Whereas once when a person died, the family prepared the body at home, mourners visited at home, and one's community provided the labor for burial, new technology developed during and as a result of the Civil War—embalming— allowed funeral business to thrive. In the decades after the Civil War in New York City, carpenters became coffin makers and then undertakers, religious societies took on funerary responsibilities and liverymen who once only moved the deceased to outer borough rural cemeteries took on more mortuary duties. By the early 20th century, storefront undertakers served neighborhoods all over the city, catering to different ethnic enclaves and social-economic groups. They provided all-encompassing services: acting as notaries, securing wake, funeral and burial venues, and furnishing transportation. In 1917 commercial photographer William Hassler was hired by Sunnyside Magazine, a long-running undertaker trade journal to document some of New York's grimmest businesses. (It should be noted that The Sunnyside was not the only such publication, though it was the most pleasantly named; others included The Casket and The Weekly Shroud.) The resulting illustrated article was entitled "Grewsome Undertaker Establishments."

115 Avenue A Building Date : 1858-59 Original Use : Residential Original Owner : Bessy & Hipler Original Architect : Unknown Description & Building Alterations This four-story, three-bay wide building was originally erected in 1858-59, along with the buildings at 117-123 Avenue A. The lot was once part of William B. Astor’s holdings and was leased between c. 1850-1875. The present facade of No. 115 features bracketed cornice with a simple paneled frieze, simple rectangular lintels and sills, and small rectangular windows added to the right of center bay at second to fourth stories. A new storefront was constructed in 1931.

Raymon's Candy, date unknown. The candy store and ice cream shop seen here (likely in the early 1980s) is better known as Ray's Candy Store. Established in 1974, Ray's offers a fun mix of treats, including egg creams, soft serve ice cream, frozen yogurt, New Orleans style beignets, Belgian fries, and coffee. It was founded by Ray Alvarez (real name Asghar Ghahraman), an Iranian immigrant who adopted a new identity once in New York. The shop has been featured in a number of television shows and films and remains open today, with Ray still behind the counter.