From the desk of Stevie S. Stevens

July 5th, 2010

Dear Marty,

Here is the article entitled "The Arcade Building" I promised I would write for you over the long holiday weekend.

As you know, my introduction to Far Rockaway was in 1950 and by the time I first saw this building on a first-hand basis, to me it looked like every other commercial establishment in the small shopping village. I was surprised when you came across this old 1937 photograph showing the place the way it appeared back when it was originally constructed in the late 1920s. At least now I understand why the bowling alley was known as "Arcade Lanes." I suppose it is safe to assume that the building still carried that name (Arcade Building) even though I don't ever remembering seeing it labeled as such anywhere on the building itself.

Of course over the many decades commercial establishments change and store fronts take on new modern appearances. I remember, for example, shopping in the Central Stationery store on so many occasions -- and the place was literally a dump! I remember the place even had the toilet room located in the center of the rear of the store -- the proprietors had taken a rental sign (To Let) and had scribbled in the letter "i" making it "ToiLet" and they hung that sign on the outside of what appeared to be a silly looking phone booth! Central Stationery also had those old fashioned large walk-in glass display cases on both sides of the entranceway. After the place closed up for the night, you could walk into that area and do window shopping. When Colony Card Shop took over that location, they completely rebuilt the store -- and they eliminated those large glass display cases so that they would have more sales space within the store.

I also seem to remember a large shoe repair shop in that Arcade Building -- the place was enormous and you could walk through from Central onto Beach 21st Street at the rear. The place had those small sit-in booths you would occupy while your shoes were being repaired. I don't remember what happened to that shoe repair place -- I was young and not paying attention so it simply "disappeared." For awhile, I thought it might have turned into the Donut shop but that was an impossibility because the W. T. Grant store extended (inside) behind the donut shop -- the Grant's toy department was off to the left side (south) at the rear of the store -- so obviously the donut shop did not have the ability to go straight through to Beach 21st.

When you sent me the photo of the original Arcade Building appearance, I called several of my friends -- former Far Rockaway residents dating back to the 20s and 30s -- people who should remember what the placed looked like way back then. Unfortunately, as is usually the case, these people (mostly in their late 80s and early 90s) don't seem to want to reminiscence about the glory days of old Far Rock -- they are more concerned with discussing their grandchildren or what they had for supper last night -- an attitude which I guess can be expected as part and parcel of old age! When I "press" for information, they seem to want to agree with anything I say!

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