Cayadutta Tanning Company: Inside Gloversville's Dead Tannery

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The Pink Flamingo on Harrison Street Whether it is a dead mill or tannery, a car will always be sitting in a discrete corner.  Gloversville, New York, earned its name for a reason. For decades, it was the undisputed glove capital of the world. But today, the massive tanneries, dressers, stitching factories, and dyers that built this city are quietly disappearing. One of the most fascinating casualties was the former Cayadutta Tanning Company Inc. Locals called it the Pink Flamingo. Before that, it was E.S. Parkhurst & Company, a place workers simply knew as the Hair Mill. Sitting at the southwest corner of Harrison Street and NY-30A, the property spanned two parcels. A private owner held one piece of the land, while the city owned the other. Visiting the abandoned site felt like stepping into a forgotten tannery that just needed a bit of TLC and elbow grease to restart operations sans a pocketed overhead roof. Just outside the main tanning building, a junked Mercedes sa...
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The Flamingo Lounge Bar & Grill




In 2000, Teddy’s Cafe, LLC, agreed to run a cafe and restaurant in the Pelham Gardens area of the Bronx. The space had previously housed the Flamingo Lounge Bar & Grill. Sadly, this venue became the site of a tragic event that changed its future forever.


According to a report by The New York Times, in April 2006, a fatal shooting took place at the Flamingo Lounge. The incident occurred when a heated argument broke out between a patron and the DJ. The patron left the club, only to return later with others, and began firing into the establishment. In the chaos that followed, Gary Grey, a father from the Bronx, was killed. Two other people were injured: a man was shot in the arm, and a woman was grazed by a bullet.


Since that night, the property has remained abandoned. The once-prominent red, white, and yellow signage is gone, and the building is now covered in graffiti. Despite some confusion on Google Maps, where the location is mistakenly listed as Franklin’s Fruit grocery store, a glance at the current street view shows the building has been shuttered since 2006.


It’s surprising that the property still sits vacant after all these years, especially given the changes in the area. The MTA has already expanded its Gun Hill Bus Depot nearby, taking over the former Bronx Gulf Center. It’s unclear why this lot, which has remained empty for nearly two decades, hasn't been repurposed.


The quiet presence of this building serves as a reminder of a tragic event, standing untouched as the neighborhood around it continues to evolve.



šŸ™️ More Forgotten NYC Locations

šŸ“ø Help Preserve the History of The Flamingo Lounge

Places like the Flamingo Lounge Bar & Grill were once part of everyday life in the Bronx — hosting parties, DJs, dinners, celebrations, and neighborhood memories before falling silent after the tragic events of 2006. If you or someone you know remembers this location, your stories can help preserve a piece of local history before it disappears forever.

šŸ–¼️ Old photos of the Flamingo Lounge
šŸŽ¶ Flyers, DJ promos, tickets, or advertisements
šŸø Memories of nights out, events, or neighborhood stories
šŸ‘” Former employee experiences or behind-the-scenes history
šŸ™️ Anything else that helps document what this place once meant to the community

Feel free to leave a comment on this post or contact me directly if you'd like to contribute photographs, stories, flyers, or historical information. Every memory helps preserve a forgotten piece of Bronx history.


 Sources:



1. Schram, J. (2006, April 3). Deadly Night Out - Innocent Dad Blown Away at Club. New York Post.

2. MTA Board Action Items. (2000). United States: Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Page 4.

3. Fahim, K & Sweeney, M.(2006, April 3). Gunman Kills One and Injures Two at A Bronx Club Before Fleeing. NYTimes.

Location: 1769 E Gun Hill Rd, Bronx, NY 10469, USA

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