The Historic Shops & Restaurants of New York: A Guide to Century Old Establishments in the City

by Ellen Williams, Steve Radlauer

Discover the bygone city of Mark Twain and Stanford White, Harry Houdini and Edith Wharton in the venerable shops and restaurants that have served discriminating New Yorkers for generations. In Old World dining rooms, gaslit saloons, at jewelers, tobacconists, apothecaries, and more, these are the establishments that have endured by offering highly desirable goods and dining experiences. Visit the tavern where George Washington bade farewell to his troops, the haberdashery where Abe Lincoln traded in his backwoods cap for a more distinguished stovepipe hat, the Lower East Side delis, the coffee merchants of Greenwich Village, the purveyors of riding boots, andirons, brass beds, and nautical charts. From world-famous department stores to humble pasta-makers, this volume is a charming and useful guide to the living landmarks of New York.

Genres: Travel, New York, Nonfiction, History

354 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Jaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a complete nut for old hardware stores.
If I ever go back to NYC, one of the places I will go to
is Garber Hardware store in Greenwich Village.

Opened in 1884.
from the book: "Members of the forth and fifth generation now work in the warren of storefronts - the family took over the two adjoining properties years ago - which are stacked floor to ceiling with decades of accumulated merchandise."

[Tom]

The Perfect little Nightstand Book!!!!

Prepare to go on a journey back when everything was made with a little more heart!

[pjr8888]

I specifically joined public radio station KQED-FM to get this book as a "premium" to give to a self-identified Franco-phile. He didn't even crack the binding to look at the Table of Contents...
"you can't please eveerybody, so you might as well pleas yourself!"

i shall read it myself with a certain bitter relish... and a glass of cabernet!

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this as I had read City Secrets of Venice by the same publisher.
Although obviously this has a specific subject matter I was disappointed. The entries are very abbreviated, presumably to fit them in, but you'd have to go elsewhere to really find out about the places listed.
You'd be better off with a bigger guide with all the information you need.