The Abbey

Built in 1925, The Abbey has been a resilient player in Chapel Street's changing cultural landscape. Since 1999 it has housed a Starbucks, the national coffee chain. Large windows, red-brick, and stone detailing - including hash-marks at the corners of the Chapel-facing parapet and its name, THE ABBEY, spelled out across the top.

Even prior to the construction of the present building, the intersection of Chapel and High had been an active participant in New Haven commerce. An advertisement from January 8, 1794 announced that Benjamin Prescott and Roger Sherman are selling, at their Chapel Street store, flour, sugar, tea, leather, codfish, nail rods, tobacco, wool, cotton, rum, gin , brandy, wine, salt, saltpeter, wood, powder, raisins, spices, and “a general Affortment of Englifh & India GOODS.” However, this general store stood a few buildings down the block; it was Prescott's home which occupied the site of 1070 Chapel.

Dana scrapbook image of the 1824 Doolittle Map of New Haven, with clipping from 1794 attached. Note "Prescott in 1841" attributed to the house on High and Chapel. (Click to enlarge) Permit for a brick addition in 1911, showing A. Maxey Hiller as the owner. Sanborn map last updated in 1911, showing the masonry construction of surrounding buildings, and including 1070 Chapel's first brick addition. Permit issued to Waldorf to build The Abbey. Page from Dana scrapbook showing southeast corner of High and Chapel in 1924 or early 1925. Page from Dana scrapbook showing southeast corner of High and Chapel in 1928. Sanborn map from the 1930's, showing The Abbey as it now stands, along with urban developments along the same block. Business directory map of 1948 showing businesses at 1070 Chapel. An M. Hiller is the owner. 1967 permit showing Chapel Realty as the owner. Certificate of use and occupancy for new Kayes art supply shop. 1999 permit to convert Kayes into Starbucks. 1999 floor plan for Starbucks.