Back in the late 1960's, early 1970's
The same stretch of Smith Street in 2013
The section of Smith Street in March 2020 during the Corona Pandemic
Like all of our faithful readers, I am spending my days during the Corona Epidemic at my home in Carroll Gardens, only venturing out to buy the most necessary items. Since it will be hard to write new stories about the neighborhood during this quarantine, I thought I would repost some previous articles and photos from PMFA's archiveA while ago, 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.
This post was first published on this site in March 2013, but I added a photo from March 2020 above.
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 StreetWhen 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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7 comments:
Hi Katia!
It's your old friend Gina Holden!
Joe's Superette was a fabulous place. All of our cold cuts purchased there. The whole family were wonderful people. Steve I believe became a Nassau County police officer. And Ann's sister also worked there.
Venutis was where my father purchased his painting supplies and Christmas lights. And yes, you are correct about Frank's Deli. We were all angry that he did what he did when Joe was so good to him, giving him a job when he first came to the US.
I love the black and white photo!
Take care!
Gina
Katia..the building where the laundromat is was the American Legion Post, which my Father was a member of for years. In the top floor apt lived my mother's best friend..and someone i called Aunt Tessie. She would wave to us from her fire escape from the yards in the back. I remember the day Frank's opened! We use to steal the snails he had in wicker baskets out in front..we used them to have snail races, then either returned them{carefully} or let them lived in our gardens. Frank never liked us kids. Joe did however, he was a friend of the family and mom would send me over there constantly...she wanted the ham sliced very thin..and made sure Joe knew it. Christmas, which i always maintain were magical times for me, were really special at Joe's..he welcomed all his friends with a little scotch, a little prosciutto, and amazing stories. Carlo Gambino once walked in here and so did Tom Seaver!!
This stretch of Smith was my whole world for years...my mother Laura would tell me "you can only go round the corner..that's it!" I will never forget this place and thank you so much my friend for being my connection to it all again!!! Joey Vento!!
No, thank YOU for sharing your memories. I can always count on you for taking us back to the good old days of South Brooklyn.
So good to hear from you, Gina. How I love reading about your memories. It must have been a great place to grow up.
https://www.oldnyc.org/ is a great source for these types of photos, it displays photos from an NYPL archive in a google-maps like interface.
I grew up with Gina! It’s me Linda..I remember how my mother would send me to Joes with a list to pick up what she needed. She wouldn’t let me buy Italian bread , only my dad and that’s because I’d eat the end of that incredible Camarrieri bread and work my way down. Venutis was the best. I remember father and son. I always looked forward to when John would put out all the beach items beginning summer. My mom would bring me with her to buy my flip flops, pail and shovel and beach all...and that meant Coney Island everyday. I miss that.
Lol @ Frank's "Spite Store"
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