Pitaziki/ Prime 16 / Lalibela

A two-story building federal style brick building with Italianate flourishes which houses three restaurants on the bottom floor, above which sits an architecture firm and two empty commercial spaces. The restaurants are sandwiched in an ABA pattern with Prime 16 dividing Pitaziki and Lalibela. Each restaurant has a distinct façade that stands out from the plain brick lower level. The ornamental second story stands out with its transom windows and floral green pilasters. 

(1914-1927)

Kirk and Co Livery

Carey Edward J Saloon

Drazen Samuel Clothing

Smith Charles M Tailor

(1927-1955)

Carter R L Co the office equipment

Basker & Meade Inc druggists

Lauber's Sporting Goods Store

Wesley's Trunks and Leather Goods

(1955-1961)

Henri's Inc Grocers

Verdi R L auto parking

Temple Luggage Shop Inc

(1961-1972)

Henri's Inc Grocers

Verdi R L auto parking

Temple Luggage Shop Inc

Violin Shoes

NH Savings and Loan Assn

(1972-1980)

Henri's Inc Grocers

Temple Luggage Shop

Violin Shoes

Fritz & Hawley co the opticians

(1980-1995)

B & K Fashions

Temple Luggage Shop / Temple Leather Shop Inc

United Merchandise

Fritz & Hawley co the opticians

Prior to the construction of the current structure, there existed a chapel for the Trinity Church Parish, an episcopal congregation with a church a block away on the New Haven green. Additionally there was a YMCA next door prior to its construction. These sites clearly made the location a place for community engagement and congregation. While the building now may not play as formal a role in the social lives of New Haven residents, the quiet pocket park alongside may allude to the sentiment of openness and assembly that once stood on its grounds. 

The building was built sometime between 1911 and 1914 as a commercial space and has remained one to this day. No tenant is historically significant on its own, but as a group and time series, the tenants represent the changing demographics and technology of New Haven, and more broadly the US, throughout the 20^th century. It housed four stores at its beginning, a livery, a saloon, a clothier and a tailor. The livery was replaced by an office equipment store by 1927 showing the move towards the white-collar businesses that grew in the early 20^th century. The druggist’s replacement of the saloon was emblematic of the growing medical knowledge at the same time. Lauber’s sporting goods store highlights the fact that New Haven was the birthplace of American football and was once home to the best college and professional teams in the nation. These evolutions continue in the 1950s with auto parking and the 1960s brought about a savings and loan association. By 1980 the building housed a cosmetic store, a leather and luggage shop, a merchandise store and an optician. More recently it has evolved to become a restaurant space. These restaurants show the melting pot of cultures present in New Haven as the classic “American food” restaurant is saddled between Ethiopian and Mediterranean cuisine.

The building sits in a bustling section of downtown New Haven. Its block contains a luxury hotel, a new nightclub and several other restaurants. Just a block from the New Haven green and several bus stops, it is rare to find a quiet moment out front of the building. Alongside the building is a pocket park. This pocket park provides an oasis of quiet amongst the bustle of downtown New Haven. The restaurants serve patrons from late morning through the early morning hours to please students, families, and late night club goers.