A Dusty Glimpse of the Commercial Past

About the authors: Valeria Likhova is a magazine editor and creative consultant who launched her own “rock and roll newspaper,” The Passenger, available by subscription and printed twice a year in limited editions. ••• Marisa McGrody is a photographer, actor, teacher at TriBeCa Community School, and a resident of Tribeca. She has shot for the Tribeca Film Festival, Norma Knows New York City, TriBeCa Community School, Time Out New York, Soho House, and countless children’s birthday parties.

Who knew that a random afternoon could turn into a 1950’s adventure? I was fascinated when I saw a man examining the building at 28 N. Moore. I asked what was happening there. “Turning them into full floor lofts,” he said. I replied it looked like a great location. “Yes!” he said. “And we found all these incredible things inside. There was the most beautiful piano—I just couldn’t dump it, so the lady next door took it. And there are vintage mopeds too!” When Marisa and I went inside to explore, we entered a time warp. Moscahlades Brothers was a importer of olives, olive oil, and feta cheese, the basic Greek necessities, but the company has now relocated to New Jersey. Not only did we get a glimpse into the commercial history of Tribeca, we walked out with a jar of olives and priceless photos!

[The last photo—of Valeria—is my favorite. She explains: “I have been collecting vintage erotica for some time now, so the man in charge said, ‘I have something you’ll appreciate.'”]

Previously by Marisa McGrody
Saturday Morning in Tribeca

 

4 Comments

  1. This is amazing, I love Marisa’s work.

  2. What did I tell you….you hit gold!

  3. Thank you so much Asaf! I love shooting in the hood. Be on the look out for more to come.

  4. This is awesome! One always knows that this stuff happens in the City but thank you for photojournalising (if that’s a word) it. I wish i had found an old piano (and had room for it)!