174 – 176 First Avenue

Building Date : 1840-41 Original Use : Residential Original Owner : E. Townsend Original Architect : Unknown

The two buildings on this lot were originally erected in 1840-41, along with the buildings at nos. 172 and 178 First Avenue. No. 174, a three story and basement structure, features a bracketed cornice with paneled frieze, hooded window lintels with moldings, and footed sills. The first and basement levels have been reconfigured to accommodate additional retail. No. 176, opened in 1904 as Caffè Pugliese by Paolo DeRobertis, an immigrant from Puglia in Apuli, was probably raised to the current height around the turn of the century. The five-story structure features a projecting bracketed cornice with decorated frieze and simplified window lintels and sills. The first floor housed DeRobertis Pasticceria & Caffe, which represents the Italian immigrant population in the early 20th Century.