J. Kurtz and Sons Store Building, Art Deco commercial building in Jamaica, Queens, United States
The J. Kurtz and Sons Store Building is a six-story steel-frame structure in Jamaica featuring geometric cast aluminum ornaments across its facade. The structure displays extensively windowed sides with metal-framed windows arranged in regular patterns.
The building was constructed in 1931 to serve as a furniture retailer and received New York City Landmark designation in 1981. National Register listing followed in 1983.
The building reflects how retail businesses of the 1930s designed their storefronts to show prosperity and progress through elaborate metalwork. This approach to decoration was common among successful shop owners in Queens during that era.
The building sits on Jamaica Avenue and houses various retail and office spaces, making it easily accessible. The location sits within an active commercial district with multiple nearby shops and public transit options.
The two exterior sides of the structure display different geometric aluminum patterns, each with its own decorative language. This asymmetry was uncommon for commercial buildings of that era.
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