Sunday, January 25, 2026

The House of Sandwiches

[379 Columbia Street, Red Hook, Brooklyn, c. 1939–1941. From the NYC Municipal Archives Collections. Click for a much larger view.]

The House of Sandwiches, now Defonte’s Sandwich Shop, is a third-generation family establishment. Nicola Defonte started out with a grocery store at this address in 1922. This page of Red Hook history tells the rest of the story: Defonte’s Finally Gets Their Way (Joe Enright’s Stuff). And here’s the menu in 2026. Yow!

It’s worth clicking for large to see the front window. And to wonder about the man in the doorway, who puts me in mind of the Oysterette man.

[Click for a larger man.]

Thanks, Brian, for not letting this corner get away.

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More photographs from the NYC Municipal Archives (Pinboard)

comments: 5

Anonymous said...

Nice one

Michael Leddy said...

Mangia!

Fresca said...

Pie & Ice Cream.
Also Ice Cream & Beer!
Natural pairings?

Fresca said...

My Sicilian grandmother always said that.
“Mangia! Mangia!”

Michael Leddy said...

Ice cream and beer: I guess it's as natural a pairing as ATM Inside and Lotto.

My dad sometimes said "Mangia!" for fun.