Sidewalk Shed Down from 235-237 5th Avenue After 7 Years

In November 2007, a sidewalk shed went up around the facades of two quintessentially Brooklyn storefronts: a 50 year-old shoe repair shop and an old Italian clubhouse called the His & Hers Social and Athletic Club. The upper floors have been gutted and rebuilt, and the shed has finally come down.
The building was purchased by the Fifth Avenue Committee before the shed was built, and they moved the shoe repair up the street (its great handpainted sign still survives). the club was long-vacant by then (actor John Ventimiglia expressed an interest in purchasing it and turning it into an art gallery in 2005), and both were gutted last year.
The two storefronts still aren't in great shape, but the completion of construction upstairs is probably a good sign.The rumor of the day is that none other than Luke's Lobster is looking to move into one of the storefronts.

Reader Comments (1)
Luke's Lobster has been the rumor for the better part of the past year.