Dennis Saul
In the 1920s, Jamaica Avenue was the center of commerce and life in Queens. The decade saw the avenue transform into a premier shopping destination, second only to Manhattan’s Herald Square in its variety and scale. The street itself was a scene of constant movement, a mix of rattling streetcars on steel tracks, a growing number of automobiles, and delivery wagons making their rounds. Above it all, the BMT Jamaica elevated train, or “El,” cast its shadow, its trains clattering to and from stations along the avenue, connecting the neighborhood to Brooklyn and beyond.
A building boom reshaped the avenue’s appearance. Small, older wooden buildings were rapidly replaced by larger, more impressive commercial structures made of brick and stone. The architecture of the time was on full display. The ornate, terracotta-clad Jamaica Savings Bank building, completed at 161-02 Jamaica Avenue in 1920, stood as a symbol of the area’s prosperity. Another key structure was the 1927 Kresge building, home to the popular five-and-dime store, which shoppers flocked to for affordable goods.
Shopping was the main event on Jamaica Avenue. The sidewalks were crowded with people visiting a wide array of stores. Large department stores like Gertz, established in 1918, anchored the retail scene, offering multiple floors of clothing, home goods, and more. National chain stores such as Woolworth’s and W. T. Grant also had a major presence, their bright storefronts drawing in customers with promises of value. These were joined by dozens of smaller, locally-owned shops, including butchers, bakeries, and specialty stores that catered to the daily needs of the growing community.
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Entertainment was another major draw. Before the grand “Wonder Theatres” of the late 1920s and early 30s, smaller movie houses and vaudeville theaters lined the avenue. These venues provided regular entertainment for local families, showing silent films accompanied by a live pianist or organist, as well as live comedy, singing, and dancing acts. The street was alive day and night, with theater marquees lighting up the sidewalks after dark.
The avenue served a rapidly expanding population. Queens was experiencing a massive growth spurt, and Jamaica was at its heart. Families moved from crowded city boroughs, attracted by the promise of more space while retaining urban conveniences. Jamaica Avenue acted as the neighborhood’s living room and main street, the place where residents did their banking, bought their furniture, tried on new clothes, and sought entertainment.
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