The Missing Link: NoMad’s Premier Cufflinks Showroom
Inside Kew Management’s historic Townsend Building at 1123 Broadway, The Missing Link is the only store in the world entirely dedicated to cufflinks. For nearly three decades, owner Michael Rodriguez has built a collection that draws in bespoke tailors, Broadway and Hollywood costume designers, discerning private clients, and some of the world’s leading fashion houses.
From Family Heirloom to Specialty Retailer
Rodriguez grew up in Buffalo in a family of jewelers. “I had cufflinks that were my grandfather’s, so I bought a French cuff shirt – everyone stopped me and commented on them,” he recalls. That moment led him to scour flea markets and antique stores for rare finds, eventually becoming a vendor himself. Cufflinks, he discovered, were easy to pack, display, and sell.
A Trusted Source for Stage and Screen
When he opened his first store during the dot-com boom, the appeal was immediate. GQ and The Wall Street Journal quickly featured his business, and he soon became a trusted source for screen and stage productions. His cufflinks have appeared in – The Gilded Age, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, and Downton Abbey and in multiple films by Martin Scorsese, who insists that even unseen details must be authentic. Rodriguez also supplies vintage pieces to Ralph Lauren, Bergdorf Goodman, and Paul Smith.
Why The Missing Link Chose NoMad’s Townsend Building?
After two decades at Showplace on 25th Street, Rodriguez needed a new home when the venue closed. “A friend was looking at space in the Townsend, and I came along. The moment I saw it, I knew it was perfect,” he recalls. The move expanded his space from 140 to 750 square feet, allowing him to showcase more of his collection. It also allowed him to stay in NoMad, a neighborhood he had come to love. The showroom’s design, accented with greenery, makes it a welcoming environment for browsing and exploration. Rodriguez values the character of Kew Management’s Townsend building and the flexibility it allows.
What Customers Can Expect
The Missing Link attracts clients from around the world, many finding it through online searches or referrals from bespoke tailors. The store is known for both classic, understated pieces and personality-driven novelty cufflinks, popular for groomsmen gifts. One of Rodriguez’s favorite encounters happened when Chelsea Clinton stopped in unexpectedly. Later, Bill and Hillary Clinton visited the store as well, cementing its reputation as a hidden gem in NoMad. Visitors are often surprised by the variety and depth of the selection, with some leaving with cufflinks before they even own a French cuff shirt.
Stop in and Explore
Be sure to visit The Missing Link showroom and explore. You’ll find a treasure trove of cufflinks and vintage curiosities waiting to be discovered.
- Monday 12pm–5pm
- Tuesday 12pm–5pm
- Wednesday 12pm–5pm
- Thursday 10am–5pm
- Friday 12pm–5pm
- Saturday 12pm–5pm
- Sunday CLOSED
All other times by appointment.