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The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.

Address: 1208 Surf Avenue corner of 12th Street
Name: Coney Island USA, formerly Childs Restaurant
Neighborhood: Coney Island
Year Built: 1917
Architectural Style: Spanish Colonial Revival
Architects: Unknown
Landmarked: Not yet, it’s calendared.

Why chosen:
I had the opportunity to give a talk about William H. Reynolds, the developer of Coney Island’s Dreamland, here at the Coney Island Museum last Sunday. What an amazing place. They have an impressive collection of CI artifacts, and the organization itself plays a major part in the fight for Coney Island’s survival, and a celebration of the unique culture that makes up this community. Many people are more familiar with the terra-cotta encrusted Childs Restaurant further down the Boardwalk (landmarked in 2003), but they also opened this one on Surf Avenue in 1917. The Childs chain of restaurants provided reasonably priced meals in their clean, modern, and sanitary looking establishments. By the 1940’s a nightclub and restaurant called the Blue Bird Casino operated here, and in the 50’s, it became David Rosen’s Wonderland Circus Sideshow. Coney Island USA rented the space for a long time, running the popular Sideshow By the Seashore here, as well as the Coney Island Museum, the Freak Bar, and the Mermaid Parade. In 2007, with the city’s help, they were able to purchase the building and have begun a restoration of the ground floor and exterior. The LPC has calendared the building for landmarking, as it is one of the oldest structures left on Surf Avenue, still retains much of its original facade, and is chock full of historic and cultural value.


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. Wow, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen older photos of CIUSA — the murals Marie Roberts has done lately really brighten the building up and make it look less… derelict.

    Still, quite the history there.