Wednesday, November 12, 2008

6th Ave Food Court

The block of 6th Avenue between 21st and 22nd looks like the food court in a suburban shopping mall. A new Chickpea (formerly restricted to the East Village/LES invasion) is moving in next to a new Red Mango, which is next to a McDonald's, which is next to a Starbucks. The chain of chains is broken only by the Greenkay furniture company--which is followed by a Chipotle, then a New York Burger Co.



But Greenkay now has a For Rent sign over it.

I don't know how long Greenkay has been in business, but it seems like a long time. They specialize in stripped metal office furniture, which looks pretty cool, and is even a favorite of home decor blog Apartment Therapy.



The Chipotle and New York Burger went into the former Wolf Paper & Twine buildings, one of which still has a painted sign high up on the bricks. According to Walter Grutchfield's 14to42, Wolf was founded by a Russian named Wolf Lubitz in 1916 and was located here from the 1940s until 2003. (Click here to read about Mr. Grutchfield.)


photo: Walter Grutchfield, 2002

There's not much left to see here. Although, around the corner on 21st, hidden out of sight, you'll still find Ace Pump Corp., family owned since 1936 and sporting a nifty sign.

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5 comments:

  1. Ken MacNovember 12, 2008 at 10:25 AM

    thanks for highlighting this once grand block(s). I remember walking up 6th avenue in the late80s/early 90s - total ghost town. But once the men's store moved in , which is now gone and then BB&B, it was all over. Now you can barely walk up the block.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jeremiah MossNovember 12, 2008 at 10:46 AM

    for me, the beginning of the end came when billy's topless became a bagel joint.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousNovember 13, 2008 at 6:50 PM

    What a bunch of NIMBYs, bah.

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownNovember 14, 2008 at 9:59 PM

    How in G-d's name did Ace Pump survive?! Long may they pump.

    I used to work (for 5 years) for Irving and Bernice in the Fisk Building (57th Street and B'way). Irving used to wear a Fedora, in 1989.

    Are there any more Irving's left in town?

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownFebruary 16, 2017 at 7:19 PM

    Crazy lady in fur coat makes mcdonalds on 6th her home

    ReplyDelete

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