I've known for some time that actor Eli Wallach was born at 164 Union Street, in Carroll Gardens, near Hicks. But a recent New York Times profile on Wallach revealed a further bit of information. Wallach's parents operated a candy store in the ground floor of that building. Also, they were the only Jewish family on the block; the neighborhood was then, as now, heavily Italian. The shop is now occupied by Love Thy Pet, a locally beloved pet supplies store. You step down a few stairs to enter the store. The layout is very much in keeping with what might well service a candy shop.
most stores on columbia back in the 60's were owned/operated by jewish merchants. there was a small supermarket on the corner of president and hicks called 'shapiros'.
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