Phillip Papas

Port Richmond Phillip Papas

Cornelius Vanderbilt, Aaron Burr, Faber Pencils, the atomic bomb, Paul Zindel, and David Johansen all have one thing in common: Port Richmond. Many Staten Islanders flocked to Richmond Avenue, known as the Fifth Avenue of Staten Island, to shop at Garber Brothers or at Tirone's Shoes or enjoy an ice-cream soda at Stechman's. The Ritz, Palace, and Empire Theaters hosted vaudeville shows, films, rock concerts, and roller-skating. More than a dozen places of worship have been founded in Port Richmond since the late 1600s, mirroring the community's ethnic diversity. Port Richmond traces the unique contributions of each new wave of immigrants to the neighborhood.