A helpful reader sent me the above photo, an image of the New Hankow Restaurant on 34th Street. I posted something on the history of the Chinese place back in May 2012.
The pictures attests to my past report that it was a second-floor restaurant—perched above Field's Better Apparel for Less, as it turns out. Lovely neon sign. All gone know, including the building itself.
Any idea what year that photo is? Looks like 70s or 80s
ReplyDeleteMy mom worked in an office tower on the same block as New Hankow in the mid-60's, and on the rare occasions that she brought me with her to her office (I would have been about 6 or 7 yrs old) my inspiration for behaving myself and not touching any of the office machines was a promised luncheon at New Hankow. The hours would tick by slowly as I eyed staplers, check printers and big manual calculating machines, but the pay off was a delicious lunch. I faintly recall having to walk up the narrow flight of stairs to reach the restaurant and also asking to be seated near the long window that overlooked 34th Street below. If memory serves, there was also a large Woolworth on that same block, and if I was >very< good, I was allowed to pick out a book or record album to bring home that day too. More than anything, I miss how smartly and neatly nearly everyone who worked in an office dressed then, from Admin Asst to CEO. A different world. And, in retrospect, a far better one.
ReplyDeleteJeff C. I miss those days. I miss Woolworths and sit down Chinese restaurants. When I was a child my grandfather had a business in the city. We visited him frequently. Everyone well dressed . Yes a different world. People had class. It wasn't about money. It was about integrity.
DeleteJeff C. -- Great story. And wasn't that one huge Woolworth's.
ReplyDeleteI doubt that the building is gone. While I can't find a construction date for 130-132 West 34th, the building definitely looks to date back to the 1950's or earlier. It isn't immediately apparent because the street level floor was heavily modified for Sephora. The window pattern on the third through fifth floors matches the New Hangkow's pattern, though the second floor windows now are different.
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@ Jeff C...
ReplyDeleteGreat story! It's comments like that that help Brooks bring NYC's history alive. I agree with you on what passes for "business attire" these days. An acquaintance of mine who is an executive in a top fashion design house always wears jeans to work and claims everyone at the company does too. In his opinion, because his jeans cost $400-500 they are more than "dressy" enough. When he has a meeting with the CFO he will, of course, wear a sports coats with the jeans. He says that many of the women in the firm compliment him on his clothes. And so it goes.....
Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy father was a partner/Treasurer/headwaiter at the New Hankow Restaurant in the '50s. Watched several Macy's Thanksgiving Day parades from the restaurant windows. Staff and families had Thanksgiving parties there too. Harold W. Leung
ReplyDeleteMy father was a partner/Treasurer/head waiter at the New Hankow Restaurant in the '50s and maybe earlier. Watched several Macy's Thanksgiving Day parades from the restaurant across the street from Macy's. Staff/families had their Thanksgiving Day party also.
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Martha, the family that owned the rest ( mr how tom & sons ) were my uncles in laws, when my uncle John passed away after having spent about 30 yrs w/ aunt Kim ,she moved twice , we moved & now we can't find her, my daughter & I love & miss her dearly & don't have any other family left, we have been trying to find her for about. 8 yrs now. Pls let me know if you know her, she was married briefly to an Italian child hood friend as a teen, not sure if she is using that name. Thank You & bless you for your military service, I grew up in lower NYC & enjoyed reading your posts. My email address is Jadenpearls2010@gmail.com
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