A relatively new “ghost sign” can be found at 6408 Fort Hamilton Parkway, where there is still a painted ad for Rocco’s Famous Calamari. The Italian eatery was founded by Rocco and Lucy Bruno in 1981, and was abruptly shuttered in July 2016. The space is currently (2020) occupied by sushi bistro Rakazen.
More recently, the Italian eatery Colandrea’s New Corner, a longtime Bay Ridge staple at 7201 8th Avenue, shut down in October 2020 after an 84-year run.
On the same walk on an August afternoon, I found another ghost business a few blocks away on Fort Hamilton Parkway. At a time when most watch movies via streaming services, rentals and sales of videocassettes and DVD’s have decreased drastically.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop, and as always, “comment…as you see fit.”
11/19/20
3 comments
It wasn’t long ago, 15 or 20 years maybe, when calamari was an exotic food that many people wouldn’t dare eat even if they knew about it. Today it’s on seemingly every other restaurant menu.
Rocco and Lucy planned their closure, wasn’t abrupt really. He had enough working like a dog after all those years and
was ready for retirement.
Hi. I always find your posts informative and interesting. As someone who recalls a great deal of your posts (without giving away my age), it is a pleasure to see that others remember what once was. I used to visit A to Z Video in their heyday. I wanted to get to Colanfrea’s before they closed. I also remember Rocco’s Famous Calamari as well.