By GARY FONVILLE
Forgotten NY correspondent
Downtown Brooklyn is going through many changes. To a person who hasn’t visited the neighborhood in thirty years or so, it would be totally unrecognizable. New buildings, mostly super expensive residential digs, are popping up like weeds there. And that doesn’t even include all the new hotels that tout in their advertising about how close they’re to Manhattan and how there are a myriad of subway lines to travel to Manhattan conveniently.
In my experience, when I see a block with all or nearly all of its commercial properties boarded up, that means demolition is imminent and guess what? A new building invariably sprouts up.
A block bordered by Fulton Street, DeKalb Avenue and Flatbush Avenue Extension, across from Junior’s Restaurant, fits this scenario. As happens often, this sign was discovered by accident by yours truly. I saw it when I exited my car to go to that famous cheesecake emporium to purchase one of their decadent deserts.
This former neon sign for a Horn & Hardart store was covered by another sign and was only revealed recently when it was removed.
At age 65 I have no clear memory of Horn & Hardart. But I do know there was another H&H facility, a restaurant, on Fulton Street, between Pearl Street and Adams Street, with a rear exit on Willoughby Street. It has only been about ten years since a H&H sign was removed from the present Burger King building..
Through my research on H&H, I found that their retail outlets sold prepacked items such as coffee.
If any of you FNY fans can share memories and experiences with us, please comment.
FNY Correspondent Gary Fonville was born in New Bern, NC on February 10, 1952 and graduated SUNY at New Paltzin 1975. He has worked in the eductional field and for the NYCTA as a Bus Operator until October, 2003 when health issues forced him to be reclassified to the position as a TPPA (Transit Property Protection Agent). His hobby, photography, came about by being a contributor to FNY and snapping many photos in the process.
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9/20/17