The neighborhood around Crown and High Street has changed dramatically over the years, transforming from a mostly residential area to a neighborhood that seems to expand both Yale and a recently renovated downtown. The changes in 283 Crown also reflect the greater changes in the neighborhoods surrounding downtown New Haven.
283 Crown was constructed in 1900 for residential use.(1) Around 1923, additions were made to the building (the store fronts that are occupied by present day Rumbumba and Soul de Cuba) to make room for commercial space. Additionally, an entrance, present day 25 High Street, was added to the building to give tenants access to the apartments upstairs. Since the renovations, 283 Crown/ 25 High Street has continued to be used for both commercial and residential use with storefronts and apartments in upper levels of the building.
Wiliam Swiman, a grocer, occupied 283 Crown from 1925 to 1940. At the 25 High Street storefront, Lee Laundry operated from the 1930s til the 1970s. (2) After the 1970s, businesses occupying the storefronts of 283 Crown and 25 High Street changed frequently, suggesting that the businesses were not doing well. Additionally, businesses shifted from selling groceries and providing everyday services like laundry to businesses that sold interior design items or specialized food items that would not be purchased everyday. (3)In the 1980s, the property owner received several foreclosure notices but the owner avoided foreclosure by getting back on track on payments. (4)
In 2000, The Missy LLC acquired the property for $225,000 from a family. (5) In 2003, Soul de Cuba moved into the storefront of 283 Crown. Rumbumba, another Latin American restaurant, occupies the storefront at 25 High Street. The presence of both restaurants follows the trend of new bars and restaurants opening up in Crown Street as part of a redeveloped downtown area. Slowly, Crown Street was transformed from a largely residential area to both a residential and commercial space as seen through the transformation of townhouses to restaurants and storefronts. (6)
283 Crown Street Tenants and Surrounding Neighbors Timeline
1913
281 Crown Rockwell Margaret
283 Crown: Dayton Charles
284 Crown: Wagner Estella
1915
281 Crown Lippineott DH
283 Crown Dayton Charles
284 Hebrew Institute
1916
281 Crown: Rockwell Margaret L Mrs
283 Crown: Dayton Charles
284 Crown: Hebrew Institute
1917
283 Crown Griffin Thomas
284 Crown Hebrew Institute
1918
283 Crown Griffin Thomas
284 Crown Hebrew Institute
1919
283 Crown Griffin Thomas
284 Crown Hebrew Institute
1920
283 Crown Griffin Thomas
284 Crown Hebrew Institute
1921
281 Crown Rockwell Margaret L Mrs
283 Crown Griffin Thomas
1926
281 Crown Craig Williams J
283 Crown Harrison B grocer
1927
281 Crown Craig William J
283 Crown Harrison B grocer
1928
281 Crown Craig William J
283 Crown Harrison B grocer
1929
281 Crown Craig William J
1930
Craig Neille Mrs Lodging House
Craig William J Furniture Repair
283 Crown Swiman William grocer
1931
281 Crown Craig Neille
283 Crown Swiman William grocer
1932
283 Crown Swiman William grocer
1935
283 Crown Street Swiman Groccer
288 Crown Godfrey’s Service Station
25 High Street:
Feldman Tailor
Lee Laundry
Several Apartments
1940
283 Crown Swiman Grocer
25 High Street Highland Apartments, Feldman tailor, Lee Laundry
1945
Swiman grocer
25 High Street: Highland Apartment, Feldman tailor, Lee Laundry
1950
283 Crown Swiman grocer
Highland Apartments
1955
283 Crown Swiman Grocer
25 High Street Highland Apartments
283 Swiman Grocer
1960
283 Crown Street Swiman Grocer
25 High Street: Lee Soon Laundry, Vinnie Barbershop, Highland Apartments
1965
283—vacant
25 High Street Lee Laundry, High Barber shop, Highland Apartments
1970
283 Crown Crown High Food Shop
25 High Street Lee Soon Laundry, Décor LTD Interior, Highland Apartments
1974
283 Crown Crown and High Food Shop
25 High Highland Crown Barbershop
1980
283 Crown Crown and High Food Shop
25 Highland Apartments
1986
283 Crown High Food Shop
25 High and Crown Barbershop
Highland Apartments
1990
283 Crown Crown High Deli and Catering
25 Highland Apartments
1995
283 Crown Crown High Deli
25 High Pasquales Hair Ship, Zeitegest Clothing, Highland Apartments
2001
25 High Street Pasquales Hair shop, Kitchen Witch Herbs and Spices, Highland Apartments
283 Crown Mom’s Indian Kitchen and Grocery
2005
283 Crown Soul de Cuba
25 High Gastronomique, Pasquales Hair shop, and Highland Apartments
Sources
1. "283 Crown" New Haven Vision Government Solutions Website http://gis.vgsi.com/newhavenct/Parcel.aspx?Pid=14983 Accessed 9/23/15
2. New Haven City Directories. Accessed at the New Haven Museum
3. Ibid
4. New Haven Land Records Volume 3019 page 341
5. New Haven Land Records Volume 3153 Page 45
6. Preston Maynard "Historic resources Inventory Building and Structures: 277-279 Crown Street" 1981
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