A Century of Shopping on the Lower East Side: Presented by the Museum at Eldridge Street & Seward Park Library

Gift-Giving Season is upon us! Join Scott Brevda of the Museum at Eldridge Street and Andrew Fairweather of the Seward Park branch of the New York Public Library on Tuesday, December 10th at 6pm ET on Zoom for a deep dive into the rarely-explored history of shopping on the Lower East Side! This program is presented and organized by the Museum at Eldridge Street and the Seward Park branch of the New York Public Library, and co-sponsored by the American Jewish Historical Society.

The ways Lower East Side residents shop has evolved drastically over the past century. From the rise and fall of neighborhood department stores, pushcarts, to public markets on the Catherine Street thoroughfare, join us virtually and learn about the history of both the businesses and the people selling, buying, and producing goods—from clothing to food—in our historic neighborhood.

About the Seward Park Library
The Seward Park branch of The New York Public Library on Manhattan’s Lower East Side can trace its roots back to 1886 when the Aguilar Free Library Society founded it. The branch, which opened its doors at its current location on November 11, 1909, is located at the eastern edge of the park for which it is named. The four-story, red brick Renaissance Revival building was one of 65 NYPL branches built with funds from Andrew Carnegie, and it boasts high ceilings and arched windows designed by the firm Babb, Cook & Welch.

About the Museum at Eldridge Street
The Museum at Eldridge Street is housed in the Eldridge Street Synagogue, a magnificent National Historic Landmark that has been meticulously restored. Opened in 1887, the synagogue is the first great house of worship built in America by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Today, it is the only remaining marker of the great wave of Jewish migration to the Lower East Side that is open to a broad public who wishes to visit Jewish New York. Exhibits, tours, public programs, and education tell the story of Jewish immigrant life, explore architecture and historic preservation, inspire reflection on cultural continuity, and foster collaboration and exchange between people of all faiths, heritages, and interests.

Image Credit: A Trolley Accident Draws A Crowd On Grand Street c. 1908. Old New York In Photos #114.