Hidden pieces of an older New York are peeking through a couple of contemporary storefronts on Eighth Avenue in Chelsea.
This generic deli awning on the corner at 21st Street doesn’t conceal the previous tenant, the perfectly straightforward Chelsea Wine & Liquor Company.
A little further up the same side of the street is this old-school signage for Chelsea Merit Florists (minus the final two letters).
Another sign tells us they’ve been in business since 1930—but these days, the Merit is gone from the name.
Funeral Designs—interesting service to advertise on a storefront!
Tags: Chelsea Eighth Avenue signs, Chelsea Florists, Chelsea Wine & Liquor Company, Old signs New York City, signs hiding behind newer signs, vintage New York store signs
Ephemeral New York 
May 15, 2013 at 12:02 pm |
There was a funeral home (Cooke?) on the SW corner of 22nd and 8th when i lived there in the 70’s. That probably explains the “funeral designs” on the awning of this shop situated catty-corner.
May 15, 2013 at 2:25 pm |
Ah, that makes sense–thanks!
May 17, 2013 at 2:10 pm |
It’s amazing how often you see small business that date from the depression. If they opened in 1930, business would have fallen (a lot) for several years.
My theory is that for a business that could survive that, next eighty years were a piece of cake.
August 22, 2013 at 12:20 am |
[…] Recently, some vintage signs near Eighth Avenue have returned into view, serving as unexpected glimpses of this once not-so-hot neighborhood’s small-business past. […]
July 22, 2014 at 8:27 pm |
From Chelsea Florist Inc: Our shop has been on this corner since the 1930’s. My father took it over in July 1977 (Merit Florist). Then he retired and I took it over in 2000 with my uncle (Chelsea Merit Florist). My uncle retired and my partner and I now run the store (Chelsea Florist Inc).
March 25, 2015 at 7:40 pm |
If you get a chance, take a look under the awnings of the stores on Broadway between 26th and 29th. In several cases there is a sign underneath that is for a different store. I tried to take some pictures but they didn’t come out too good. Maybe you can give it a try!
March 25, 2015 at 7:45 pm |
I know exactly the stores you are talking about. I also tried to take photos, but the light is so poor. I’ll try again!
June 17, 2017 at 11:15 pm |
Where can I get any info about that Chelsea wine & liquor co, ?
I dug up the bottle with Chelsea wine and liquor company but address doesn’t match on a bottle I have address on bottle reads 967 Columbia Ave bet 107&108th st ny. Can anyone give me any info on why this location is on my bottle this is mysterious.
thank you for any info…