Manhattan telephone directories are partially available through Ancestry.com (a pay service) and Archive.org.

“Big Apple Shine Parlor 2306 7Av AU dubn 3-8985” was entered in the 1942 Manhattan Telephone Directory. This was next to the Big Apple restaurant/nightclub at 2300 Seventh Avenue (now Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard).

“Big Apple Grocry Store 305W144 AUdbn 3-9531” was entered in the 1945 Manhattan Telephone Directory, and also in the years 1946, 1948 and 1949. It is not known who owned the grocery store.


1942 Manhattan Telephone Directory
Pg. 107:
Big Apple Restrnt 2300 7Av AU dubn 3-9240
Big Apple Shine Parlor 2306 7Av AU dubn 3-8985

1943 Manhattan Telephone Directory
Pg. 108:
Big Apple Restrnt 2300 7Av AU dubn 3-9240

1944 Manhattan Telephone Directory
Pg. 111:
Big Apple Restrnt 2300 7Av AU dubn 3-9240

1945 Manhattan Telephone Directory
Pg. 113:
Big Apple Grocry Store 305W144 AUdbn 3-9531
Big Apple Restrnt 2300 7Av AU dubn 3-9240

1946 Manhattan Telephone Directory
Pg. 128:
Big Apple Grocry Store 305W144 AU dbn 3-9531
Big Apple Restrnt 2300 7Av AU dubn 3-9240

1948 Manhattan Telephone Directory
Pg. 143:
Big Apple Grocry Store 305W144 AUdbn 3-9531

1949 Manhattan Telephone Directory
Pg. 151:
Big Apple Bar&Grill Inc 2300 7Av AUdbn 3-9240
Big Apple Grocry Store 305W144 AUdbn 3-9531

1953 Manhattan Telephone Directory
Pg. 166:
Big Apple Bar&Grill Inc 2300 7Av AUdbn 3-9240

1957 Manhattan Telephone Directory
Pg. 169:
Big Apple Bar&Grill Inc 2300 7Av AUdbn 3-9240

1959 Manhattan Telephone Directory
Pg. 162:
Big A Cleanrs Inc 45LenoxAv MOnument 6-2500
Big Apple Bar&Grill Inc 2300 7Av AUdbn 3-9240

1960 Manhattan Telephone Directory
Pg. 162:
Big A Cleanrs Inc 45LenoxAv MOnument 6-2500
Pg. 163
Big Apple Bar&Grill Inc 2300 7Av AUdbn 3-9240