Sig Klein’s Fat Men’s Shop was opened by Sig Klein the late 1800s, and remained at 50-52 Third Avenue at least through the 1960s. A May 2, 1931 article in The New Yorker described Klein and the business: “when he started, bartenders and beergarden owners from the bad old Bowery made a good part of his customers … Now over six thousand fat men trade regularly here … from as far away as Germany, Ireland and Cuba.” Prominent artists, including photographers Berenice Abbott, Ben Shahn, and Tony Marciante captured images of the shop, which had become a cultural landmark by the 1930s. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

87-91 Third Avenue and 201-213 East 12th Street once housed Trow’s Directory Printing and Book Binding Company.

"Trow’s General Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx," 1907 The company was responsible for printing and binding the New York City Directories. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

Charles Mishkin, described in a 1975 New York Times article as a “local pioneer of the army-navy store business,” started Hudson’s, originally a “cap shop,” at 97 Third Avenue in 1922. Offering context to the army-navy store model, the New York Times described that it “traces its origins to the release of military surplus after World War I, and its survival to its ability to adapt to changing conditions, needs and interests.” The article also quotes Eliot Mishkin, the store’s vice president and the son of its founder, remembering the day actress and singer Brigitte Bardot “came to the store and stood before a mirror modeling a pair of Navy surplus bell bottom denims and a ‘beat up’ leather jacket that were among the $200 worth of clothes she bought. ‘Bardot started the trend toward mod clothing,’ Mr. Mishkin asserts.” Nearly six decades after Charles Mishkin opened his store, a 1981 issue of New York Magazine announced the grand opening of Hudson’s, which had become a sporting goods, outdoor equipment, and clothing store. At this time, the store expanded across a whole block of Third Avenue from East 12th Street to East 13th Street. The headline read: “For the active New Yorker...Hudson’s city block of recreation equipment & clothing offers quite a workout.” Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

The merchant tailor Frederick Yung moved his eighteen year old, and rapidly growing, business to 58 Third Avenue in 1883. According to New York’s Great Industries, published two years later, Yung’s enterprise was “one of the largest and most prominent tailoring establishments on Third Avenue.” The description continued: “The stock is complete, and handled by a large force of experienced tailors, the best work being done at the lowest prices. Contracts are taken for all kinds of uniforms at short notice, a large trade being done in this line. Mr. Yung has been a resident of this city for years, is good natured, genial, and popular wherever he is known.” Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

Until 2016, 62 Third Avenue housed New York Central Art Supply, a family-run business for over a century. Opened in 1905 as an “odd lot” store by Benjamin Steinberg, family legend has it that a stock of art supplies that sold well helped turn the business into a store specifically for art supplies. By the 1940s, New York Central was selling only art supplies with Benjamin’s son Harold at the helm. It was named after the New York Central railroad, for which Steinberg had an affinity. Known as one of the most well-stocked stores in the art supply business with one of the most knowledgeable staffs, New York Central Art Supply’s customers included Willem de Kooning, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein, Franz Kline, Frank Stella, Kiki Smith, and Jamie Wyeth. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

102 and 104 Third Avenue are part of a five story commercial building constructed in 1838 for Ebenezer Pray. It appears the building was originally constructed as a “Pianoforte (Piano) Factory,” and was altered over the years. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

115-121 East 12th Street, a now-seven-story neo-Classical style structure, was built in 1904 as a transformer and distributing station for the Consolidated Edison Co. It had an additional story added when it was converted to residences in the 1970s. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

The Beaux-Arts style building at 126-128 East 13th Street was constructed in 1904 and designed by architects Jardine, Kent & Jardine for Edward W. Kearney. A wonderfully unusual building for this area, it was originally built as an auction mart for horses and carriages. The Van Tassell & Kearney auction mart operated on East 13th Street for over 50 years. By the 1920s, the firm transitioned to automobile sales, and around the same time the building was leased to a candy manufacturer. In 1938, the building was used by the Delehanty Institute, which operated several vocational schools in the city and trained women for the defense industry throughout World War II. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

122 East 13th Street was designed in 1922 by William Whitehill as a five-story former Con Edison substation. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

The classically-inspired loft building at 114-116 East 13th Street was built by and for the American Felt Company, a major player in the piano industry which had such a dominant role in the neighborhood south of Union Square. This business was founded in Newburgh, New York in 1899, and was formed from smaller companies from several different states. As early as 1903, the company occupied the neighboring building 112 East 13th Street, where they would also remain even after the construction of their headquarters here in 1906. Uniquely, the American Felt Company produced every type of felt including that which was used for piano strikers.

Steinway advertisement, 1922 It’s no coincidence that this location was chosen by the company given its proximity to a number of piano manufacturers in this area towards the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century, including Steinway on the north side of Fourteenth Street. The American Felt Company was the primary felt producer for Steinway, one of the largest and most prestigious piano manufacturers in the world. The building’s stone two-story base features sheep’s heads above the second floor centered on the two outer bays, an homage to the animals which provided the raw material for felt production. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

110-112 East 13th Street was erected in 1874 to designs of Edward Kearney for Joseph Dunne. Originally it was used as a stable and an auction house for horse carriages: first the Van Tassell & Kearney horse auction mart, and later the Isaac R. Reed & Co. Horse and Carriage Emporium. From the late 1890s to early 1900s Alfred Dolge and Son, prominent piano felt manufacturers, had offices here. The American Felt Company was also located here as early as 1903. This business was founded in Newburgh, New York in 1899, and was formed from smaller companies from several different states. In 1906, the American Felt Company constructed their headquarters next door at 114-116 East 13th Street, but continued to operate out of 112 East 13th Street site as well. Uniquely, the American Felt Company produced every type of felt including that which was used for piano strikers.

Huyler’s advertisement, 1909 In 1928, Huyler’s Luncheonettes, Inc. moved to 110-112 East 13th Street. The arrival of Huyler’s at this location represents a key transitional moment in the history of the company, once the nation’s largest and most prominent chocolate maker. Founded by John Seys Huyler and incorporated in 1881, Huyler’s operated a chain of stores throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. When Huyler passed away in 1911, the company included 54 stores, 14 factories, and 2,000 workers, making it one of the — if not the — largest candy and confectionery manufacturer in the United States. Amazingly, Milton S. Hershey worked at Huyler’s from 1883-85 before building his famed chocolate business. In the 1920s, Huyler’s broke new ground with its development of “luncheonettes,” which were open to the street and uniquely allowed passers-by to look directly into the stores. By 1927, D.A. Schulte Retail Stores Corporation had purchased Huyler’s, and sought to further modernize and rebrand the company by combining the luncheonettes with tobacco counters. Owner David Arthur Schulte established Huyler’s Luncheonettes, Inc. to operate these establishments, and moved the company out of its longtime home on Irving Place to 110-112 East 13th Street. According to a 1928 New York Times article, the new space was intended to be used for “offices, a showroom and the manufacture of ice-cream, candy and bakery products.” The Huyler Building at 374 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, New York is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

Steinway advertisement, 1922 It’s no coincidence that this location was chosen by both companies given its proximity to a number of piano manufacturers in this area towards the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century, including Steinway on the north side of Fourteenth Street. The American Felt Company was the primary felt producer for Steinway, one of the largest and most prestigious piano manufacturers in the world.

In its early days the 1897 building at 59 Fourth Avenue housed the Oakland Chemical Company, a local firm which was one of the largest producers of Hydrogen Peroxide. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

The 13-story loft building at 101-111 Fourth Avenue/100 East 12th Street was constructed in 1919 by Starrett and Van Vleck for the International Tailoring Co., one of the country’s most prominent clothing manufacturing companies at the time. Nearly all original detailing remains intact, including the “ITCo.” ornamental medallions above the ground floor. Starrett was a protégé of Daniel Burnham’s who, as part of the firm of Starrett & Van Vleck, designed many of New York’s early 20th century department stores, several of which are landmarked and/or on the National Register of Historic Places. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

Built in 1895 and designed by Marsh, Israels & Harder, 127-133 Fourth Avenue was the longtime home of Hammacher Schlemmer & Co. The company was New York City’s first hardware store and the publisher of the country’s longest-running catalog, launched in 1881. The store that became Hammacher Schlemmer & Co. originally opened at 221 Bowery at a time when high-quality hardware was hard to find. In 1848, a young William Schlemmer would sell tools in front of his uncle’s store, and by 1867 he and his new business partner, Alfred Hammacher, bought the family business, renaming it Hammacher Schlemmer & Co. The two men, both German immigrants, turned this local shop into a national company.

However, some of the most important products marketed by the business, as described in its early catalogs, were piano materials. When Hammacher Schlemmer & Co. outgrew its final location on the Bowery (by the end of the 19th century it was operating out of No. 209), the company decided to move closer to Union Square. This newly-bustling commercial district had become a key site in the piano trade and would be a perfect home for the growing hardware store. Hammacher Schlemmer & Co. moved to 127-133 Fourth Avenue in 1904, adorning the exterior of the building with two large painted signs on the inside walls of the highly-visible corner facing the intersection of East 13th Street and Fourth Avenue.

Hammacher Schlemmer & Co. Catalog, 1912 According to Hammacher Schlemmer’s website, “It was here that the world first encountered the pop-up toaster (1930), the electric razor (1934) and the steam iron (1948). Later, Hammacher Schlemmer would offer the first electric pencil sharpener, food processor, electric can opener and automatic coffee maker. Other notable introductions include the first microwave oven (1968), telephone answering machine (1968) and cordless telephone (1975).” Other manufacturers and retailers followed Hammacher Schlemmer & Co. to 127-133 Fourth Avenue, including the Sendar Company, which in the 1950s advertised itself as America’s largest distributor of glassware for promotional and carnival use. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

Ridabock & Co., manufacturers of and dealers in uniforms and equipment, was formerly located here.

Ridabock & Co. combination cap Today, their products are found in several renowned museums and institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New-York Historical Society, and the National Museum of American History.

"L’Éclair: Journal Politique Indépendant" by Henry Atwell Thomas, 1897 Renowned lithographer Henry Atwell Thomas (1834-1904) operated his business here from around 1881 until 1883. Thomas created works for American and European publications, including the Belgian magazine ‘L’Eclaire’ and the American Academy of Music, and printed works by Maxfield Parrish and Ernerst Haskell. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

810 Broadway was home to Charles S. Merton & Co. Clothing Manufacturers starting in 1915, makers of Merton Caps and Knickers. Merton co-founded and was President of the National Wholesalers Furnishing Association. Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .

Amasa Lyon & Company Umbrella Manufacturers was located here around the turn of the last century.

Amasa Lyon & Company at 684 Broadway, 1893 Of Amasa Lyon, King’s Handbook of New York said they “may not be the largest or oldest manufacturers of umbrellas parasols and walking sticks in this country, but there is no house in this industry that stands so prominent for the general high grade of its productions. A Lyon umbrella is indicative of taste durability and reliability as to shape and color. The familiar trade mark of the upright majestic lion’s head with the assuring legend of “Sans Varier” and the bold autograph of Amasa Lyon has become known everywhere. No trademark in its line is regarded as so valuable in this trade and no lines of umbrellas and parasols are so widely known as those of Amasa Lyon & Co….Anyone who has the opportunity of going through these factories becomes amazed at the infinite variety of articles used in the making and ornamenting of umbrellas, parasols, and canes: woods, metals, precious stones, ivories, horns, etc. and silks laces and various fabrics requiring for their proper use exquisite taste and great skill. These are the only manufacturers who in their own shops produce every part of the umbrella excepting the fabrics and frames, and even these are made on special orders with furnished designs and under exclusive arrangements…The Amasa Lyon productions rank equal to the highest grades of those made in foreign countries. On account of their high standing and reputation, the Lyon umbrellas parasols and canes were the only make sold on the grounds of the Columbian Exposition.” Click here to send a letter supporting landmark designation of this and other historic buildings south of Union Square. . . .