A Moment Back In Time: A Stretch Of Smith Street In The Late 1960's

Back in the late 1960's, early 1970's

The same stretch of Smith Street today

Just recently, I came across a xerox copy of a black and white photo of the stretch of Smith Street taken in the late 1960's.  The image shows numbers 349, 351, 353 and 355 Smith Street located between Carroll Street and Second Street.
Though grainy,  one can see that the four buildings have not changed much.  This is no doubt due in part to the fact that #349, #351 and 353 fall within the Carroll Gardens Landmark district, the smallest in all of New York City.
What is more fascinating are the commercial spaces and the former businesses that occupied them then and now.

349 Smith Street
No doubt, many remember Joe's Superette and its famous prosciutto and rice balls.  Sadly, after 50 years at the same location, the business closed in 2011 when second owner Leo Coladonato passed away.
Avlee, a new Greek restaurant just opened up there last month.

351 Smith Street
When I moved into the neighborhood in 1985, Venuti's, a small hardware store, was still open.  Mr. Venuti, a heavy set elderly man, operated the business with his son and his daughter-in law. (I believe her name was Michelle, but I could be mistaken).  I remember the owner most for his custom of pouring a shot of rather harsh brandy to all his customers at Christmas time.  I must admit to leaving the store with quite a buzz once, when my mother and I stopped in to buy a few of the wooden ornaments Mr. Venuti had added to his inventory during the holidays.
I still have them.
Mr. Venuti and his son passed away one after the other just a few years later and the store closed.
Ting Hua, a Chinese restaurant, has been operating here for quite a few years.

353 Smith Street
When Frank's Italian Delicatessen opened two doors down from Joe's Superette, it created  a bit of a stir because,  from what I gathered from neighborhood old-timers, Frank at one time worked for Joe, Joe's wife Ann and their two sons, Joseph and Steven.  When Frank opened his business so close to his former boss'  place and competed with Joe's Superette,  many were cross at him.

At one point, Frank's moved to the corner of Smith Street and 2nd Street, across from the subway station, where it is still to this day.

A Korean deli has occupied the storefront at number 353 for a very long time now.  Though the deli has remained virtually unchanged for the last decades, the Korean owners have changed at least three times since I have moved here.

355 Smith Street

A laundromat has operated at this address for a number of years.  I must admit that I don't really remember what was there before.  It would appear that in the late 1960's, it was either an office or a social club.  

Does anyone remember more about these stores? Its owners?  I would love to hear your memories and stories about them and other businesses in the neighborhood. 

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"At the Corner of 3rd and 3rd": A Documentary On The Coignet Building By Max Kutner

The Coignet building in all its glory. An etching from 1873.

Historic photo of the Coignet Stone Company Building

In many ways, the decrepit Coignet building at the corner of Third Avenue and Third Street exemplifies the industrial history of the Gowanus area. The building was designed by William Fields & Son and built in 1872-73 on a five-acre site. It housed the New York and Long Island Coignet Stone Company and was meant to showcase the durability and the versatility of the structural prefabricated and iron- reinforced concrete developed by industrialist François Coignet in Lyon, France in 1846.

The Coignet Stone Company factory closed in 1882 and the building next housed the offices of Edwin Clark Litchfield’s Brooklyn Improvement Company. In more recent years, it was used by the Pippin Radiator Company.Though the Coignet building was landmarked in 2006 by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, it has been allowed to crumble.

To chronicle its history and changing fortune, writer and filmmaker Max Kutner has made a wonderful documentary entitled At the Corner of 3rd and 3rd on "the past, present and future" of the Coignet Stone Company Building.  Kutner has just released a trailer, which you can see above
(And yes, that's me in some of the clips. Kutner also interviewed good friends Joseph Alexiou and Nathan Kensinger.)

At the Corner of 3rd and 3rd

Directed/Filmed/Edited by Max Kutner

(2013, 20 minutes)

At the Corner of 3rd and 3rd, a new documentary by Max Kutner, explores the evolving character of Gowanus, Brooklyn and the mysterious New York and Long Island Coignet Stone Company Building that captivates all who pass it. Constructed in 1873, the building at 3rd Avenue and 3rd Street is a historic landmark, but has been mostly abandoned since the 1960s. The Coignet Building got back in the news when Whole Foods broke ground on its first Brooklyn market just a few feet away from the landmark. Through archival materials and interviews with historians, activists, artists, photographers, and local residents, the 20-minute film presents the first comprehensive account of the past, present, and future of the Coignet Building and how a community looks to the future while fighting to preserve the past.

View the trailer for the film at vimeo.com/maxkutner/3rdand3rd.
More information is available at maxkutner.tumblr.com/3rdand3rd.

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First Glimpse Inside New Outpost Of Bergen Bagels On Court Street

The new outpost of Bergen Bagels at 285 Court Street, at the corner of Douglass Street, seems to be coming along nicely.  The walls have been tiled and the refrigeration equipment moved into this very large storefront.  I was able to pop my head in yesterday to asked the name of this new establishment, but the construction workers did not know.  However, an internet search revealed a page for "Cobble Hills Bagels" at that address.
Carroll Gardens actually needs a good bagel store.  Bagels By The Park just never cut it, as far as I was concerned and (F) Line Bagels at 9th Street is just too far away.
Where have you been buying your bagels in the neighborhood?  Are you looking forward to a new option?

Number 285 Court Street used to be a paint store for many years.  The storefront has remained empty for quite a while.  The building was sold for $2,3000.000 in June 2012.

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A Moment In Time: Alfresco

Court Street at lunch time on this balmy last day of February.

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Sure Signs Of Spring In Carroll Gardens

Punxsutawney Phil was right all along. It won't be long now, neighbors. The first signs of spring are already evident all over Carroll Gardens. All you have to do is look for them. Soon, we will be able to put aside coats, hats and mittens.
And if nature hasn't convinced you yet that spring is around the corner, perhaps the Easter marzipan lambs in Court Street Pastry Shop's window will do the trick.

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Best Comment Of The Day: Sad!

Anonymous has left the following comment on the post "Gowanus Whole Foods Taking Shape":

"Yes sad! And we have Landmarks and CB6 to hold accountable.CB6 and the Landmarks commissions, who spend endless hours fussing over drawings of barely viable rear-yard constructions by private homeowners, allow this. They didn't even ask Whole Foods for one single drawing of what the big-box store would look like engulfing this Landmarked building. They made their landmark decision with blinders on and and it certainly says a lot about what their decisions are worth."

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Red Hook's Fairway Looking Ready For The Big Re-Opening Tomorrow

 photo credit: Nasreen B.

Fairway seems ready for its big re-opening tomorrow, judging by the stocked outside produce section is already restocked and the yellow lines in the parking lot.
The Red Hook supermarket has been closed since the end of October, when Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on this waterfront community.
Like many others, the Civil War era-building that houses Fairway suffered major water damage. After months of reparation and renovation, Fairway is ready for business again.
Are you looking forward to the grand re-opening?
What have you missed most?  The cheese counter, the produce, the fresh seafood or the meat section?


My friend and PMFA reader Nasreen was down in Red Hook this morning and took the photos above.
Thanks, Nasreen.

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