Ditmas History: Pre-Dosa, Cookies & Treadmills

The strip of Beverley Rd. between Coney Island Ave. and Stratford now houses Madina, Ditmas Fitness, and MJP Panederia, but things used to be just a liiiiittle bit different.

This 1962 photo from Brooklyn Visual Heritage shows a serious lack of foliage, as well as what looks to be a grocery store in the Madina space. Brooklyn Visual Heritage also tagged the photo “Anthony’s Hair Salon,” but we can’t make out if that’s what the sign over that fabulously over-the-top awning says. Does anyone remember Anthony’s?

All that paper in the windows of the corner store makes it look so different from Madina. Even though it doesn’t seem like much has been structurally altered there, it ties with the extended awning at maybe-Anthony’s for most changed.