HERE’S a shot from the descending staircase at 31st Street and Astoria Boulevard at the elevated train serving the N and sometimes W. The elevated was built and opened in 1917 above 31st Street, which has been a street of many names as had its brother Astoria Streets. It has been called Debevoise Avenue, then 2nd Avenue when the elevated was built, and since the 1920s, 31st Street as the entire borough streets and addresses were renumbered.
I noticed this pair of illuminated signs for Columbus Pizza. The pizzeria is no longer there and has since given way to Astor Deli and Market. These type signs must be difficult to remove since you see a number of them surviving long after their parent establishments have moved out.
Why Columbus Pizza? Here, we’re across the street from Columbus Square, which features one of the many statues of Christopher Columbus found around town. One day, I’ll have to gather them all on the same page.
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10/31/24
3 comments
The Astor Deli is a recent change to this location; they opened sometime earlier this year. The previous tenant of the space (whose name I can’t recall, but it wasn’t “Columbus Pizza”) was your usual NYC bodega, but they did serve pizza prepared in a real pizza oven that was better than you’d expect for the price. They closed sometime during the pandemic. When Astor Deli moved in they sadly removed the pizza oven (leaving the vent ductwork on the front of the building), but their sandwiches are quite good.
I remember this pizzeria well! If I’m not mistaken an Egyptian gentleman owned it and worked behind the small counter as well. Now to take it back even further, where the shuttered candy shop is today was a small produce stand. It was owned by several old Italian men. I vividly remember one was heavyset and would smoke a cigar while working.
Great memories from a time long ago!
I see the Starbucks in the background across the street. That used to be Morisco’s Funeral Home