History Preserved at Ozzie's

When most businesses move into a space they tend to completely gut the room beforehand. Not so at Ozzie's Coffee, on Seventh and Lincoln. Still incredibly well-preserved are original remnants of the storefront's previous life as a pharmacy in the early 20th century. 

Even before entering it becomes obvious that the signage out front is a relic. The trusses and belts advertised were most likely for medical use, to support injured or strained body parts.

The perfume and cosmetics display case is now a bulletin board. 

Yardley of London has been around for over 200 years, and still makes talcum powders as well as soaps. Apparently the English Lavender variety is their best seller. Lentheric still makes perfumes, too. 

Polish-born Helena Rubinstein started selling her cosmetics in the US in 1917, and Max Factor, born in 1877, was one of Old Hollywood's most well-known makeup artists before he gained national distribution in 1927. Both brands still exist today as well. That old deco font is great, isn't it?

Some original woodwork is still extant in the back, as well. The words "PRESCRIPTION DEPARTMENT" can be made out at the top. This lettering is the same as the perfumes and cosmetics case above, which I imagine dates from even earlier than the deco cases, possibly the 1910s or earlier.

Original brass lighting fixtures still hang from the ceiling.

Not sure what purpose this brass railing had, if any. Anyone have any guesses?

Comments

[laura]

thank you for this post. its time to see something positive.