The east side of Lefferts Boulevard looking south from Austin Street c. 1941 Click image to enlarge
[From the Queens
Borough Public Library, Long island Division,
Kew Gardens
Collection.]
Random Recollections
by ALAN LINSKY
In part I of my 'stroll' series (Random Recollections) my
time machine hurls us back to the 1940's – 50's
where we tour the establishments along the
westerly side of Lefferts Boulevard between
83rd. and Beverly.
I will once again turn the clock back to that
same era as we continue our walk on the more
easterly side of the 'ponte
vecchio' (bridge) between Austin Street
and Cuthbert Road.
The first shop that catches our eye is Sol
Kreitman's brightly illuminated "Austin
Chemists' with ever changing window displays,
an impressive array of sundries and Dr.
Kreitman's expert hand at pharmacology.
Next, we visit 'Manny's Shoe Repair' where
rejuvenating heels and soles is an art, and
where Mr. Williams, a fine elderly gentlemen,
plies his trade with pride at a shoeshine stand
in the front window.
If it's Saturday at about noon time, we'll have
to make our way through the crowd of kids
(including myself) waiting for the 'Austin
Theater' to open for a great afternoon of
double features, cartoons and serials (ah for
the days that Abbott and Costello met
Frankenstein!).
If it's the forties, the next stop is Shaw's
Furniture and Decorating – if it's the fifties
it has become M & F Cleaners with their
large black lettered orange sign over the entry
noting their expertise.
Moving along, we visit 'Andre's Beauty Salon' –
an ultra modern (for the day) facility run by
Harry (Andre) Rothman and his wife Ruth. The
Rothman's moved to the bridge from a much
smaller store near Beverly and Lefferts about
1950.
Our next stop will seem as though we have
stepped from the past further into the past as
we come upon Major's Book Store. Miss Major, a
well reserved and preserved librarian holds
court in her 1920's style establishment.
Actually, it's not 1920's style – it's 1920's
unchanged! Despite the apparent freezing of
time, she does carry the latest in reading
material including every book on the New York
Times best seller list.
Because I was too young to drink yet, my
memories of the next stop, the Kew Gardens
Hof-brau, are vague at best (as kids, we used
to call it the "eye brow" and knew very little
of what went on inside).
If you're into the most wonderful fruits and
vegetables and everything Italian that goes
with them then 'Panettiere's is your place to
shop. Their van arrives at Manhattan
wholesalers by 4:00AM each day to bring us the
freshest produce imaginable.
The KGO (Kew Gardens Outlet) follows on our
tour. Run by Esther Levitow and her daughter
Mimi, they feature everything from buttons to
bows and a lot more. Mr. Levitow, who comes in
to help out on occasion, is a professional
musician and a featured violinist with the Bell
Telephone Hour orchestra.
The east
side of Lefferts Boulevard as seen from 83rd
Avenue c. 1941. Click on image to enlarge
[From the Queens
Borough Public Library, Long island Division,
Kew Gardens
Collection.]
Mimi's Candy
Shop (no relation to Mimi of KGO)
beckons you with the aromas of roasting cacao
seeds as chocolatiers Mr. and Mrs. Fleishmann
hand make their confections from 'old country'
recipes. My favorites though are the imported
tins of Mocha filled pastry tubes which always
had a conspicuous place in our refrigerator.
Next, we find Murray Sims, our very capable
town optometrist, usually standing out in front
of his store watching the world go by, but
always ready to grind out the best in
prescription lens wear.
Bahr's (pronounced bear) Lingerie shop comes up
next with windows filled with all things
feminine (a kind of early and more sedate
version of Victoria's Secret).
If it were a shopping mall you would need an
'anchor' store and I would have to say that
Bohack's Super Market would fit that bill.
Always a beehive of activity, this particular
branch carried very special items to suit the
needs of the Bohack family who lived right up
the street.
Our one and only bank at the time was located
prominently at the center of the five corners
and had it's name, 'The Bank of Manhattan
Company', engraved in granite over the front
entry. A bronze replacement sign proclaiming
the merger with Chase National eventually
covered the original chiseling.
The east
side of Lefferts Boulevard looking south
toward Cuthbert Road c. 1941 Click on image to
enlarge
[From the Queens
Borough Public Library, Long island Division,
Kew Gardens
Collection.]
A white stucco building follows with a beauty
parlor (the name of which escapes me) at street
level and the famous 'Dr. Jay' practicing his
mastery at dental technique upstairs.
Next, you come to the immaculately sterile
yellow ceramic tile walls of Blendermann's
Meats that convey the quality of the best prime
beef available anywhere.
Last but certainly not least is the Homestead
Delicatessen (which, along with the Austin
Theater, may be the only two businesses to have
survived into the twenty-first century).
Originally known as 'Koster's', this emporium
(the Dean and Deluca of Queens) has served its
delicacies since the early 20's. My all time
favorite is their rare roast beef on thin
sliced double baked rye with real 'homemade'
mayonnaise.
I hope I have brought back a few memories for
you oldtimers, and a little of Old Kew Gardens
history for you new comers.
Watch for part III of my 'Stroll' series coming
soon.
Source:
Al Linsky lived in Kew
Gardens from 1938 to 1963 and attended P.S. 99 from 1944 to 1953. He is now retired, splitting his time between Brentwood, CA and Woodmere, NY. His avocation is as a broker of antique vehicles to the motion picture and television industry.
In part I of my 'stroll' series (Random Recollections) my time machine hurls us back to the 1940's – 50's where we tour the establishments along the westerly side of Lefferts Boulevard between 83rd. and Beverly.
I will once again turn the clock back to that same era as we continue our walk on the more easterly side of the 'ponte vecchio' (bridge) between Austin Street and Cuthbert Road.
The first shop that catches our eye is Sol Kreitman's brightly illuminated "Austin Chemists' with ever changing window displays, an impressive array of sundries and Dr. Kreitman's expert hand at pharmacology.
Next, we visit 'Manny's Shoe Repair' where rejuvenating heels and soles is an art, and where Mr. Williams, a fine elderly gentlemen, plies his trade with pride at a shoeshine stand in the front window.
If it's Saturday at about noon time, we'll have to make our way through the crowd of kids (including myself) waiting for the 'Austin Theater' to open for a great afternoon of double features, cartoons and serials (ah for the days that Abbott and Costello met Frankenstein!). If it's the forties, the next stop is Shaw's Furniture and Decorating – if it's the fifties it has become M & F Cleaners with their large black lettered orange sign over the entry noting their expertise.
Moving along, we visit 'Andre's Beauty Salon' – an ultra modern (for the day) facility run by Harry (Andre) Rothman and his wife Ruth. The Rothman's moved to the bridge from a much smaller store near Beverly and Lefferts about 1950.
Our next stop will seem as though we have stepped from the past further into the past as we come upon Major's Book Store. Miss Major, a well reserved and preserved librarian holds court in her 1920's style establishment. Actually, it's not 1920's style – it's 1920's unchanged! Despite the apparent freezing of time, she does carry the latest in reading material including every book on the New York Times best seller list.
Because I was too young to drink yet, my memories of the next stop, the Kew Gardens Hof-brau, are vague at best (as kids, we used to call it the "eye brow" and knew very little of what went on inside).
If you're into the most wonderful fruits and vegetables and everything Italian that goes with them then 'Panettiere's is your place to shop. Their van arrives at Manhattan wholesalers by 4:00AM each day to bring us the freshest produce imaginable. The KGO (Kew Gardens Outlet) follows on our tour. Run by Esther Levitow and her daughter Mimi, they feature everything from buttons to bows and a lot more. Mr. Levitow, who comes in to help out on occasion, is a professional musician and a featured violinist with the Bell Telephone Hour orchestra.
as seen from 83rd Avenue c. 1941.
Click on image to enlarge
Next, we find Murray Sims, our very capable town optometrist, usually standing out in front of his store watching the world go by, but always ready to grind out the best in prescription lens wear. Bahr's (pronounced bear) Lingerie shop comes up next with windows filled with all things feminine (a kind of early and more sedate version of Victoria's Secret).
If it were a shopping mall you would need an 'anchor' store and I would have to say that Bohack's Super Market would fit that bill. Always a beehive of activity, this particular branch carried very special items to suit the needs of the Bohack family who lived right up the street. Our one and only bank at the time was located prominently at the center of the five corners and had it's name, 'The Bank of Manhattan Company', engraved in granite over the front entry. A bronze replacement sign proclaiming the merger with Chase National eventually covered the original chiseling.
looking south toward Cuthbert Road c. 1941
Click on image to enlarge
Last but certainly not least is the Homestead Delicatessen (which, along with the Austin Theater, may be the only two businesses to have survived into the twenty-first century). Originally known as 'Koster's', this emporium (the Dean and Deluca of Queens) has served its delicacies since the early 20's. My all time favorite is their rare roast beef on thin sliced double baked rye with real 'homemade' mayonnaise.
I hope I have brought back a few memories for you oldtimers, and a little of Old Kew Gardens history for you new comers. Watch for part III of my 'Stroll' series coming soon.