The station was built by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) as part of the Dual Contracts with New York City, and opened on July 1, 1918.

[8] It was predicted that the subway extension would lead to the growth of the Lower West Side, and to neighborhoods such as Chelsea and Greenwich Village.

[11][13] The new "H" system was implemented on August 1, 1918, joining the two halves of the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line and sending all West Side trains south from Times Square.

[18][19] The bar first opened in October 2020, shuttered for three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, and reopened in February 2021.

The station is served by the 1 at all times[21] and by the 2 during late nights;[22] the center express tracks are used by the 2 and 3 trains during daytime hours.

Vent chambers are present and there is a closed newsstand on the northbound platform as evidenced by sealed windows on the walls.

Slate blue I-beam columns run along both platforms at regular intervals, alternating ones having the standard black station name plate with white lettering.

On the Bronx-bound platform, a turnstile bank leads to a mezzanine with a token booth and two staircases going up to either eastern corners of 28th Street and Seventh Avenue.