Small Business/Big History

Feast On Us
This modest row of buildings is the site where the largest bank in the United States got its start in 1824. This corner was the home of the New York Chemical Manufacturing Company. In the early 19th century it was very difficult to get banking licenses in New York State, and so Aaron Burr modeled the approach of seeking a license for some other kind of enterprise which might allow banking as an auxiliary service, or eventually seek banking privileges for the business. This is what Balthazar P. Melick and John C. Morrison did in establishing the New York Chemical Manufacturing Company, which originally did not have banking privileges. Once it did, the manufacturing functions of the business disappeared, and it simply came to be known as Chemical Bank. Chemical Bank eventually became the largest bank in New York, and in 1996 acquired Chase Manhattan Bank, taking on the name J.P. Morgan Chase and becoming the largest bank in the world by market capitalization.
The buildings currently on the site date to 1840 and replaced the the New York Chemical Manufacturing Company buildings which had been located here, and as of 2003 are landmarked as part of the Gansevoort Market Historic District. Since 1995 the ground floor has been home of the beloved foodcrafters Feast On Us.

Village Preservation is partnering with some great local independent businesses for a signage program to promote foot traffic and patronage, while also spreading knowledge about our neighborhoods’ rich history. Click any of the local businesses on the map to learn more about their history and be sure to visit their storefronts for their “Small Business/Big History” signage featuring stories connected to their building, street, or immediate vicinity. And, while you’re there, do some shopping or make a purchase! We’ve long known that small businesses and historic preservation go hand in hand, with one supporting the other – check out our “Small Businesses Thrive in Landmarked Areas” video series and our survey showing lower retail vacancy rates in landmarked areas. Are you a small business that would like to participate in our Small Business/Big History signage program, and get free promotion via our e-newsletter and social media channels? Just email info@villagepreservation.org.