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Joseph Cohen's store looted
The only evidence of the looting was the store's appearance among the first twenty white business-owners who filed claims against the city for damages identified in stores published in the New York Sun and New York Amsterdam News. By the time the city comptroller heard testimony from those bringing suit, 106 owners had sought damages. Cohen was not among those whose testimony appeared in newspaper stories about that proceeding, nor did he appear in any of the trials to resolve the claims. No one among those arrested for looting was identified as taking goods from this store.
The claim for $47.40 in losses was the smallest claim reported in the press, well below the median claim of $733. The city lost the court cases, so Cohen likely was awarded some amount of damages, but based on those cases, it was only a small proportion. It was not clear if he was able to remain in business. The MCCH business survey did not include a store at 2129 7th Avenue in the second half of 1935. The Tax Department photograph of the address in 1939–1941 was taken at an angle that did not show what business was at the address.