Did you ever have a movie or song that reminded you of a place or a time in your life that you will always remember? I did. The place was called the Supreme Macaroni Company. It was located on 9th Avenue, near 38th street in the area now called Clinton. I never went to this establishment, never looked in the windows, hardly ever walked on the same side of the street as the shop, but I looked at it day in and night when I walked past.
The year I moved to NYC I saw a movie called “The Professional” (aka “Leon”).
Jean Reno played Leon, the quiet assassin. Natalie Portman played Mathilda, his neighbor in an abusive home and soon to be orphaned. Gary Oldman was Stansfield, the bad cop who ran the drugs that Mathilda’s family were killed over. These are three great characters in one of my favorite movies of all time.
Well, anyway, getting back to the shop. Leon would frequent this shop because that is where Tony (Danny Aiello) would give him his jobs and bank Leon’s money for when he would need it.
I have no idea why this establishment took on such high regard to me. Maybe it is because when I moved to NYC my first apartment was on 36th Street off of 9th Avenue. I think knowing that this place was up the street somehow seemed cool to me. A part of my favorite movie was right up the street. It wasn’t a place that many knew about. It wasn’t Barney’s or Tiffany’s like many movies.
Call me stupid but I am sad now that they bulldozed it. I am not sure why? I assume it is probably part of this plan for the Westside, even though they refurbished the apartments in the buildings next door.
I feel like a part of my NYC history is gone.
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