A Good Sign: Monte's

I don't know if many people realize what a bit of living history Monte's Restaurant is as they pass through the casbah atmosphere of MacDougal Street between W. 3rd Streeet and Bleeker. It was founded in 1918 and is now owned by the Mosconi family, and it's a miracle the place is still there at all.

The sign is a gem, or course, red and green to match the Italian flag and with its figure of a fat little chef serving up dinner. An added treat is the rusting metal sign that alerts diners that Monte's is triple "A" approved. The Zagat's seal of approval of its time.

John's Pizzeria Redemption Is Here

If all goes well, John's Pizzeria of Bleeker Street should be open for the dinner rush tonight.

This afternoon, I ran into the owner of the famed pizza joint, which was closed down last Thursday by the Department of Health in the wake of now world-famous, videotaped rat dance at the Taco Bell/KFC down the block. He said at the time (3:55 PM) that he expected someone from the DOH in about 20 minutes and, if all went well, "We should be open in an hour." That's means pizza for dinner.

I had seen him on the tube the previous evening complaining that all the listed infractions had been corrected, but he was still waiting for an inspector. Inside the restaurant were a lot of idle, glum-looking employees, waiting to spring into action. More signs protesting the DOH's action had been posted in the windows of the restaurant, including a sort of poem from a local and another sign that began "Those of us who live in Greenwich Village regret that the horrible, sleazy, fast-food franchises that continue to blight our neighborhood have made it difficult for the independent and neighborhood-conscious establishments such as this one to do business."

I hope all goes well. I will be good to have John's back in business. As I left, some old, bent-over Italian ladies across Bleeker were asking the owner in Italian how things were going. "Eh, Basta!" he yelled back.

UPDATE: A worker at John's, answering a call at 7:15 PM, said the pizzeria would open "in 45 minutes." A truncated dinner shift is better than none at all.

Evening Peace at Eckerd

After reading our March 5 item about an old Smith Street garage's former life as a movie house, one enthusiastic reader asked if Lost City knew any other tasty historical facts, such as what used to occupy the "fun destination" that is now an Eckerd drug store at President and Smith. "Care to tell us what was THERE previously," this avid nostalgia buff queried.

Well, my sarcastic friend, all I can say is what they teach budding trial lawyers: Never ask a question unless you already know what the answer is.

Because I actually DO know what used to be where the Eckerd's is now. Most recently, is was a stretch of blacktop used by a used car dealership. Long before that, though, it was a two-story brick building of not-unattractive appearance (see above). In this 1928 photo, it says the corner, ground-floor space is to let. Next to it is a laundry.

On the second floor, however, is what looks like a charming coffee and tea room. And way over to left, posted above the entrance to the room, is a sign reading "Kveldsro Kaffistova." This is an indication is the neighborhood's former Norwegian character. "Kaffistova" is Norwegian for "coffee house." "Kveldsro" means "evening peace."

Now, isn't that an lovely notion? Evening Peace Coffee House. That's what we all need, isn't it? A cup of coffee and a little peace and quiet at the end of the day? Certainly it must have been what Norwegian laborers needed in 1928. I think it's what that reader needed, too.

Court on Union

Wooden Phone Booth Sighting: Bill Gay Nineties

Bill's Gay Nineties, the relatively unsung former speakeasy that dwells in its own world on E. 54th Street, has facilities on hand for the cell-phone unfriendly. This phone booth is set into the wall, just to the left as you walk down a few steps and enter the hall that leads to the bar. There's a seat inside and the light switches on as you close the door. An old Bell Telephone sign is posted above the door. It would be interesting to see how many calls are clocked on this thing a month. Lots? None?



Wooden Phone Booth Sighting: Gino's
What About Bill?

A Good Sign: National Jewelers Exchange

On Diamond Row in Midtown.

Dear John's Letter

Jesus H. Christ and Holy Crap! The health department has closed down legendary John's Pizzeria of Bleeker Street!

According to Slice, the venerable landmark has posted a sign in the window, which runs: "It seems that due to the extensive media coverage of a certain fast food restaurant and the scandal surrounding the N.Y.C. dept. of health, they are now trying to save face and set examples.... It seems that after 70 YEARS in business they have decided that we need a sink CLOSER TO the Pizza making area, have PROPER lids on our RESTROOM GARBAGE CANS, seal airtight, every possible crack and hole in our 150 year old basement.... and MOST IMPORTANTLY keep our basement door closed....
As unbelievable as this sounds, the Inspector informed us there are now NEW LAWS as of THIS WEEK and shut us down.... so we are spending our day Filling cracks and filling out paperwork. We are TRULY sorry for any inconvenience and assure you we will be open a.s.a.p........

That filthy, rat-habitat Taco Bell/KFC on Sixth Avenue, and its horrid parent agency, Yum! Brands, have a lot to answer for.

We wish John's all the best and due speed!

The Power of Platinum? Wood

Work has continued apace at the northeast corner of 46th Street and Eighth Avenue, future home of the condo tower Platinum NYC, formerly the address of the great corner bar and stagehand hangout McHale's.

The revolting billboards featuring the neo-Nazi, Atlas-like figure pushing a big silver ball are still there. But the Thing That Ate McHale's has begun to reach for the skies. A couple stories of wooden framework have been erected, and there's a crane in place. There was little actual activity the day I checked things out as it has just rained. Have no idea when they're going to be laying on those awesome sheets of platinum on the sides of the tower.

According to a sign near the site, the work on the building is apparently causing traffic to be blocked off from 46th Street between Eighth and Broadway on some weekends, which must piss off matinee audiences at the nearby theatres. But that's the Power of Platinum. It trumps the power of the theatre.

What They Tore Down McHale's For

Three Views on Sixth Avenue

In Greenwich Village, window alignment is not required, or even desired.

Court on Smith

Sometimes I think every building in New York City was put to infinitely more interesting use in the past than it is in the present.

Across from the Carroll Street Stop on the F line is a sad gray stone auto garage. Little about it tells you it was once a temple of entertainment. The building is recognizable from the below photo as one that was employed as the Court Theatre in the 1920s, home of silent films. The movie featured at the time of the photo is "Sailors' Wives" starring Mary Astor.

Why the Court Theatre was on Smith Street and not nearby Court Street, I don't know. The past is full of mysteries.

For the mystery that lies under the Eckerd at Smith and President, click here.

Stirrings at Former Site of Studio Coffee Shop

One of the things that most bothers me about development in this city is not so much that greedy landlords force wonderful old shops and restaurants close, but that they force them to close and then NOTHING HAPPENS. The space remains vacant for months, years—time when the old business might have stayed put.

Such is the case for Midtown Studio Coffee Shop, much loved by this site. It was a kingdom of humility, simplicity, economy and silence in the rowdy theatre district. It went dark in early 2006 and the roller shutter has remained tightly closed since then.

But there may be a new business there soon. Obviously, it won't be as good at the Studio Coffee Shop, but at least there will be a visible reason why the place had to die. The doorman at the Film Center Building, in which the space is located, said construction work had been going on for the past two months and that a "trattoria" would be opening there. He knew no more than that, so we'll have to wait and see.

The Sound of Silence Silenced