Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
There's new familiar-looking signage at Best Housekeeping, the longtime business selling kitchen cabinets and appliances at 17 Avenue A between Houston and Second Street.
Manager Myriam Stern said the previous sign (see below!) was missing some letters and had "seen better days," so it was time to replace it. A company in Brooklyn made the sign and installed it several days ago, as well as hauling away the old one. (Unfortunately, this classic Avenue A signage wasn't salvageable, unlike the much smaller Champagne's from up the block.)
She and her husband, Fred Stern, took over the business in 1975 (they also own the buildings housing Best Housekeeping).
According to this Q&A with Fred from 2012, the store's original owner, Bernie Hymowitz, chose Best Housekeeping to honor his initials. (The business dates to 1914.)
And a look at the sign from 2014... with the s in Housekeeping MIA...
Here's another view of the storefront the other day via EVG reader Newman... on the new sign, the GE logo is much smaller and there's less copy...
Awh...end of an era. Wish they could have just fixed up the old one. Oh wells....
ReplyDeleteI get why they replaced it, but I still felt a twinge when I saw it was gone. How many store signs are there these days that antedate the use of area codes for local calls?
ReplyDeleteWe’ll miss that mishmash of helveticas
ReplyDeletesad the old one is gone, but as new ones go, this one is a winner in my opinion!
ReplyDeleteI already miss the old sign; didn't know this had happened.
ReplyDeleteI see it's still a "privilege" sign—meaning they showcase the GE trademark.
privilege sign? that's a new one.
ReplyDeleteOn March 8, 2024, Anonymous quoth:
ReplyDeleteprivilege sign? that's a new one.
James and Karla Murray have often pointed out businesses that have privilege signs featuring various brands; it was common in the 20th century.
Check out the vintage sign of Warshaw Hardware on 3rd avenue and 21st street; there's a mention in the lower right of the entrance [not shown here] of "Simioniz™."