176 First Avenue; 174 – 176 First Avenue | Block : 438 | Lot #6

Description & Building Alterations

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, and footed sills. The first and basement levels have been reconfigured to accommodate additional retail. The building at No. 176 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 sills. An alteration permit was filed in 2017 to merge the two buildings, change the use and occupancy of the first floor and roof to residential, egress changes to the existing residential portion of the building, and construct a horizontal enlargement.

Caffè Pugliese was opened by Paolo DeRobertis, an immigrant from Puglia in Apuli, at No. 176 First Avenue on April 20, 1904. DeRobertis originally called it Caffe Pugliese in honor of his hometown of Puglia, Italy.  Though he eventually went back to Italy, he gave the business to his son John, who began working there when he was ten. He worked there every day of his life until he was 83. Through more than eleven decades of operation, including a stint as (of course) a speakeasy during Prohibition, DeRobertis stayed in the hands of the family of its original founder.

Like other fellow nearby Italian eateries, DeRobertis’ appeal was equal parts delicious menu and irreplaceable decor and atmosphere. The pasticceria was renowned for its original ornately-tiled floors, hand-cut mosaic wall tiles and pressed-tin ceilings. Customers over the years (often there for film shoots) included Woody Allen, Jennifer Beals, Spike Lee, Sarah Jessica Parker, Denzel Washington, and Steve Buscemi.

But by 2014, Paolo’s four grandchildren who owned the business, motivated by age and health concerns, among other factors, decided it was finally time to close up shop after one hundred ten years. After the building (which the DeRobertis family owned) was sold, in 2015, Black Seed Bagel moved into the space. Owners Noah Bernamoff and Matt Kliegman decided to not only keep the neon “DeRobertis Pastry Shop” sign on the exterior, but to retain much of the original decor and fixtures on the interior. However, these details were altered around 2017.