contacted Bonwit Teller's parent company, Genesco, to ask whether they were willing to sell Bonwit Teller's flagship store . Trump said the first time he contacted Genesco, "they literally laughed at me ." Genesco continued to decline his offers and, according to Trump, "they thought I was kidding ." </P>

When did the iconic trump tower open its doors