The history of Atlantic Avenue as we know it today began in the 1700s. First it was a private road terminating at Ralph Patchen's farm on the East River. This country lane was swallowed up by District Street, which became the southernmost boundary of The Village of Brooklyn, incorporated in 1816. In 1855, District was renamed Atlantic Street, and by the 1870s designated an Avenue.
In the late 1800s, fashionable shopping along with waterfront commerce and manufacturing firms defined the Avenue. Along the blocks closest to Fourth Avenue, a mini-revitalization around the 1920s spurred construction of the YWCA of Brooklyn, the Times Plaza Post Office, and the Times Plaza Hotel. On blocks nearer the waterfront, Middle Eastern immigrants began opening restaurants and food shops in the 1930s. Many of these businesses are still run by descendants of the original merchants.
For a copy of the 28 page full color Self Guided Historic Atlantic Avenue Walking Guide, please send SASE with a $3 check made out to the Atlantic Avenue Betterment Assoc., to 321 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
Or, you can click here to download a free PDF version of the Self-Guided Historic Atlantic Avenue Walking Guide! (1.8MB)
