Pulling into the Smith and 9th station on the F and G lines, the Kentile Floors sign is what you see on the right. The factory, at 2nd Avenue and 9th Street, made “super resilient floor tiles” for almost 90 years and closed in 1988 because of asbestos lawsuits and labor issues. The landmark sign went up sometime in the 1940’s; the purple neon was turned off when the business shut down. For a neglected structure, it appears to be in pretty good shape.
This ad is from 1959.
I like to think that had I been alive and decorating in the 1950’s, I would have avoided the faux-fancy look and used my Kentile in a more modern way. Except for the zebra rug and maybe the couches, this decor steers clear of any references to the mid-century revolutions in art and design.
Pix and other images 
Interesting story! Now, what would looks super groovy in a mid-century decor, preferably a loft with high ceilings, would be that sign. Or a piece of it… How cool would that be?! Even just one letter!
[…] from the 3rd floor of a building across the street, this is the closest I’ve been to the Kentile Sign. It’s ironic that it’s endured as a landmark for this part of Brooklyn, since the […]