In Memoriam: 10 Much Mourned Brooklyn Institutions
The Hotel Half Moon
So, long before the Wythe Hotel, there was the Hotel Half Moon. Located in Coney Island and “opened in 1927, the Half Moon was supposed to compete with then-luxe Atlantic City and attract upscale crowds to Coney rather than just hordes of working-class day-trippers.” Which, I think that’s what present-day Williamsburg is all about, right? Existing as an alternative to New Jersey? Sure. Sure it is. Anyway, the Half Moon did not exactly reach the glamorous heights of Atlantic City and was instead plagued by scandal. In the 1940s, it served as a sort of makeshift witness protection locale, and became the home of Mafia informant Abe “Kid Twist” Reles. Reles was under police protection, but was still killed. Apparently, mob boss Lucky Luciano payed the police who were protecting Reles to toss the guy out the window. So, what is there to miss exactly? Well, just look at that matchbook. You just don’t see matchbooks like that anymore.