Port Richmond Part 8: Richmond Avenue (west side), between Grove Avenue and Harrison Avenue

Moving south along Richmond Avenue's west side, starting at Grove Avenue, you hit a real wide variety of stores. By my childhood in the early seventies, some thirty odd years after these pictures, many of these stores were gone, replaced by new, often, cheaper ones.

The last two buildings are the most iconic commercial buildings on Richmond Avenue: Lobel's and Paul's Mens Shop. The former's tall sign and the latter's corner turret are still there, worn and faded reminders of the avenue's heyday.

The picture below, from the late eighties, shows Van Roon (a clothing store) was still in existence then. It's interesting that the present occupants have decided to maintain the same basic color scheme as thirty years ago.

1917 map - the SS Kresge building (hasn't been built yet)

Look to the left end of the line and you can see the Paul's Men's turret with its green shingling.

Port Richmond Project Part 7: West side of (Port) Richmond Avenue between the train overpass and Grove Avenue

It's been a long time since I put up any pictures of Port Richmond Avenue, so here's a batch. As most of the street is still today, it's mostly commercial with apartments on top. Most of the buildings in the photos from the thirties are still there today, but they've been marred with ugly facades, tattered signage, and a general grubbiness. The latter I attribute to a combination of municipal and community neglect. That it's such a bustling avenue, you'd think that would be enough to encourage both the city and property owners to do a better job of taking care of it. Right.

So, let's get started. Oh, by the way, I've updated the previous post from West New Brighton and included the maps.

This building, now gone, was still there in the late 1980s (see below)

So, funny thing. There's no photo of the Palace Theater among the regular batch. If I can find one later (lots of the pictures were damaged, retaken, then allocated to catchall files. Usually, finding them means lucky) I'll put it up.

I spent a lot of time with my mom in the Port Richmond Woolworth when I was little. I don't remember what she bought there, but I know I got several model planes from there. I was surprised to see how close to the Terrace the store was. My memory had it further south, closer to, or even past, Castleton Avenue.

1917 map - Several of the buildings didn't exist this far back in time. It looks like the building on the corner of Grove (#123) was a single family house back then. 

Port Richmond Project Part 7: (Port) Richmond Avenue between Richmond Terrace and the railroad overpass

Today we'll starting moving up (Port) Richmond Avenue's west side, starting at Richmond Terrace. This post will go up to the old railroad overpass. There are a few pictures that are very dark to the point of obscurity. I've included them anyway because, well, just because. The first is of the Port Richmond Dutch Reformed Church and the other of a house that no longer exists.

The Port Richmond National Bank building is still one of the most attractive commerical edifices on the island. I suppose these palaces of capitalism were intended to reassure and awe the customers. Just walk into the old Staten Island Savings building in Stapleton to see what I mean.
Unfortunately, this building (examined in this earlier post) looks to be vacant and possibly abandoned. If Port Richmond were to ever experience a revitalization, this would be a beautiful building restored.

What can I say about the Port Richmond Reformed Church? It's one of the oldest churches and oldest congregations on Staten Island. I've never been inside, which I should rectify some day. 

 This one's gone as is the house in the background - seen, barely, below

1917 Map - the three linked buildings, 90, 91, and 92, weren't built yet. Even the bank was as big as it is today.