What happened to Hempstead? (White Plains, Roosevelt: apartments, high school, shops)

[Crookhaven]

When I was a kid I remember hearing about how people used to go shopping/dining there etc.It was supposed to be pretty nice once.

I drove through there yesterday and it looks worse than Jamaica.
What happened? Was it the mall that killed the retail?

I heard it was Nassaus retail eqivalent of Patchogue back in the day.
(Seems like Patchogues on the mend...is there hope for Hempstead?)

Any oldtimers care to weigh in?

Maybe thats where the Lighthouse shouldve gone?

Crooks

[Jdawg8181]

My father grew up in Hempstead...this was back in the late 40's-60's. Back then, Hempstead was THE place to be...all the busineses were there, shopping, dining, nightlife. My great-grandpa owned a gigantic fruit store.

I'm not really sure what happened, but Hempstead used to be a great place. When was Hofstra built, just out of curiousity? Possibly had something to do with it's downfall?

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by Jdawg8181

My father grew up in Hempstead...this was back in the late 40's-60's. Back then, Hempstead was THE place to be...all the busineses were there, shopping, dining, nightlife. My great-grandpa owned a gigantic fruit store.

I'm not really sure what happened, but Hempstead used to be a great place. When was Hofstra built, just out of curiousity? Possibly had something to do with it's downfall?

I heard it was gorgeous.

Does anyone have any old photos or memories?

Crooks

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by Crookhaven

I heard it was gorgeous.

Does anyone have any old photos or memories?

Crooks

Not on the computer but my dad may...next time I see him I will ask and scan for you. I know there def. is one that he has of him as a little kid with my great-grandpa in front of the store. The cool thing is the phone # is done the old way...with the letters.

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by Crookhaven

I heard it was gorgeous.

Does anyone have any old photos or memories?

Crooks

.
.
I recall that, sometime in the late 1950s (March 24, 1958 ???), LIFE Magazine did a special on the Village of Hempstead and Hempstead High School, naming Hempstead the number 1 suburb.
.
.

[nancy thereader]

When I was a pre-teenager, we always would take the bus from Roslyn to Hempstead because it had stores that were open at NIGHT !!!! And, there was a Woolworth with one of those counters where you could get ice cream sodas (35 cents) and a grilled cheese sandwich for 55 cents.
It was fun to walk around its busy streets.
I have not been there in nearly a half of a century. Wow. I feel so old, but that is true......

[Smash255]

Hempstead is actually in better shape than it was 10-15 or so years ago, but still obviously no where near what it once was, and has many problems. Something I read awhile back (don't remember where) stated Roosevelt Field Mall opening nearby is what really hurt Hempstead. The local business's, stores, and shops just couldn't compete with the mall and its impact on the local area was hurt deeply by it, as poverty made its way in. Combine that with the crack epidemic that broke out during the mid 80's and the problems which at that point were pretty bad to begin with just got worse. Things have improved somewhat over the years, but it still has a very long way to go and the school system while a little better is still very problematic.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by Smash255

Hempstead is actually in better shape than it was 10-15 or so years ago, but still obviously no where near what it once was, and has many problems. Something I read awhile back (don't remember where) stated Roosevelt Field Mall opening nearby is what really hurt Hempstead. The local business's, stores, and shops just couldn't compete with the mall and its impact on the local area was hurt deeply by it, as poverty made its way in. Combine that with the crack epidemic that broke out during the mid 80's and the problems which at that point were pretty bad to begin with just got worse. Things have improved somewhat over the years, but it still has a very long way to go and the school system while a little better is still very problematic.

Everybody bemoans a deteriorating downtown then they go promptly to the Mall to shop.

Good points.

Crooks

[S.I.B.]

could have/should have been White Plains. Instead it became the hood.

It would take a miracle for it to ever get back to what it was.

[Coney]

Originally Posted by Jdawg8181

My father grew up in Hempstead...this was back in the late 40's-60's. Back then, Hempstead was THE place to be...all the busineses were there, shopping, dining, nightlife. My great-grandpa owned a gigantic fruit store.

I'm not really sure what happened, but Hempstead used to be a great place. When was Hofstra built, just out of curiousity? Possibly had something to do with it's downfall?

Hempstead went downhill a long time ago. Hofstra was established in 1937 and has obviously expanded a great deal, especially from 1980-2000. Hofstra actually has kept that part of Hempstead from getting worse. They used to have student housing in the apartments on Fulton Ave., but they still have some archives/library in a building on Fulton. Roosevelt Field is a contributing factor to the decline of the shopping/business district, but not the sole cause. When A&S closed, that was the last straw. I used to work for the Sam Ash Headquarters in Hempstead, not the store, their main offices and the warhouse. After A&S closed, Sam Ash moved out of there too. The district court and some other courts are still in Hempstead and I guess that helps a little.