Thursday, November 13, 2008

More Smith Street History: In 1929, Instead Of Bagels And Beer, A Dentist And Lunch

oo


323 Smith Street At President



323 Smith now





No bagels at 323 Smith Street back in 1928. No cheap beer in the side yard either. You see, before there was Bagels By The Park and the Gowanus Yacht Club, Park Restaurant and Lunch occupied the storefront. And if you should have needed a dentist, Dr. Kronman was on the second floor. Sometime between '28 and now, the place was home to the Park Lane Florist as you can see on the green sign still attached on the façade. And when I moved here in 1985, a car service dispatched their vehicles from there.
And 321 Smith, the current newsstand, was a meat market.

Again, my thanks go out to Alexandrea for sharing.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

The 1929 photo of that corner is just lovely. I wish it still looked that way. I remember the Park Lane Florist. The owners were a husband and wife (Mary). They eventually retired, and unfortunately Mary went blind before she died (I think she was diabetic). I also remember getting many a birthday wrist corsage (!) from Mary...tiger lilies were very popular back then. My best friend used to live on the top floor in the late 50s through the 60s until her parents moved to NJ, and I spent many fun hours (and birthday parties) up there during our playtimes after school. It was a very nice, roomy apartment with lots of light from windows on two sides.

Kelly said...

Dear Maryann,
More, please, more.Tell us more about what life was like in Carroll Gardens.

Anonymous said...

These old pics are amazing! Thanks for putting them up.

Kelly said...

Hi Manny,
Aren't they fantastic?
Glad you like them as much as I do.

Gina H. said...

The photo is just wonderfule!
The Park Lane Florist was owned by my mother's best friend Eleanor's cousin Mary. She made my birthday coursages every year. On my 10th, it was dried flowers with a dime for every year wrapped in cellophane amongst it. (I still have it, by the way).
And yes, the car service came in after the store closed.
We had a butcher shop, a dry cleaner and tailor, a candy store, a vegetable stand and a shoe maker all on the same block, Smith between President and Union.
My mother was on a first name basis with all of the owners.

Take care Katia!.
Gina from Kissimmee

the kid said...

The owners were a husband and wife (Mary).
yes, aunt marietta
i sat at my grandmother's table upstairs here many times as a kid
she had closed the store in early 70's and mentioned she paid $2.oo a year to the city to keep the name as i sat with her and my grandmother, albeit, a bigger kid
of course, that was a long, long time ago
i was looking thru my mom's cherished stuff
and there's a whole box left of aunt marietta's corsages
whenever, for our communions, confirmations, sister's proms, whatever, aunt marietta made them
"....We had a butcher shop...."
pardonmeforasking, irace's butcher?
frank and his brother, president and court
frank would weigh the meat on a scale, if it was over, no problem
if only he had a digital one, a penny here, a dime there, adds up
he was the smart one, his brother, eddie was the comedian
always a good time when my mom said "hey, (kid) pick up my order"
"ok, ma"
that frank was the nicest guy around
there's a spanish deli there now
but
katia
picture please

Kelly said...

Hi Gina,
How is Florida? Nice and warm?
So many people still tell me that the post about your youth on President Street is still their favorite.
If you ever have time, keep the memories coming.

Katia

Kelly said...

Hey "Kid",

That's great. I love these incredible stories from the past.
that Marietta sounds like she was a lovely lady.
Was the butcher store that you mention at 370 Court Street? I would love to know so that I can write a little story about it. Maybe you can give me more details?

the kid said...

Was the butcher store that you mention at 370 Court Street? I would love to know so that I can write a little story about it. Maybe you can give me more details?


Frank irace and his brother eddie owned the store, my mom ordered all her meat back in the days of ol', the store was located court street between president and carroll street, there is a spanish deli there now, so i guess, yeah, 370 next to the dress shop on corner
now, pardonmeforasking, but how far back do you want to go?
cvs, which was key food, which was a&p, which was the GLORIA movie theather, as in cary grant, gary cooper, doris day, a dish plate for a nickel, go every week to collect the set (my dad told me that)
wow, if you check out buddy, who knows he may have a pic

Kelly said...

Hi Kid,
Great, I'll post about it as soon as I get a chance to take a photo. If you remember more, please, please let me know.

David Rocamboli said...

Mary and Stephen Rocamboli were my Grandparents. They owned Park Lane Florists. My Dad is Steve Rocamboli. I stumbled upon this blog recently. Does anyone know where that old store sign is? I’d love to have it!

Anonymous said...

Well Eddie Irace is/was my grandfather and yes I can agree he was a comedian. I miss my grandfather thank you all for your kind words.
If anyone has a picture of them in their shop or of thier shop please post it here.