5. Kitchen Restaurant Supply District

The Kitchen Restaurant Supply District is located on the Bowery between Houston and Canal. The Bowery is the oldest thoroughfare in Manhattan and was once one of New York’s most elegant streets. However, after the Civil War, the neighborhood changed with beer gardens, flop houses, pawn shops and brothels. After the great depression, the Bowery became New York’s Skid Row. In the late 40’s the area started to get an influx of restaurant supply and lighting stores.

This was the area where some of New York’s greatest chefs would shop to supply their restaurants. The shops are now being supplanted with hip hotels and large scale development including a Whole Foods and the New Museum. Luckily a large section of the Bowery was landmarked saving some of the fantastic architecture from the wrecking ball. The Kitchen Supply Stores are primarily above Delancey and the Lighting Supply Stores are below.