Building of the Day: 16 Nevins Street
Photo: Property Shark The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy. Address: 16 Nevins Street, between Flatbush and Livingston. Name: Formerly Joe’s Restaurant, now Metro Deli Neighborhood:…
Photo: Property Shark
The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.
Address: 16 Nevins Street, between Flatbush and Livingston.
Name: Formerly Joe’s Restaurant, now Metro Deli
Neighborhood: Downtown Brooklyn
Year Built: new facade in 1922
Architectural Style: Alpine Tudor
Architects: Arthur Starin
Landmarked: No
Why chosen: During the 1920’s and early 30’s, the nation fell in love with Tudor and medieval architecture. At the same time, it also fell in love with storybook architecture, pre-Disneyesque fantasy buildings whose inspirations were more Hollywood than Holbein. Before you knew it, buildings with half timbered construction, sharply peaked roofs and casement windows became the status symbols of the new monied suburbs, as well as middle class city apartment buildings. The Tudor style was even translated into commercial buildings. Downtown Brooklyn has several of these little gems, and this is the best one. We can argue if the style is mock-Tudor, or more Swiss Alps, but it certainly is unique. It was built in 1922 for restauranteur Joseph Sartori. His restaurant, called Joe’s, was a favorite spot for politicians, judges and civic leaders. The facade cost him $40,000, and was designed by architect Arthur Starin. In the closeup, after the jump, note the hand hewn beams, great little dormers, the diamond paned window and the cat on the chimney. Very detailed and great stuff! I used to work in the area in the 90’s, and always wondered about this building. Thanks to Christopher Gray and his Streetscape column in the NY Times for the answer.
i hope you win the lottery chuck.
Is this building connected to the alley in back? Grove Place is one of the coolest decrepit spots in New York City.
This would make an amazing beer garden with a cute fondue restaurant on the above floor, but then again… I’m German, so actually eat at those places and think there aren’t enough of them! Yum!
ChipShop locations in Park Slope and Atlantic Avenue are far to crisp and tasty, therefore, not authentic even if they will deep fry a Mars Bar.
At a real British pub you would be scorned for trying to order your food from the same bartender as for drinks. Food is often a different sub-proprieter than the drink bartender and/or Landlord.
Rob, from what I read you would love the authenticy and the abuse.
Hey, I’ve been in Hong Kong where there are authentic Britsh Pubs. By entering the door, you have folded the space time continum back to the Mother Country. Tacky tobacco stained wallpaper, a real bar, measured upsidedown bottles where you get a glass of orange juice and a glass of vodka and you have to mix your own vodka ‘n orange. Musak worthy of an electronic greeting card, soggy fish and chips, egg and chips, eel and chips. Why not New York? I’m in.
quote:
There’s not one truly authentic British pub in NYC.
cuz we dont live in england, genius
*rob*
And for Storybook architecture, oh please do a “Building of the Day” piece on the Ebinger house on East 19th Street. THAT is my fantasy home and it was on Brownstoner recently when it was up for sale. Sadly, I could only afford the first six digits of the asking price without winning the Mega Millions.
There are some Tudor style houses in Ditmas Park (Flatbush) area. Notably, one on Ditmas Avenue which was built for the Silent Screen actress Sarah Bernhardt. Ms. Bernhardt apparently never lived there as the film industry moved from Brooklyn to California at the same time as the house was being built.
There is also a row of Tudor-y houses on Newkirk Avenue between Westminster and Argyle with beam details and slate roofs that I’d love the time to investigate more on their histoy.
Etson, you’ve been spoiled by the real thing. We have to fake it. It would make a great pub, that’s for sure. Chuck, I hope you can make your dream come true.
There are a lot of Medieval/Tudor half timbered apartment buildings in Crown Heights North. They are from the late 1920’s, early 30’s. The Bronx also has a lot of them from the same time period, along Mosholu Pkway and the upper Concourse, among other places. They all were built to house the rising middle class apartment dweller. The apts were quite large with nice features. Tudor looks prosperous for some reason, at least to the American mindset of the period.