Manuel, third in a succession of owners, works at Hong’s Shoe Repair, which first opened its doors about 90 years ago. A talented shoe cobbler, he is pictured
here in his tiny shop amidst assorted footwear, taking pride in work that inherently touches on the spirit of mending.
The collection not only sparks conversation
among community members, but it also
keeps the history and memories of the
neighborhood alive. It allows all residents to
learn or remember how the neighborhood
used to be and the contributions made by
locals and immigrants.
“I really hope it inspires people to support
the shops and buildings. If you have to buy
something, go to the shops instead of going
online. Keep local businesses open. If we
could keep the history going, it would keep
the character of Astoria going. Support local
shops. Support local renters that are in older
buildings. People in gentrified areas would
say the same,” Lelekidis said.
$500 OFF
of Savings of $500.00 per space in the soon to
34 JULY 2 0 1 9
One of the main reasons Lelekidis works
to keep “Ancient Astoria" going is her
mother, who passed away five years ago.
You can see several photos of Lelekidis’
mother, who spent much of her time
in Astoria Park, particularly on a bench
that Lelekidis dedicated to her after her
passing.
“I kept going with this project because I
knew how much she loved the neighborhood.
She was almost like the mayor. We would walk
a block and talk to someone and walk another
and talk to someone else. The photo of my
mom standing under the bridge with graffiti
in the background is very meaningful to me,”
Lelekidis said.
This is a Pre-Construction Certificate
be completed St. Mary’s Mausoleum.
Pizza debuts new wine bar
Because of Lelekidis’ roots in Astoria, she
finds comfort in photos sent in by followers
that she can relate to or recognize in her own
memories.
“Those photos have to be my favorite.
People send me photos that I can relate
to. It’s not just my story. Whenever I get
submission I think of the full circle. I get
photos of people hanging out by the Hell
Gate Bridge and by their cars and it still
remains that way,” Lelekidis said.
If you are interested in keeping the history
going, please submit any old photos with
a detailed caption to Lelekidis’ email,
ancientastoria@gmail.com. You can also find
her on Instagram at @ancientastoria.
Discount may be discontinued without prior notice.
718-278-3240
72-02 Astoria Boulevard, East Elmhurst, NY 11370
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