Business Closing Reveals Some Interesting History at 1242 Fulton Street

The closing of E&V Department Store at 1242 Fulton Street (which was the subject of neighborhood gossip regarding a possible Dallas BBQ that we now believe to be false) revealed a couple of interesting bits of historical information. First, the removal of the oversized white sign reminded us that underneath all of the ticky-tack signage in so many of our business districts is some decent storefront design. There is actually a cornice as well as a sense of proportion on the facade of 1242 Fulton Street!

In addition, underneath the old signboard is the ghost outline of the old sign's lettering which reveals that 1242 Fulton Street used to house a branch of F.W. Woolworth Company, one of the original big-box discount store behemoths of the early 20th-century.

New York City building records indicate that the building at 1242 Fulton Street dates back to approximately 1910. However, we're not sure that Woolworth occupied the building as early as 1910. Woolworth is only listed as a lesee of the property starting in 1974. The earliest records available for viewing online indicate that a St. Michael's Protestant Episcopal Church owned the property up until about 1973.

According to Wikipedia, the first Woolworth opened in 1878. Through the 20th century, Woolworth's had expanded to include stores around the world. By 1980 however, it was experiencing financial troubles that led in 1997, to the shuttering of all of its retail stores carrying the Woolworth name. The remaining company then changed its corporate name to Venator Group, then finally in 2001 to Footlocker, which has a location at 1258 Fulton Street, just three doors to the east of the original Woolworth's.

Previously: Heard on the Street: Do We Smell BBQ? - Bed-Stuy Gateway
New York City ACRIS: 1242 Fulton Street