The music hums and dozens of women are eating lunch and are on their laptops at The Wing, the women-only co-working space and social club with three locations in the city.
It's recently acquired another title.
"Consistent with the reports on the media, The Wing is under investigation, yes," said Carmelyn Malalis, the commissioner of city's Commission on Human Rights, an agency that tries to root out discrimination.
The commissioner would not say why there is a probe, or detail its scope. She said the commission received a tip.
City law prevents public accommodations from prohibiting access based on gender. The Wing is clearly women-only.
"What is the actual scope has not yet been released because it's an ongoing investigation, but I can very clearly say we are not trying to close down any sort of business," Malalis said.
"The commissioner has reached out to The Wing and requested a meeting," The Wing co-founder Audrey Gelman said. "At this point, we are happy to have that meeting and looking forward to it."
Gelman could not broadly discuss the inquiry, either.
Still, it has set off a firestorm from The Wing's female power clientele. #IStandWithTheWing was trending on Twitter.
"Somehow, a space existing like this would be a human rights violation?" The Wing member Anushka Dufresne said. "I actually believe it's an answer to human rights violations."
"It was created for women to have a safe space to express themselves," Gelman said. "We are very focused on continuing that mission and not altering it in any way."
A safe space that is offending someone. "If there are institutions out there who have missions that are consistent with equity and inclusion and creating safe spaces for people in New York City that we are working together to make that happen, rather than fighting with each other," Malalis said.
"I really think the city has got it all wrong," Gelman said. "They should really be championing New York City businesses that are catching on, not cracking down on them."
Malalis said, typically with any business, the commission and business work together to make sure it is complying with the law.
This controversy is occurring as The Wing is set to open new locations across the city and the country. For now, it looks like this commission is unlikely to stop them.