Little Old Canarsie
Avenue L After Prohibition Was Repealed

When the repeal of prohibition came in May 1933, Avenue L was to have many beer and liquor places open from East 91st Street to East 96th Street. Among these was one where the former liquor store of Adolph Windpheimer was before prohibition, which was opened by Bill Shere of Sands Bay who sold it to Paul Kretzchmar, who had a large crowd, who danced and enjoyed themselves every Saturday night with fine musical evening. Then, across the street, another hot spot opened near East 96th Street by “Murray” from the former hot dog stand inside “Golden City,” which he also owned. Then we had a lunch room and bakery on the L at the place next to Kenny’s cut-rate when they were on the same side as the theatre.

The lunchroom, which was owned by Carl Meuser – who sold out a popular Canarsie woman – Jane Williams, with brother John, turned the place into a regular bar. Many of her old patrons who enjoyed themselves there have gone to their last resting place. Bob Cunningham, Tom Donahue, George and Elmer Bell, Sal Marrazzo, George Wilmot (Cardboard George), Punzy Tyndall, Elaine Bogart and some others who I can’t recall.

Early photo of Avenue L. The building on the right is still there.

A little further down in the theatre building on the corner was a place which had been a beautiful ice cream and candy parlor from 1927 to 1933 owned by Arthur Gabriel, which he turned into a bar in 1933 owned by Arthur Gabriel, which he turned into a bar in 1933, he had a large following from the Fan Tan Social Club, a large group of young men who enjoyed good fellowship among themselves.

Arthur, the owner better known as Gabe, always treated them well with a cold glass of beer and when he made a sandwich, it was a meal in itself.

At Christmas time, he remembered all the wives and girl friends of the single boys with a box of candy for them to enjoy. He also remembered the boys who left to build the bases at St. Lucia and Trinidad in 1941 for our protection. When Ben Simon, Willie Profita, Augie Thomas, Harold Poole, Joe Hart and Joe Merritt were to ship out, he sent beer, soda, cigars and candy over to the boat in the North River for the boys to enjoy on their way down.

The next place where beer was sold in 1933 was Max Miller, who had a popular “Kosher Deli” many years at the corner of Avenue L and East 92nd Street, where he sold delicious hot dogs and sandwiches to a large family trade.

During the war years we had meatless Tuesdays, so Max took off with his family and Ted Stiegler and I used to take care of the exciting day that was. The place was packed with people and everyone singing “God Bless America” and many other patriotic songs, enjoying themselves to their hearts content. Tom Carosella had his Model A Ford hopping around and tried to come in the front door with it and smashed the glass in the excitement. What a day of excitement for all.

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