Historic Lower East Side Paint Store Building Demolished

The original M.Schames & Son paint store building, a longtime fixture on lower Essex Street, has been demolished after the business relocated years ago.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:35am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph in soft pools of warm color and light, depicting the faint outline of an old storefront sign or facade, with the surrounding neighborhood blurred into abstract shapes.The demolition of the historic Schames paint store building marks the end of an era for one of the Lower East Side's oldest businesses, as the neighborhood undergoes rapid transformation.NYC Today

The original M.Schames & Son paint store building, a longtime fixture on lower Essex Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side, has been demolished after the business relocated years ago. The building, which dated back to the early 1800s, was purchased in 2024 by a new owner who has now completed demolition of the property, clearing the way for redevelopment of the site across from Seward Park.

Why it matters

The demolition of the Schames paint store building marks the end of an era for one of the oldest businesses on the Lower East Side, a neighborhood that has seen rapid changes and redevelopment in recent years. The loss of this historic structure is symbolic of the ongoing transformation of the area, as longstanding local institutions give way to new development.

The details

The Schames paint store had operated out of the 3 Essex Street building for decades before relocating to Delancey Street in 2010, after the demolition of a neighboring building destabilized the structure. The upper floors of the Essex Street building had not been occupied since a fire in the 1940s. In 2024, a new owner purchased both 3 and 5 Essex Street for $5.3 million and has now completed the demolition of 3 Essex. The new owner is listed as 'Paint Store LLC' with a mailing address at the offices of Building Equity Management.

  • The Schames paint store relocated to Delancey Street in 2010 after the building was destabilized.
  • The building at 3 Essex Street was purchased by a new owner in 2024 for $5.3 million.
  • Demolition of the 3 Essex Street building was completed in 2026.

The players

M.Schames & Son

A longtime paint store business that operated out of the 3 Essex Street building for generations before relocating to Delancey Street in 2010.

Paint Store LLC

The new owner of the 3-5 Essex Street properties, listed as having a mailing address at the offices of Building Equity Management, a firm that manages many properties across the city.

Building Equity Management

A property management firm that oversees the 3-5 Essex Street properties on behalf of the new owner, Paint Store LLC.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

New building permits have not yet been filed for the 3-5 Essex Street properties, so the specific redevelopment plans for the site remain unclear.

The takeaway

The demolition of the historic Schames paint store building on the Lower East Side represents the ongoing transformation of the neighborhood, as longstanding local institutions give way to new development. This loss is symbolic of the rapid changes reshaping the character of this iconic New York City community.