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