A Moment Back In Time: Before There Was Union Market On Court Street...

photos courtesy of the New York Municipal Archives Collection

Here is a wonderful blast from Carroll Gardens' past.  Friend and reader Mary P. recently sent me a link to the New York Municipal Archives Collection and to the great old photos of the one story building at 288 Court Street.
The photos were taken by the NYC Department of Finance for taxation purposes in the mid- 1980's, when the building housed a store that sold Italian decorative items such as lamps, shades, ornate chandeliers and Capodimonte Porcelain, which has been continuously manufactured in Naples, Italy since 1743.

I remember the place well, but by 1984, when I first came to the neighborhood, it seemed as though it wasn't doing cut business any more.  I must admit that I never set foot in it, something I regret now.
I don't even remember the name.
Sometime in the early 1990's the  closed and a sporting goods store took it over.  ATLAS SPORTS only lasted a few years at the location, however, and soon, it became a BLOCKBUSTER Video store.
It sat empty for quite some time after the video store closed, and in 2009, work started on the Union MARKET store that occupies the space today.

According to my good friend Joe Alameda, before the building housed the Italian Decor shop, it was a   school for casino croupiers. But even before that,  Joe told me: "In the 1950's and 60's it was AARON'S Department Store in the 1950's and 60's. They sold juvenile furniture and the really big baby carriages which where called 'Cadillacs'.  Aaron's also sold toys, bicycles and models."

Does anyone remember the Capodimonte store and its actual name?  How about Aaron's or the croupier school?  Do you happen to have some photos?   I would love to find out.

*A big thank you to Mary for sending these photos my way.

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Finally, Some Action At The Old Blockbuster on Court Street????

The following email received from a reader sent me down to Court Street immediately. It simply said:

"Looks like some real action is happening at the old Blockbuster building. Windows have been sprayed to block what is going on inside and it looks like the ceiling has been removed.
Anyone know what is happening?"

Of course I needed to inquire and take some photos. The Court Street storefront, at 288 Court, which has been empty for a few years now, is one of the largest retail spaces in the neighborhood. Local residents have been speculating on its future ever since Blockbuster vacated the site. For a while, a rumor circulated that McDonalds was coming to that location. Others thought that a supermarket would rent it. There was no end to the possibilities...

As I approached yesterday, I could see that work had indeed been done since I had walked by, just days prior.
The windows have now been frosted, the dropped ceiling has been removed and electric wiring was hanging down from the ceiling. A long ladder was propped against the façade of the building.

I heard voices coming from the roof, so I waited around to see if someone would come down, so that I could ask what was happening, but had to leave after a while.


According to Brownstoner, the building was sold to Broadmill Development in mid-2008 for $3.7 million.
The "Retail Space Available Sign" by Ripco is still hanging on the building and the space is still listed on Ripco's web site. Of course it could be that the owner of the building is simply doing some maintenance work. But maybe, finally, after all this time, it has been rented?

Anyone know?



For an interesting retail history of the building, read the comments on this post:Former Blockbuster Space On Court!

***UPDATE***

Brownstoner just reported this morning that the space has been taken over by Union Market.
Cool, I say. What is your opinion, Neighbor? Like the idea???

Photo and logo courtesy of Union Market

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