Centre Market Place facts for kids
Centre Market Place is a short street in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It's only one block long! This street is bordered by Mulberry Street to the east, Grand Street to the south, Broome Street to the north, and Centre Street to the west.
Centre Market Place was once part of a street called Orange Street. It was officially named Centre Market Place in April 1837. This name came from the Centre Market, which was located just west of the street. Long ago, this area was actually on top of a tall hill! Today, people who live there consider Centre Market Place to be part of the NoLIta neighborhood.
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History of Centre Market Place
Centre Market Place has a rich history with many interesting stories. From old bathhouses to secret restaurants, this street has seen a lot of changes over the years.
Onieal's Restaurant and Its Secrets
At the very end of Centre Market Place, on the corner of Grand Street, you'll find Onieal's restaurant. This restaurant has a huge wine cellar downstairs. This cellar used to be a secret place called a "speakeasy" during a time known as Prohibition. During Prohibition, it was against the law to make or sell alcohol in the United States.
People would secretly go to speakeasies to drink. At Onieal's, there was even a secret hallway connecting the restaurant's cellar to the nearby Police Building.
The People's Bath House
Number 9 Centre Market Place was once home to "The People's Bath House." This was a public bathhouse run by a private group called the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor.
This bathhouse was very important. It showed the City of New York how useful public bathhouses could be. Later, the city decided to build its own public bathhouses for everyone to use.
A Hub for Gun Stores
The street also had several gun stores. One famous store was the John Jovino at 5 Centre Market Place. Another older one was Frank Lava Gunsmith at 6 Centre Market Place. These stores were part of a "gun district" because they were very close to the main police headquarters at 240 Centre Street.
Unique Townhouses
Some of the buildings on Centre Market Place have a very unique look. For example, numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5 are townhouses that were fixed up by a husband-and-wife team. They used old architectural pieces they found from all over the world to decorate the outside of these homes. It makes them look very special!
Home to Artists and Writers
Centre Market Place has been a home for many creative people. Famous writers, poets, and artists have lived on this street. One well-known resident was Weegee, a famous crime photographer. He lived in a small studio apartment at 5 Centre Market Place, capturing amazing photos of New York City life.
