[983 Mace Avenue, The Bronx, c. 1939–1941. From the NYC Municipal Archives Collections. Click for a much larger view.]
A reader who likes looking in the archives spotted this Bronx candy store. The same reader found a Board of Education photograph of the store’s interior, identified as “PS 89, Bronx: surroundings.” It would seem that the BOE wanted photographs of locations near the school. This candy store was right across the street from P.S. 89. Here is retail density at its finest — not to mention a sweet setup for schoolkids. Do click for a larger view. You won’t regret it.
[983 Mace Avenue interior. Photograph by A. J. Hickey, March 31, 1939. From the NYC Municipal Archives Collections. I hope the photographer bought something.]
An sidenote: the meaning of “light lunch” was at issue in a 1924 New York court case. At issue: whether a candy-store chain was doing the business of a restaurant in offering “light lunch”:
The court’s answer: yes, they were doing the business of a restaurant, and no, candy stores can’t do that. (Don’t tell no. 983.)
No. 983 is now a three-family behemoth. P.S. 89 still stands.
Thanks to the reader who found this store, outside and in-, and the court case.
Related reading
More OCA posts with photographs from the NYC Municipal Archives : All-Nite Service density : Harvey’s Hardware density : May Drug Co. density : Whelan’s Drug Store : Woolworth’s density
Sunday, January 1, 2023
A Bronx candy store
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comments: 5
my junior high had a small neighborhood grocery stores across the street. we had time to run across the street and load up on candy before getting on the bus to go home. they were smart in that the candy aisle was on the way to the checkout stand.
i know our bus driver loved having kids jacked up on sugar for the ride home!! Pixie sticks were my favorite.
kirsten
ps i love the sunday photos of life in the big apple.
More to come!
I realized only tonight that this store’s proximity to a school might explain why just about everything is behind glass. I don’t think that was typical, though I could be wrong.
many of the brands are still familiar names
i talked to my brother today who was 5 years behind me about the dash to the grocery store and then to the bus. he knew exactly what i was talking about. the store was on the ground floor of a house and i think it had the large front windows.
the owner would sit up front and keep an eye on the kids coming in with the as my brother called it "the stink eye."
still trying to find info on why some items were behind glass as our candy wasn't.
kirsten
I think by the time people like you and me were customers, everything had moved (for better or worse) to self-service.
There’s a lot of food behind glass too in the photo. I’m pretty sure those are Mallomars and Fig Newtons on the bottom right — a little like selling loose cigarettes, no?
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