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New York circa 1948. "Queens View Food Market, 34th Avenue." Just in time for the Grand Opening! 4x5 acetate negative by John M. Fox. View full size.
The 1946 Buick is a Super Sedanet, the 1942 Chrysler looks like a two-door Brougham, or as the brochure said: "The Beautiful Chrysler Sedans … big … powerful … luxurious family cars."
I was born the year this photo was taken, not too far from here (24-20 32nd Street, Astoria, Queens).
There were many shopping areas frequented by my mom and grandmother closer to home: Ditmars Blvd, Steinway Street, and Astoria Blvd. They all had small neighborhood shops very much like this one. I remember that each type of store had its own distinctive aroma: butcher shops, bakeries, green-grocers etc.
Only one that I remember still survives: LaGuli Pastry Shop on Ditmars Blvd.
Any Astoria/Queens Shorpy fans out there will definitely know this place.
GREAT MEMORIES!
My mother would leave me outside in my carriage while inside the grocery store. I was old enough to start sitting up on my own.
One day a friend came into the store, said hi to my mother mentioning to her that I was outside and had found the bag she had gotten from the bakery across the street. All 8 or 9 months of me had found the cinnamon buns, had one in each hand having a great feed.
I loved that bakery's smell during my childhood. I also loved their cinnamon buns too. There were always babies outside stores unattended. It simply was never a problem or concern.
By the way, this was in the largest city in Canada at the time: Montreal!
We grew up to be "free range" kids.
... it might as well be one of Queens.
On the other hand, a chain link fence is deemed necessary to protect the apartment building's minuscule green space.
The building in the background is a mirror image.
Amazing how many left their infants in the streets while they were inside shopping. Talk about trust.
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