History in Starbucks: 910 Manhattan Avenue

This member of the coffee house chain, at 910 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, was once the Chopin Theatre, named after the great Polish composer, something the surrounding Polish community could appreciate. The 500-seat house was opened as the American Theatre, hence the eagle on the top. It was always a second-run house.

There used to be a Burger King in the ground-floor space, which I guess is worse than a Starbucks, and then after that a Quest Diagnostics, which is better. Upstairs there was a billiard parlor, then a bingo hall, then a dance club.