The 1854 James A. Banta Dry Goods Store - 324 Bleecker Street

 

In 1854, Martin Bunn and Nicholas D. Herder lined the western blockfront of Bleecker Street between Grove and Christopher Streets with four-story house-and-store structures.  Faced in red brick above the storefronts, they were designed in a utilitarian take on the Italianate style.

The commercial space in 310 Bleecker (renumbered 324 in 1859), became James A. Banta's dry goods store.  He and his family lived just around the corner at 99 Christopher Street.  Banta was hiring in the fall of 1856, advertising on September 22 for "A young man, as salesman, in a retail dry goods store.  Also, a boy wanted.  Apply to J. A. Banta, 310 Bleecker st."  (The boy would be responsible for delivering packages to customers, cleaning up, and other sundry tasks.)  Three years later, Banta was looking to fill the sales clerk position again.  "Wanted--A young man, about 18 years of age, acquainted with the retail dry goods business."

James Banta closed his Bleecker Street shop that year.  On April 8, 1859, an advertisement in The New York Times offered, "To Let--The houses and stores Nos. 322 and 324 Bleecker-st."  The ad was answered by Gilbert F. Henshaw.

Henshaw was a butter merchant at the Fulton Market.  He moved his family into the upper portion of the building and leased the store to Thompson O'Neill's "fancy goods" store.  (Drygoods stores dealt mostly in fabrics, linens, and related goods.  Fancy goods stores included a range of items like ribbons, buttons, ceramic figurines and such.)

Born in Brooklyn in 1831, Henshaw married Cornelia Whiting two years prior to leasing 324 Bleecker Street.  They had a two-year-old daughter, Annie Mabel, and an infant, Florian E., when they moved in.  (Two other children, Gilbert Irving and Daisey B. would arrived in 1863 and 1866 respectively.)  Living with the family was William F. Whiting, a clerk and presumably Cornelia's brother.

The Henshaws' pedigree dog wandered off in 1866, no doubt causing great consternation to the Henshaw children.  An advertisement in the New York Herald read, "Dog Lost--On Wednesday, Dec. 5, an Italian Greyhound; answers to the name of Prince.  Any person returning him to 324 Bleecker street will be handsomely rewarded."  (Whether Prince was ever found is unknown.)

Foll0wing Thompson O'Neill, Sarah Stuart briefly ran the fancy goods store until 1862.  On April 21, Gilbert F. Henshaw advertised, "To Let--Fancy Store 324 Bleecker Street, inquire from 7 to 10 o'clock P.M. to G. F. Henshaw, 324 Bleecker street."  It continued to be a fancy goods store, now operated by David Hartfield.

O. H. and Mary Archer purchased 316 through 324 Bleecker Street around 1865, and around 1871 the Henshaws moved to Brooklyn.  The upper floors of 324 Bleecker Street became a rooming or boarding house.  Living here that year were Edwin J. Forbes, a machinist; carpenter George Wheeler; and a Mrs. Parmly.

Mrs. Parmly, it seems, was a self-sufficient woman.  On February 16, 1872, she left "for five minutes," according to the New York Evening Express, locking her door behind her.  The article said, "Returning she found her door broken open, and $300 in jewelry and money taken."  Two men were rushing out of the building.  They were described by The Evening Telegram as, "Two well dressed young men, named Harry Brown and George Hervey."  

Mrs. Parmly flew into action.  The New York Evening Express said, "She herself arrested Brown, but an accomplice named Hervey got away, but was subsequently arrested."  Mrs. Parmly was in the courtroom to identify the burglars, who were sentenced to five years each in the State Prison.

In February 1873, the Archers replaced the old storefront of No. 324 at a cost of $800, or about $21,600 in 2025 terms.  The renovated space became home to Emanuel Stern's haberdashery.  He operated a second store far to the east at 10 Bleecker Street.

Stern offered custom-made shirts and suits, and men's fashion accessories.  In November 1875, he advertised, "Cutters--Wanted, an experienced custom shirt cutter competent to draft his own patterns," and the following year sought, "A boy, from 15 to 17, in gents' furnishing store.  Must have been in the business.  E. Stern. 324 Bleecker st."

As Gilbert Henshaw had done, James Edward Gritman leased the building in 1879.  He moved his family into the upper floors and opened his stationery store downstairs.  Born in 1849, Gritman married Henrietta Louisa Capra on December 20, 1871.  The couple had three children, James, Jr., Jennie Capron, and Minnie, six, four, and two years old respectively.  (Another son, Clarence, had died in infancy in 1877.)

James Gritman was highly involved in the Masons and for years held the position of secretary of Gramercy Lodge No. 537.

The Gritman family did not need all three floors and so they took in roomers.  Living with the family in 1880 were John C. Stewart, a "telegrapher;" policeman James A. Vandyke; and Albert Weaver, a printer.

James, Jr. died at the age of seven years and three months on April 3, 1880.  His funeral was held in the parlor two days later.  At the time, Henrietta was pregnant.   The baby, Henriette, was born on January 9, 1881.  Tragically, she died at the age of one on August 2, 1882.

Benjamin Mallane rented a room from the Gritmans in 1895.  The 18-year-old was looking for a job, advertising in The World on February 15, "Collector--American, 18, as collector, clerk or in an office; best of reference & bond."  When he had not found a position a month later, Mallane widened his net.  "American, 18, wants position at anything; best references & bond; experienced in office duties."

As early as 1896, James H. McMullen, a letter carrier, and his aged mother occupied a room here.  Marilla McMullen was the widow of George McMullen.  She died here at the age of 90 on April 21, 1896.  The funeral was held in the Gritmans' parlor on the following evening.

In 1898, James E. Gritman diversified, adding gramophones to his stationery business.  Around 1904, he closed his store after operating in the space for nearly 30 years.  

In September 1909, Mary Archer hired architect William S. Boyd to update the building with new walls, skylights and windows.  It might have been during this renovation that the modern arcade style storefront was installed, its handsome mosaic tiled entrance mimicking a rug.  

Among the Archer's upstairs tenants at the time was the James Noonan family.  Both he and his wife, Kate, were born in Ireland.  They had six children, Mamie, James, John, Martha, Alice and Flora.

Either Mamie or Martha lost her job as a dressmaker in 1916.  An advertisement in the New York Herald on April 9 read, "Dressmaker--Young lady work out by day, dressmaking; late of L. P. Hollander, 5th av; eight years' reference.  M. Noonan, 324 Bleecker.  Phone 3184-Spring."

The population in the Noonan apartment dropped by one after John Noonan was married on March 6, 1917 to Mary Fallon.  The remaining family was still here when Kate died on September 12, 1920.  Her funeral in their rooms was followed by a mass at St. Joseph's Church.

The 1938 renovation included casement windows and a coat of white paint.  via the NYC Dept of Records and Information Services.

The Archer estate sold 316 to 324 Bleecker Street in 1927, prompting the Record & Guide to remark on April 30, "The parcels were owned by the seller more than 60 years."

Attilio Fiore owned and lived in 324 Bleecker Street by the late 1930s.  In 1938, he renovated it into apartments, one per floor above the store.  It was most likely during this remodeling that the lintels were shaved off and casement windows installed.

The shop saw a variety of tenants over the coming decades.  Art 'n' Frames was here in the 1960s, followed by a hair salon in the mid-1970s, and Richard Utillia's vintage clothing store by 1979.  Most recently the space was home to a smoke shop.

A recent renovation restored the molded lintels over the upper floor windows, and double-hung windows were installed.  The arcade storefront and its wonderful mosaic flooring survives.

photographs by the author