On Small Business Saturday take a moment and listen to the Coney Island History Project's oral histories of small business owners on Mermaid Avenue and #ShopSmall. Pictured here are Ho Cheung Li of J & R Pharmacy, Sabino Eugenio and Magda Perez of Mermaid Prime Meats, Steven Feinstein of the 100-year-old Wilensky Hardware, and Derrick Batts of Coney Island Hook & Bait Shop on West 24th St off Mermaid.  J & R Pharmacy and Wilensky Hardware are also featured in Episode 4 of our new podcast, which tells the stories of Mermaid Avenue’s mom and pop businesses founded by immigrants, past and present.

Twenty years ago today, Coney Island's original Thunderbolt roller coaster was demolished. "Giuliani Razed Roller Coaster, And the Law" wrote Dan Barry in the NY Times in 2003, when "a federal jury in Manhattan ruled that the city had no justification for tearing down the Thunderbolt, and in doing so had trespassed on Mr. Bullard's property. It also determined that one city official, who was integral in the decision to demolish, had acted with 'deliberate indifference.' '' Photos of the Thunderbolt demolition in the Coney Island History Project Collection may be viewed here.

The Thunderbolt roller coaster was built in 1925 and operated until 1982. Famous as the inspiration for "The House Under the Roller Coaster" in Woody Allen's film Annie Hall, the coaster steadily decayed after its closing. In 2000, with Keyspan Park under construction next door, the city condemned the coaster as structurally unsound. Despite protests from preservationists and coaster enthusiasts, on November 17th, 2000, the Thunderbolt was demolished. 

We were deeply saddened to hear that long time Coney Island resident and advocate Alfie Davis had passed away. She was a stylish, determined woman who cared deeply about her community and the environment, especially Coney Island Creek. Her passing is a heavy loss for Coney Island. We're honored to have recorded the story of three generations of her family for the Coney Island History Project Oral History Archive. You can listen to her oral history interview here.

Eight years ago today Hurricane Sandy devastated Sea Gate and Coney Island. This film was shot on October 29, 2012 by Charles Denson for the Coney Island History Project.