I have passed The Corner Deli in Woodside, 69th Street 65th Place at Laurel Hill Boulevard facing the Brooklyn-Queens expressway and opposite the James Novello Winfield War Memorial, quite a bit over the years either on foot or on the Q18 bus to Maspeth. It is one of the few buildings on the south side of the BQE that have survived over the decades. In the front is what’s called a “privilege sign”; originally, Coca-Cola or some other sponsor would foot the bill for the sign provided ads for the product were located on the sign. This is a particularly handsome example in red and white. Other such signs are most commonly in green and gold. This one is very well preserved and in unusual colors. One of these days, I’ll meander in for a pack of gum.
Laurel Hill Boulevard, which is mostly the BQE service road, has a rich history and is among Queens’ oldest roads. Of course, I covered it in 2020.
The Corner Deli was there in 1940, as shown in this tax photo, but had no name; it must have been called “the corner deli” over the years. In the window, we see some brands still in existence today like Schaefer Beer, 7 Up and Coca Cola, as well as some that survived into my youth in the 1960s but don’t seem to have wide distribution in NYC anymore, like Hoffman Beverages (I enjoyed the orange and grape sodas) and Salada Tea, founded in 1892 and very well-marketed in NYC for decades. I can’t find the derivation of the term “salada” and as a kid, I always thought it was contracted from “that’s a lotta tea.” For all I know, I might be right.
From Comments: “Montreal businessman Peter Larkin started selling the blend of black tea in 1892. He called it “Salada” after a Ceylon Tea Garden.”
Our house was a Tetley house. The old man was a two fisted tea drinker, two teabags per cup, augmenting with evaporated milk and later, Golden Blossom Honey. I’d say he had 4 or five cups daily when he was at home. (Like me, he never drank coffee.) He did not use sugar. In summers, my grandmother brewed pitchers full of the best iced tea you ever had and used the Arnold Palmer method before the golf hall of famer did, with the liberal use of lemon juice.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
3/14/25
9 comments
Salada Tea is the same company as Red Rose Tea, which had one of the best commercials of all time:
https://youtu.be/prVRwXAWFeA?feature=shared
That store is 65th place not 69th st
Found this tidbit in a search regarding the origin of the Salada brand name.
“Montreal businessman Peter Larkin started selling the blend of black tea in 1892. He called it “Salada” after a Ceylon Tea Garden.”
It is also the word for “salad” in Spanish and Portuguese.
Looks like a statue of Jesus upstairs
I wonder if whoever owns this corner deli now also lives there seeing that rest of it looks like a house.
Growing up we were a Lipton house. On the rare occasion Tetley made it’s way in, it was usually only until more Lipton could be acquired. It was quite weak, so I get the double bagging.
My grandmother used Golden Blossom in her tea. I tried it but always went back to sugar.
I’ve never intentionally drunk or consumed anything coffee flavored, except Patron Café. For some reason I like that.
Even after my grandparents passed, Lipton was the tea of choice until something changed and their tea started tasting like celery.
I then came across Twinings and I’ve been drinking that ever since.
I have seen Salada in stores, but typically only in ones with a broad tea selection.
“The prettiest girl I ever saw, was drinking Hoffman’s through a straw”.
Shout out to Papo & his wife who have run that store for at least the last 20-30 years & I think they still do.
Barely got saved from BQE construction across the street. Use to go there in 60-70’s . Looks the same