The first sign, the very plain and almost hidden “209 Bakery,” comes into view as you walk north on Elizabeth Street, past the outdoor sculpture yard between Prince and Spring Streets.
On the facade of the building (next door to luxury condo 211 Elizabeth), the name of the old store reveals itself: “G. La Rosa & Son Bread Co. Inc.”
I couldn’t find any info on when G. La Rosa & Son closed their doors. The space has been occupied by the Elizabeth Street Gallery, an architectural ornament and antiques shop, for years.
Here it is in a 1995 photo with what looks like different graffiti on a roll-down gate covering the windows and doors.
The gallery there today has some ridiculously high-priced objects for wealthy collectors. They probably do a good business.
But could anything for sale there could be as gratifying as the scent of fresh-baked bread wafting out the windows of an old-school Italian bakery?
Ephemeral New York 