Another storefront from the streets of New York City. This one, also, was along Elizabeth Street (probably 209 Elizabeth Street, ya think?) Although Mr. La Rosa and his boys may not be here anymore it looks like it is now some sort of antique shop or maybe one of those architechural recycling places. They weren't open or I would have stopped in. The side yard had old lawn sculptures and stuff in it.
9 comments:
There are several pics of this address on the internet. Some say 209 Mott ST.(wrong) You can see the changes in the grafitti and construction next door (north) from the different pics. Isn't that a cemetary on the southside? This was a part of Little Italy that is sadly long gone.
I worked at their bakery in the Bronx (as a bookkeeper) back in the 80's. Where I met my first husband (a delivery driver) when they closed the Bronx location I transferred to the Elizabeth Street Location. I loved working there.
I remember the La Rosa family fondly (Dad-Michael, sons, Jack and Vincent and daughter Nina)
The La Rosa family also owned tenements in Soho as well. Sad to see the empire of “G. La Rosa and Son” no longer exists.
This was my grandfather's bakery. The "G" was for Giacchino. The sons were my father and uncles. He is buried at St. Joseph's cemetery in Lyndhurst New Jersey.
Giacchino retired in the 1950's and sold the bakery to cousin Michael. I was too young to actually work in the bakery, but my older brothers did so before G retired. I believe G also had a commercial bakery on Rivington Street as well. I understand that people would line up on the street to get his delicious bread.
Love this photo. Sad for the old business. Was here in 1o/08 while in NYC. There was a famous fire that night. Caught a picture of a FDNY guy watching airpacks with the store in the background. Was cool to find a fire downtown while I was in NYC training with FDNY.
This building was the original station house for Ladder 9 of the FDNY. Here is a story I just wrote about a hero dog who used to help the firefighters of Ladder 9 save people. (Thanks, Jerry LaRosa, for filling us in and letting us know what the G stood for.)
http://frenchhatchingcat.com/category/bum-the-heroic-police-dog/
I photographed this building at 209 Elizabeth in the late 60s with family members in front. Would love to share with Jerry Rosa if possible. How to do that?
Julie,
Please contact me. gerry924@aol.com
I lived in the building in front of the bakery at 212 Elisabeth St.from 1958 to 1978. My uncle Benny Gonzalez worked at the bakery for many years and in the summer he had me help him at the bakery. I was 10 years old at the time.I use to slice the balls of bread and milled the old bread into bread crumes. The bakery had there outlet store across the St. in front of the old school buildings. Mr La Rosa and his wife use to tend the store. I went to St. Patrick School and on friday you could not eat meat so I would go to bakery anf buy a slice of pan pizza in a sq. The building use to be a fire station. The bakery used the 1st and 2nd floor.The first batch of bread was normaly ready around 8:00 PM. and the bakers would sell us a loft piping hot.
Best time of my life and great memorys.
This was my grandfather's bakery. Gerry's grandfather owned the bakery on the other side of the street. Then my grandfather's father Giacchino took it over. My grandfather (& Son) started running it and purchased this building and moved the bakery to this building that use to be a firehouse. He purchased other buildings too. It is a shame all the graffiti now. Back in the day, this neighborhood was a real community.
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