It’s always fascinating to reflect on how our neighborhoods evolve over time, especially when iconic businesses come and go. The recent closure of Kmart’s last full-sized store in the U.S. is a reminder of the ever-changing retail landscape. But did you know that Woodhaven once had its own Kmart on Jamaica Avenue, right where Woolworth’s used to be?
For long-time residents of Woodhaven, the Woolworth’s location between Woodhaven Boulevard and 91st Street is a familiar memory. However, the story stretches back even further. Before Woolworth’s opened there in 1944, the space was occupied by S.S. Kresge, the very company that eventually became Kmart. Kresge stores had a similar business model to Woolworth’s, even the style of their signs were very similar.
But Woolworth’s wasn’t always located in the middle of that block. In fact, the store originally opened in Woodhaven in the early 1930s at the corner of 91st Street and Jamaica Avenue, a corner with a fascinating retail history.
The story of this corner dates back to 1912 when Louis Schaffran opened Schaffran’s Reliable Store, a well-stocked dry goods shop. A few years later, Julius Friedman came along with his own dry goods store, branding it with a striking red electric sign that read “J. Friedman’s Only Store.”
In a clever nod to his predecessor, he referred to his shop’s location as “The Old Reliable Corner” in advertisements. At the time, Columbia Avenue, as it was known, would soon be renamed 91st Street, and the store’s address would change from 4057 to 9101. People were not used to the new address scheme, so giving it a nickname was a smart way of reminding people where he was located.
Friedman’s business thrived at this location, but he eventually moved further down the avenue to 78th Street. The Old Reliable Corner soon found a new occupant: Daniel Reeves, a chain store grocer, a part of the early wave of supermarkets in New York City. The Daniel Reeves chain grew to nearly 300 locations before it was sold in the 1940s. Interestingly, Reeves’ son later went on to own the Los Angeles Rams, while the supermarket chain was rebranded as Safeway.
It’s amazing if you think about it – that one block of Woodhaven was home to a Woolworth’s, a Safeway and a Kmart!
After Woolworth’s moved, the corner saw another significant tenant, Schenkein’s, which specialized in floor coverings like carpets, linoleum and tiles. Schenkein’s remained a staple for 30 years before downsizing to a smaller space nearby.
Next came M&L Shopper’s Corner, a discount store that carried on the tradition of affordable shopping, changing stock to match the seasons and offering deals on clothing that J. Friedman would have been proud of. After years of serving the community, Shopper’s Corner eventually closed its doors, and McDonald’s took over the space, adding its iconic red walls along 91st Street.
Though McDonald’s has since undergone a sleek, modern renovation and now sports black walls, a piece of Woodhaven’s history remains. If you look closely near the roof along Jamaica Avenue, you’ll see an old metal bracket just above the flagpole—this bracket once held J. Friedman’s famous red electric sign, a silent witness to over a century of commercial life in Woodhaven.
From dry goods to supermarkets, discount stores and fast food, the Old Reliable Corner has seen it all. It’s a reminder of the rich history that continues to shape our beloved neighborhood of Woodhaven.
