A little more data on Willoughby St., Brooklyn, which was looked at in depth in recent posts.
1) A 1914 ad for “Bristol’s”, which was next to “John’s” in Brooklyn.
Their office address was No. 3, but the Dining Rooms were classed as 3-5. Thus Lovecraft was aware of this double-frontage numbering when he said in a letter that John’s was “next door” to Bristol’s… at No. 7.
In 1914 Bristol’s was advertising itself as “always open”. J.E. Bristol is the owner.
2) By mid 1922 Harry E. Spilbor, Sign Writer, was listed as at No. 7 Willoughby, presumably in the sub-shop that was photographed when empty in 1916. By the mid 1930s the New York State Manufacturers directory puts him next door at No. 9. My guess is he started in the sub-shop at No. 7 at the start of the 1920s, and then later moved next-door when No. 7’s frontage was “boxed” (as seen on 1930s photos). He also writes sign cards for show-windows in stores.
The empty sub-shop in 1916.
3) Next door to “John’s” in 1923 at No. 9 was Mike’s Radio Shop (the Kranz Brothers), in either the upstairs or the sub-shop. Still in business in 1925 because they were recorded making a payment to the city, though no address is stated alongside. Barbers don’t tend to go out of business, so my guess would be the 1916 barber’s was still there in 1925 and the radio shop was in the sub-shop below it. This would be a good location for such a store because the big new Edison Electric office block was next door at the former 11-17 (subsumed circa 1923 as No. 15, still standing today).
So, that all fills in a little more mid-1920s detail on the immediate surroundings for Lovecraft’s favourite Italian eatery at John’s. The long-standing Bristol’s Dining Rooms at 3-5 with Lovecraft’s friend and fellow revisionist la Touche Hancock in an office above. Then John’s at No. 7, with Mr. Spilbor the sign-writer below in the sub-shop. Next door at No. 9 was probably a barber shop, with Mike’s Radios below.