When a shop goes out of business, there’s a short yet sweet window of time during which the defunct store’s sign is down . . . and the ghost sign from a long-ago shop becomes visible. For a few days to a few weeks, you get this tiny glimpse into the city’s recent past.
Like Reisman’s Ladieswear at 226 East 14th Street. Not too many signs advertise “cut rate” clothing anymore:
Lafayette French Pastry, on Bleecker Street in the West Village, looks like it was a charming place to get a chocolate eclair in the 1960s. They moved over to Greenwich Avenue and West 10th several years ago:
I wonder what Richman, at 300 Canal Street, sold:
If the sign advertised a product or service, we’ll never know; it’s hidden behind a red blotch.
Tags: 226 East 14th Street, 300 Canal Street, ghost signs, Lafayette French Pastry, old New York City store signs, Reisman's Ladieswear, Richman, Vintage store signs
Ephemeral New York 
October 5, 2009 at 12:50 pm |
you beat me to it!
February 16, 2010 at 1:55 am |
Yes LaFayette French Pastry had the best eclairs in the 60’s. I grew up a couple of streets away and ate a lot of them. I would stop on my way home from school and ate them before my mother caught me. I still will buy an eclair once in a while of think of that bakery. Thanks for the memories.
November 3, 2015 at 1:37 am |
Not sure if this is it, but could that sign be for Richman Bros. men’s clothing store?