Building Mystery: What Was This Space?

A reader was walking by 4 Flatbush Avenue just south of Fulton and snapped this very cool shot of an interior space that was in the process of being renovated. She writes: “It looks like this building used to be a truly grand space. The ceiling height was tremendous (20 feet?). Maybe somebody would know what this was? It’s a very interesting area in general, with many grand buildings hiding behind hideous facades.” Indeed: Note the columns, old wallpaper, and elaborate ceiling. An online search revealed that in 1875, at least, it was a cigar store. A Brooklyn Eagle advertisement for Wednesday, March 3, 1875, told prospective apartment renters to “apply at No. 4 Flatbush av, in cigar store.” The address of the entire building is 542 Fulton Street, according to PropertyShark. From 1873 to 1888, there was a carpet, curtain, and furniture store at that address, first under the name of Dexter and then William B. Shaw’s Carpet House. It’s a very handsome building; click through to the jump to see some shots of the exterior. There are columns on it too. Update: The cigar store was in an earlier building at the same address. This building dates from 1893; it was a men’s and boy’s clothing store.

Photo by Scott Bintner for PropertyShark