Gage & Tollner, a Place that Matters
February 5th, 2010
The former Gage & Tollner restaurant on Fulton Street near Brooklyn’s Borough Hall is now the most beautiful Arby’s in the world, thanks in large part to its designation as both an exterior and interior landmark. Gage & Tollner was nominated to the Census of Places that Matter because for over 100 years it “gave diners a taste of old Brooklyn”. Although Gage & Tollner closed in 2004, its Victorian interior remains intact and open to the public, now as home of Brooklyn’s first Arby’s.
The restaurant that became Gage & Tollner was originally opened by Charles M. Gage in 1879. When Gage partnered with Eugene Tollner a few years later, the restaurant was renamed for the two of them. In 1892, Gage & Tollner moved from its original location near present-day Cadman Plaza to the 1870s Italianate row house at 372 Fulton Street. The building’s wooden Neo-Grec storefront, which is still intact, was likely added at this time. Gage & Tollner’s clientele were among Brooklyn and Manhattan’s elite, and throughout the next century, the restaurant was renowned for its food quality and excellent service. The Landmarks Preservation Commission’s 1974 designation report for the building’s exterior refers to Gage & Tollner as “one of Brooklyn’s best known restaurants.” Continue Reading>>






Now is your chance to tell the
On Monday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon at Brooklyn Borough Hall, MAS will launch Imagine Coney, an initiative bringing together a world-class team of designers, engineers, producers and economists to develop new ideas for Coney Island – for amusement rides, structures, events and interim activities.

Brooklyn is booming these days with a flood of development that could permanently alter its character. Major developments in in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, at the Atlantic Yards site in Prospect Heights and in Coney Island are either underway or slated to begin soon, but less well-publicized areas adjacent to these developments are also experiencing significant changes to their built environment.
The Municipal Art Society’s Preservation Committee, working with the Brooklyn Heights Association, has identified 28 buildings in the Downtown Brooklyn rezoning area that are worthy of designation as New York City landmarks. Click