NYC DOT Releases Limited Batch of Welcome to Manhattan Street Signs Featuring New “Hello, Gorgeous!” Slogan

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2026
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NYC DOT Releases Limited Batch of Welcome to Manhattan Street Signs Featuring New "Hello, Gorgeous!" Slogan

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced that a limited number of Welcome to Manhattan street signs will go on sale today at 10:30 a.m. The signs feature a new "Hello, gorgeous!" tagline. The slogan, designated by Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, is a line from Barbra Streisand's 1968 film Funny Girl in which she depicts entertainer Fanny Brice on her rise to Broadway stardom. Today's release is part of the agency's monthly 'sign drops' where the agency sells limited batches of authentic, hand-made signs from the NYC DOT Sign Shop, which produces over 70,000 signs each year.

A limited release of 100 signs will be sold online for $100 each and are available one per customer. All signs will be sold via the CityStore, the Official Store of the City of New York, and proceeds will benefit the city's general fund.

"It's hard to top the vibrancy of Manhattan-so it's only fitting that the new Welcome to Manhattan sign features the tagline 'Hello, gorgeous,'" said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "These authentic, hand-made signs are a true piece of New York City history- but don't wait. They'll sell out in a New York minute."

"When you cross into Manhattan, there's only one proper entrance line: 'Hello, gorgeous.' Barbra said it first, and frankly, she could've been talking about this borough," said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. "From Broadway to the skyline to the sheer audacity of it all, Manhattan has never been shy about a grand debut. These signs are a wink to our theatrical soul, our cultural legacy, and our well-earned confidence. After all, what better way to enter Manhattan than with a compliment?"

"CityStore is truly excited to offer New Yorkers another unique piece of the city's history with this limited 'Hello, gorgeous!' sign drop," said DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei. "The phrase is a playful greeting to Manhattan itself, celebrating the gorgeous cityscape and unmistakable character that makes this borough one of a kind. Through this sign drop, we are giving New Yorkers a chance to take home a tangible piece of the city they love."

"Hello, gorgeous" were the first words spoken by Barbra Streisand in the film. When she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film, she famously looked at the award and repeated the famous line. "Hello, gorgeous" was recognized as #81 on the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 top movie quotes.

The name of the borough itself is derived from the Munsee Lenape term Manaháhtaan, which translates to a "place for gathering wood to make bows," and referenced a grove of hickory tress on the island's south end used for that purpose. The Munsee lived on the island 3,000 years ago, divided into 20 autonomous groups, with the Lenape Walking Trail becoming what is now known as Broadway. Manhattan was first mapped in 1609 as Manna-hatta, and became New Amsterdam in 1626.

Monthly sign drops from NYC DOT feature signs for iconic New York City streets, commemorations of famous New Yorkers, celebrations of special occasions, and other custom releases. NYC DOT began its monthly drops in June 2024, with the release of Christopher Street/Stonewall Place signs to commemorate Pride Month.

Other recent sign drops include:

• St. Mark's Place
• 5th Avenue
• Bleecker Street
• Mulberry Street
• Hip Hop Boulevard to celebrate the genre's musical and cultural legacy
• Welcome to Queens: The World's Borough
• Gay Street in recognition of Pride Month
• Wall Street
• Leaving Brooklyn: Fuhgeddaboudit
• East 161st Street and Shea Road in honor of baseball's opening day
• Love Lane to recognize Valentine's Day
• Broadway in celebration of Broadway Week
• Cornelia Street to honor the street's prominence among pop music fans

About the NYC DOT Sign Shop

The New York City DOT Sign Shop is in Maspeth, Queens and manufactures over 70,000 signs each year. A team of 32 Sign Shop employees hand-make street signs, highway signs, directional signs, parking signs, and more. There are about one million NYC DOT signs in use across the 6,000 miles of streets in New York City.

The monthly sign drops are the latest iteration of sales that have historically been available from the Sign Shop.

About the CityStore

CityStore is the Official store of the City of New York. CityStore is operated by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services. 100% of sales benefit the City of New York.

CityStore is similar to a museum store, which complements the museum by highlighting the treasures within while serving as a stand-alone retail entity for wonderful gifts, collectables and research materials. A museum store is a revenue source for the museum and reinforces and protects the integrity of the museum brand. CityStore is the 'museum store' for the entire City of New York.