It's A Barber Shop And Shoe Repair Place For Newly Re-Constructed 178 Smith Street

The little yellow house at 178 Smith Street before the fire

Before the yellow aluminum-clad house at 178 Smith Street was destroyed in a fire back in November 2009, the two retail spaces on the ground floor were occupied by a hair salon and a shoe repair shop. When the new building was completed this spring, many wondered if the retail tenants would be back. It seemed unlikely at first, since the owner tried to rent out the spaces back in the fall of last year.

However, just in the last few weeks, a barber shop opened in one of the smaller of the new stores. It's appropriately named " Smith Barber Shop." And just a few days ago, signs have been posted in the larger space. A shoe and watch repair store is coming there soon.

Not sure if this is the same shoe repair store that was there before the fire, but these two businesses are certainly a great addition to Smith Street which has become totally over-saturated with restaurants and bars over the last decade.

Related Reading:

After Fire, A Little Yellow Aluminum-Clad House Goes From Eyesore To More Contextual

Fire Damage Significant At 178 Smith Street

After 18 Years On Smith Street,"Zaida's House Of Beauty " To Close

°°°°°°°°°°

Read more

Former Retailers NOT Coming Back To Newly Re-Constructed 178 Smith Street

Before the November 2009 fire.

 178 Smith Street with the shoe maker and hair salon in the retail space.

And now...

You may remember that last week, I wrote about the re-construction of the building at  #178 Smith Street,  which was destroyed in a fire in November 2009.  The little yellow aluminum-clad house has been rebuilt with a brick façade and a cornice that make it much more contextual than the original structure.
Some of you readers were wondering if the two retail tenants, a shoe repair place and a unisex hair salon would move back in after construction is completed.  That seems highly unlikely.  Just a few days ago, two "for rent" signs were taped on the storefront windows.   
Too bad.  
What would you like to see in there, dear Readers?


Related Reading:
After Fire, A Little Yellow Aluminum-Clad House Goes From Eyesore To More Contextual


ShareThis Read more

After Fire, A Little Yellow Aluminum-Clad House Goes From Eyesore To More Contextual

178 Smith Street back in February 2009

After a fire in November 2009...
And Now

This little yellow house at 178 Smith Street went through an incredible transformation since a fire destroyed the building back in November 2009.  Never a beauty, what with its yellow aluminum siding, it has  been totally rebuilt in the last few months.   In the process, it has gained just a bit of height so that it now is in line with its neighbors on the left.  Thankfully, it has also lost its cladding, but gained a brick façade and a new cornice.  The result is much, much better than the original structure, which was a real eyesore.  Most importantly, it is more contextual.
It's only a pity that the building has been "fedderized." It's also too bad that it did not get some window detail like lintels.  Otherwise, I think it would have been (almost) perfect.
What do you think, dear Reader?

ShareThis Read more

Fire Damage Significant At 178 Smith Street

178 Smith Street back in February 2009

Burning 178 Smith Street building at around 9 AM
photo credit: Joe Calabrese

178 Smith Street on Tuesday afternoon

# 178 Smith Street was never the prettiest house on Smith Street. Clad in yellow aluminum siding, it housed a shoe repair store and a barber shop. At about 9 AM on Tuesday morning, the place went up in flames. The damage is significant. It most probably needs to be torn down.

Judging by the photo of the burning building, the fire started in the shoe repair shop.

By 4 PM, workers were getting ready to secure the burnt building with plywood. A small crowd had gathered across the street, obviously shocked by what they saw. Someone pointed at a bookshelf visible through the third floor window. The flames had left it undamaged.




For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

Read more

After 18 Years On Smith Street,"Zaida's House Of Beauty " To Close

When people talk about Smith Street as 'restaurant row', they tend to forget that neighborhood stores that had been there for a long time before the street became a tourist destination. Some managed to hang on for a while, barely surviving amongst the newer and trendier restaurants and boutiques. However, the lone survivors have been closing one by one, victims of greedy landlords and now, the bad economy. Add Zaida's House of Beauty Salon, at 178 Smith Smith Street between Warren and Wickoff, to that list. A reader had this to say in a comment:

"Zaida's been there 18 years and her rent is now unaffordable and is closing next week. One more casualty of the Smith Street rent wars."

Farewell, Zaida. Sorry to see you go. Smith Street will be a lot less interesting without stores like yours.

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking Read more