[EVG photo from spring 2013]
When the sidewalk bridge and scaffolding arrived at 28 Avenue A last November, we wondered if the familiar Burger-Klein signage would remain. The floors about Gracefully between East Second Street and East Third Street are being converted into a New York Sports Club.
And this week, the Burger-Klein sign came down.
Perhaps the workers will return it after the renovations are complete. That could happen, right? Right?
Furniture seller Burger-Klein occupied the building as early as 1939. Read more about the history of the Burger-Klein building at Off the Grid.
Previously on EV Grieve:
RUMOR: New York Health & Racquet Club taking over the space above Gracefully on Avenue A (24 comments)
New York Sports Club in the works for Avenue A
Sidewalk bridge and scaffolding arrive ahead of planned New York Sports Club on Avenue A
New York Sports Club says hello on Avenue A
This was too good to last, expect a corporate strip mall appearance to the building going forward, I'm depressed now.
ReplyDeletepickers
ReplyDeleteRiiiiiigghht...
ReplyDeleteAt first I was sad, and then I thought about it. The damage was done a long time ago, with the final blow being a corporate gym opening. So while the sign holds a ton of nostalgia, do we really need it methodically put BACK on a building that bares no resemblance to what the sign signifies anymore?
ReplyDeleteOn second thought, yes. Yes we do.
they coulda at least kept the sign, no harm in that
ReplyDeleteAnd another little light in the soul of the neighborhood fades out.
ReplyDeleteI guess we can assume the mid-century facade is now landfill somewhere. This building is actually 19th century and was an important building for the German American community. I saw pictures of it and info on a preservationist / history website not too long ago but sorry forgot the name.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I saw that sign I wanted to eat a Whopper. :)
ReplyDeleteI really loved that sign, but I remember standing under it as Hurricane Irene started. Sounded like it was going to rip right off the facade. I did see a small piece of it fall off a few months later. Going to miss it, but wish it had been better maintained.
ReplyDeleteMakes me sick. Why can't they just put the place in the fucking building without making it exactly the same as every other building???
ReplyDeleteunfortunately the burger klein sign was not a nyc zoning approved sign & had to be removed. nyc zoning laws would not allow it to remain. mainly because of its height above the second floor within the area. nyc bureaucracy. it is/was a cool sign !!
ReplyDelete