Figure 1. Gitlitz's Restaurant Sign.
27 April 2003
Figure 1. Gitlitz's Restaurant Sign.
Figure 2. Gitlitz's Restaurant location.
When the Duane-Reade Pharmacy at 77th and Broadway (NW corner) in Manhattan closed they took their sign with them, revealing an occupant from the era before chain stores and franchises had a significant presence in New York. Several passersby recalled that Gitlitz, a family-run kosher restaurant/deli, had been in business "forever," finally closing in the early 1970's. (Does anyone know more, or have photographs from when they were in business?)
Glimpses of little details like this of what the City once looked like often pop up as a side effect of construction and demolition. Their life expectancy is unpredictable and often quite short, however, so it's best to document them as soon as possible when they are noticed. These photos were taken on 25 April, 2003. The location is now a mobile phone shop.
Image taken with a Nikon D-100 digital camera with the
28mm PC shift lens, under available light.
All images and text Copyright © 2003 by Matt Blaze. All rights reserved. You may not copy, modify or use these images or text, in whole or in part, for any commercial or non-commercial purpose without permission.
27 April 2003; revised 27 April 2003