Historic Child's Restaurant facade being torn down at 28th Street
Photo by Herman Yung
The renovation of the McDonald's at 28th Street and 6th Avenue came as a bit of a surprise. One day it was fully functioning and the next it was closed, boarded up, and already being torn apart. I've known for a long time now that this particular McDonald's was a bit special, not because of the off-color McDonald's flag that they flew above the restaurant, but because this location was housed inside a former Child's Restaurant building with the iconic Child's Restaurant seahorse motif intact. Ever since learning about the historic nature of this McDonald's back in 2009, I've always considered it a neighborhood gem that has transcended the changing nature of the area.
Well, that seahorse design is no more. Sadly, the construction crews doing the renovation have stripped the exterior of the building and it looks like that old Child's Restaurant design isn't coming back. As Jeremiah from Vanishing New York notes, this particular Child's location doesn't seem to be landmarked. Goodbye to the old past I suppose...
Union Square Theater closes
I guess this happened not too long ago but I noticed that the Union Square Theater was now closed and boarded up. And of course, along with it, goes the New York Film Academy which had classes in the same building. This is what the corner of this part of Union Square looks like now.
Have fond memories of this place? Tell me in the comments!
