A Paint Like No Other: Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore Paints Archives
This international brand got its start in Brooklyn in 1883. The first factory at 55 Atlantic Avenue burned down just a year after it opened—but that didn’t slow down Benjamin Moore and company. They were back in business three days later.
An International Finance Innovation: The Credit Card
In 1949, Frank McNamara realized he’d left his wallet in another suit after a client meal on West 33rd Street. He was inspired to avoid future embarrassment by creating a card that would substitute for cash. From Majors Cabin Grill (see below) to an innovation that changed the world: NYC was home to the first credit card, Diners Club. (It’s still in business today, with operations in 59 countries.)
Bring Out the Best
Recognize this condiment’s blue ribbon? Hellmann’s has been enticing cooks to “bring out the best” since 1905, when immigrant Richard Hellmann started selling mayonnaise out of a delicatessen at 490 Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side. By 1913 he had incorporated the business as Hellmann’s Blue Ribbon Mayonnaise, which is still thriving today, albeit under multinational ownership.
Source: “Made in NYC,” City Guide, March 20, 2024
Contributed by Bobbie Roggemann