16 Nevins: "Disneyland To A Very High Order"
We’ve always been curious about this Medieval-looking building on Nevins and so were pleased to learn that Christopher Gray had covered it in his Streetscapes column for The Times back in October 2005: At 16 Nevins Street, the restaurateur Joseph J. Sartori had the architect Arthur Starin create a startling surprise of rough stucco, heavy…
We’ve always been curious about this Medieval-looking building on Nevins and so were pleased to learn that Christopher Gray had covered it in his Streetscapes column for The Times back in October 2005:
At 16 Nevins Street, the restaurateur Joseph J. Sartori had the architect Arthur Starin create a startling surprise of rough stucco, heavy roof tile, mock half-timbering and ingenious decorative elements. The $40,000 facade, designed in 1922, is a picturesque feast, quite appropriate for Sartori, whose well-known restaurant, Joe’s, was a prime meeting place for political and civic figures. In 1937, striking waiters complained that Sartori had given years of free meals to Justice John H. McCooey of State Supreme Court — who had barred them from picketing.
Starin was working on a double lot, and so the building is an Alpine-style avalanche of sloping roofs, odd little dormers and lookouts, and visibly hand-hewn beams set within the ostentatiously roughened stucco surfaces. There is a mysterious cat silhouette on the left-hand chimney, which is itself modeled to look as if it were made of individual chunks of stone. An original downspout, embossed with grapevines, has escaped damage, and a single leaded-glass window has somehow escaped removal. The timbers are visibly hand-pegged. The former Joe’s Restaurant building — now home to a deli, the Metro Food Court — has something Disneyland about it. But it is Disneyland to a very high order.
Gray also discusses similar timber facades at 385 Jay and 93 Court. Any other examples that people can think of?
3 Old Gems That Sparkle Without a Spotlight [NY Times] GMAP P*Shark
you’re right anon 7.53. Lets encourage conspicuous consumerism for the working class, not the experiential. When you grow up however you might discover that the best things in life aren’t things.
Those kids don’t deserve sneakers. Who are you people kidding. And gold chains to give to their loved ones, forget it. What the world needs is more latte. Gotta get me some more latte. Much more respectable than sneaks.
Me- Don’t be a scared and bitter troll. Kids world wide are digging that hip hop stuff and the stores seem to be generating money. Let time take it’s course…… And I think you really should really sort out your personal issues or complexes on your own instead of hiding behind a blog and spewing garbage in public.
In Queens, the commercial parts of Continental Ave., in Forest Hills and Lefferts Blvd., in Kew Gardens, look rather similar.
With the exception of the fine period architecture, all the rest of downtown BK (Fulton Mall) should just be razed!!!
and start by closing the hip hop shops that sell these kids overpriced, tasteless junk.
There’s a similar facade on Fulton Street off Broadway in Manhattan. Always wondered about it.
anon 11:52, I actually thought it was the Bruno’s Hardware building until I saw your post. They’re practically identical.
a few years ago there was a unit for rent on the top floor. it was a complete disgrace- drop ceiling, cheap tile floor, bad office lighting, rear windows bricked in. truly a shame.
With that look its more like an English pub. Not so many of the half-timbered buildings in Eire.