Over the past few years the destruction of "old" New York has accelerated to a breath-taking pace. We have seen numerous historic - but not historially significant - buildings torn down and replaced by modern impersonal structures. While this is all part of the evolution of the city, sometimes its harder than others.

Gertel's Bakery on Hester Street was a mainstay of the neighborhood for decades. It was where many older Jewish residents would come, buy a coffee and roll, and sit talking for hours. For many of them it was the only social interaction of the day. Early in the morning the Asian and Latino factory and construction workers would drop by - not caring it was a Kosher bakery just that it was a good bakery - to get breakfast on the run. It was also popular with tourists and Tri-State residents. Some coming around the Jewish holidays and others on a more regular basis. It may not look like much - but almost everything was baked on site. This made them unique to the Lower East Side - a Kosher retail bakery that didn't truck in the goods from Brooklyn or New Jersey.

In 2007 rumors began to swirl that the building was being sold. It is zoned for an 8 - 11 story structure and during the recent building boom that makes it a goldmine. Gertel's closed in the spring of 2008. For a while it was an empty shell. As of August 15, 2008...here's all we have left.

Who know's what will ultimately get built here. The construction boom has slowed significantly. We can only hope it doesn't remain an empty lot for very long.