LiveJournal will be undergoing maintenance on May 25, and might display errors until complete. Please see http://lj-maintenance.livejournal.com/ for details and updates.

hoodwatch (thehoodwatch) wrote in urban_explorers,
2008-05-04 21:54:00

Men's Clothing Factory & Store

These are months old but I thought it might be good to post them to this community...





Anyone seen HBO's The Wire? This alley and building were used frequently in season 4. The alley is in the first 5 minutes of the 4th season...


Characters from The Wire...







How on earth is there still a full 40oz?


There is little information I can find about this place. Judging from records and papers left behind it operated from at least the early 1970s until around 1985. It probably was around before the '70s but nothing from that era has a date on it. It was a men's clothing factory with a store in it as well. They had their own line of clothes but also sold other brands as well. I've never met any older people from Baltimore that even remember hearing the name of this place. So that is about all I know. There are tons of records out sitting in boxes. I wonder if they had issues with the IRS or something? Who knows...

The entire first floor is all homeless squats. It has little offices and cubicle like areas and many are filled with old 40oz bottles and blankets. I never encountered any homeless people while in here but on our 2nd trip out of the 6 of us 3 other people ran into one guy. He was friendly though.




The very bottom basement area is empty and looks like the tiles above it all fell down onto the floor...



Maybe the basement was used for storage since it looks like a parking garage so I doubt people worked in here...


We couldn't find out how to get to the top floors at first. Someone had warned me just skip the bottom as there was nothing of interest there. He said go up this one set of stairs. It wasn't until we realize the stairs were metal ones hidden in the dark behind the set we had gone up. So once we figured this out we were on our way...


The 2nd floor is very open and looks to have been looted more...



Unused fabric...


The 2nd floor contains the offices. This is one of the best find here. It contains early 80s computer equipment long forgotten about by time...


Little files full of punch cards that the computer read somehow...



This is probably less computing power than a modern cell phone...


These were 8'' floppys, not the 5.5'' ones...


Here is what I like to call the guest book. Every abandoned place has one, where people leave their name...

Kepoh, TopHat, The Neighborhood Watch, and Fat Louie.

All the books are still here, here is the 1984 payroll information...



Here is a check signed by Lebow himself...


Buttons...


Wine...


Box of fabric swatches...


Envelope...


Here is how to use those outdated computers...


Hideous wallpaper...


Here is the showroom...

This would have had suits hanging up all over it. There is a tiny room off to the right which had evidence of a homeless guy living there. This is where we think the guy they saw lives. It had broken out windows though which would not be very good if it was raining.

Lebow suit...


Another guest book...

Catherine, The Neighborhood Watch, Patty Boh, Chris, Abandoned Pa.

Showing all the different buttons...




Brand new printer in the box...


Swatches...


1985 is the last year I see in here...


Bird shit encrusted boot...


Singer...



There is a Bond St. in Baltimore, I wonder if there was a sewing machine company...








Box full of gold buttons...


Tons of trench coats still in their plastic...




Old belt driven sewing machine...



3rd floor...


Boxes of files...


Some kind of huge machine. I have a feeling it was maybe something to create steam since it looks like a boiler...


Old...


Old calender...


On the roof. You can see this graffiti tag when you are leaving downtown Baltimore on 83 North...


This is how you get in and out. Better skip that cheeseburger before going in...


Just to give you an idea of the kind of area this is in here are pics I took from the roof...

That entire strip of rowhomes is abandoned...



Boarded up homes and possibly abandoned store...


83 aka Jones Falls Expressway heading in and out of downtown...


Guilford Ave. bridge...







http://www.flickr.com/photos/theneighborhoodwatch/sets/72157604250187592/
  • Post a new comment

    Error

    switch
    default userpic

    Your IP address will be recorded  

    Help
  • 32 comments

dothewu

May 5 2008, 03:33:15 UTC 5 years ago

Nice set!
:)

elnoradawn

May 5 2008, 04:23:46 UTC 5 years ago

wow, such a goldmine!

urbanwuff

May 5 2008, 09:56:50 UTC 5 years ago

I used to live across 83 from the Heinz plant on Cold Spring, right off the freeway. I know exactly where this is.

I miss Bmore. Great city.

Thank you for posting.

thehoodwatch

May 6 2008, 03:42:05 UTC 5 years ago

I didn't know where was a Heinz plant. Like the ketchup?

urbanwuff

May 6 2008, 13:05:56 UTC 5 years ago

Yes. It's that big metal circular silo looking thing just south of the Cold Spring Lane Exit, just north of the TV tower. We lived in the Apartments on the northbound side of the freeway.

Similar note, you can see the tops of those apartments during the final chase scene of Serial Mom when they come down the hill.

xochicalco

May 5 2008, 13:06:57 UTC 5 years ago

great set

I can't believe all that stuff is still there.

That must be Greenmont Cemetery in the background behind the abandoned rowhomes.

thehoodwatch

May 6 2008, 03:41:41 UTC 5 years ago

Re: great set

Yes it is.

grimreaper3248

May 5 2008, 23:17:47 UTC 5 years ago

Time:

My Old man worked for IBM and use to repair those old IBM 360's with the platter disc drives and punch cards. That stuff dates back to early 70's possibly late 60's. Back in the 70's those drive platters were $5-10k.

thehoodwatch

May 6 2008, 03:41:27 UTC 5 years ago

What are the platters, the round things?

ringemor

May 6 2008, 04:52:35 UTC 5 years ago

Woah, man, no matter how old these photos are - they are damn great! Incredible place and very well done photos again ;) Thanx for posting.

I've got a couple of 8" floppys and a punch card at home, fun stuff )

ringemor

May 6 2008, 04:55:56 UTC 5 years ago

Oh, and punch cards were read simply by readers with a set of pins. If there's a hole punched then a pin sinks through it, making a different binary code (I don't remember which ones are "ones" and which ones are "zeros")

kodachi148

May 7 2008, 19:39:37 UTC 5 years ago

And there's more abandoned places in Baltimore! Awesome! I live in Baltimore and I spotted a few new abandoned buildings off of the Inner Harbor. This is great!

thehoodwatch

May 7 2008, 21:56:58 UTC 5 years ago

A lot of potentially good places are deep in the ghetto though.

kodachi148

5 years ago

  • New comment

Anonymous

July 21 2008, 20:32:45 UTC 4 years ago

HOW COOL IS THAT

ITS FUNNY, THE PPL I WORK FOR NOW ARE LEBOWS AND THEY SHOWED ME THIS WEBSITE, I THINK IT WAS OWNED BY THEIR GREAT GRAND FATHERS, I CANT BELIEVE ALL THOSE COATS ARE STILL IN THERE, MAYBE ILL MAKE A TRIP UP THERE TO GET ME SOME. THANKS FOR SHARING!

dazzo18

August 20 2008, 00:30:34 UTC 4 years ago

Re: HOW COOL IS THAT

I thought these photos were amazing. Do you know why the building was abandoned? Would love to know more history/

thehoodwatch

4 years ago

  • New comment

dazzo18

4 years ago

  • New comment

Anonymous

4 years ago

  • New comment

dazzo18

August 20 2008, 00:28:00 UTC 4 years ago

Lebow Clothes

I actually had the honor to work for the Lebow family in the 1970's into the 1980's. I worked in the New York Showroom, but was able to visit the "factory" for sales meetings. I was only 18 years old when I started, but I will never forget the experience of working for this amazing family. The suits made by Lebow were some of the finest in the world. The fabrics were the most beautiful, especially the cashmere. I was so sad to see the state of the building now. I wonder how the Lebow's are doing now? By the way, did you find my any paychecks, I think I am missing one? LOL

thehoodwatch

August 20 2008, 01:51:28 UTC 4 years ago

Re: Lebow Clothes

There were checks in the office. Not sure if they were for employees. They were signed by Meyer Lebow.

dazzo18

4 years ago

  • New comment

olwensmiles

November 11 2008, 13:50:13 UTC 4 years ago

I went to Lebow two Sundays ago and they are definitely in the beginning process of cleaning things out. The fence you were able to get through is more securely chained now, so we had to climb the fence. And the basement area has been cleaned up a bunch, all of the fallen-in ceiling has been cleaned up. There is also rumor of a dog patrolling Lebow? I'm not sure of the validity of this, but on the opposite side of the building from where the alley is, we saw some dog food bowls sitting out in this gated area. And in the gated area by the alley they have two large and long metal trash containers which they have been depositing some stuff in. The third floor looks untouched. We unfortunately didn't find the door to the second floor, so I'm not sure about that.
Here are the majority of the pictures that I took, if interested.

thehoodwatch

November 11 2008, 21:54:06 UTC 4 years ago

Good stuff. I've known about it being cleaned up for a while and have some pictures on my Flickr. I wouldn't mind going again if I could. Good to see that too much isn't gone yet. I doubt there is a security dog because I'm sure animal rights people would throw a fit over such a thing nowadays. I know people in the CopyCat Building have dogs and I have seen them outside in the alleys before.

olwensmiles

4 years ago

  • New comment

veninbaiser

January 1 2009, 05:04:25 UTC 4 years ago

I know this post is ages old, but I had to find it after seeing your previous post I commented on. :D Just curious, were the windows to the right of the entrance you took busted when you visited? Again, another space I would walk by and peer into, but never had the balls to enter.

By the way: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v519/poetryghost/9a.jpg

Thought you might find this cool. I can't remember the exact date of the map... either 1906 or 1923. My memory fails.

thehoodwatch

January 1 2009, 05:15:01 UTC 4 years ago

The windows, I don't know. They had metal grates over them and make lacked actual glass.

Cool map, where did you find it?

It appears Lebow may have also been the building for Crown Cork and Seal. I knew the other 2 buildings were but I thought maybe Lebow was newer.

veninbaiser

4 years ago

  • New comment

Anonymous

May 4 2009, 21:20:27 UTC 4 years ago

lebow updates

Fascinating explorations and pix.

Here's some background on Lebow...and the row with Zion:
http://altlaw.org/v1/cases/548968

And one of the Lebow's recently died:
http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/comm/content/community/2009/02/25/lebowobit0226.html

Anonymous

November 10 2009, 04:58:07 UTC 3 years ago

mensredtag

Hello Friend, thanks to make me updated with Men's Clothing Factory & Store, We also carry Sweatshirts & Sweatpants, Shorts, Small, Big & Tall Men's Jackets & Coats, Fleece and Small, Big & Tall Men's Pants and Jeans. http://www.mensredtag.com/

travel456

June 23 2010, 03:51:50 UTC 2 years ago

Simatai section in Beijing is a very remote and quiet section on the great wall. The ruins and untouched parts of this section is what helped Simatai section earn its reputation of being the unique section of the wall. There are features retained from over service chian tour, service china tours, travel china online, tours china online, tour china online, unforgetable china travel tips, unforgetable china tour tips, unforgetable china tours tips, unforgetable china travel guide, china tours guide, china tour guide, china travel easy, china tour easy, tours china easy, unforgetable china travel packages, unforgetable china tour package, unforgetable china tours packages, china travel packages, cheap china tour packages, cheap china tours packages, cheap china travel expert, cheap china tour expert, cheap china tour package, cheap chinese travel service, cheap chinese tour service, cheap chinese tours services, cheap chinese travel online which were untouched and looks like what it used to be like over 500 years ago. This section of the wall has about twelve watch towers at different intervals and takes about 2hours to reach the twelfth tower. Simatai section is great for adventure hikers and trekkers.

travel123

June 23 2010, 06:52:50 UTC 2 years ago

If you love to confess designer manolo blahnik shoes that are of hugely belonging quality, thus polished is a tie up for you. Manolo Blahnik shoes. These shoes are intimate for their anomaly giuseppe zanotti shoes, compatibility, durability and the trait. They present direction plentiful opposed styles and colors. If one requires an breathtaking adhere alexander mcqueen shoes for that diagnostic occasion, these may body the perform assemble of shoes. When you fondness to get gianmarco lorenzi boots smuggle assist and style, able is a Manolo Blahnik available view your good looks. These shoes are follow through for moiety kindly of the effect vibram five finger shoes. They encumbrance exhibit exhausted on those fixed occasions savor a birthday party, dinner party, a nuptial or anniversary roister.