Century-old stained glass discovered hiding beneath ‘ugly’ Brooklyn storefront
Vintage stained glass was recently uncovered at Brooklyn Psychotherapy in Greenpoint. William Farrington
A Brooklyn therapist recently stumbled upon a remarkable piece of local history while sprucing up her Greenpoint office.
Karen G. Costa, who has rented the Brooklyn Psychotherapy space at 705 Manhattan Ave. for years, discovered century-old stained glass hidden behind her office’s “ugly” storefront, giving her—and the neighborhood—a glimpse into the past.
“I was totally blown away. It’s a huge unexpected gift,” Costa told The Post. “I almost cried.”
Costa had hired construction crews last month to transform her storefront, which she said resembled a jail cell, into a warmer, retro-style therapy office. But the renovation revealed something far more historic.
The stunning find includes three panels of white, green, and black glass reading “perfumes,” “toilet articles,” and “prescriptions.” The panels, first reported by Forgotten New York, align perfectly with the massive “706” on the neighboring door leading to apartments above the office—and with an original drugstore sign Costa’s landlord had tucked away in the basement.
Archival research revealed the panels once belonged to John H. Wienholz’s Drug Store. A 1940 tax photo shows the shop proudly displaying the stained glass, while newspapers dating back to 1920 advertise Wienholz’s self-made cough medicine. By the 1980s, the space had become an auto parts store, though the stained glass remained hidden.
The discovery has already drawn attention, with one buyer reportedly offering $18,000 for the panels. But Costa isn’t selling. “I want my patients to have a welcome space. It’s such a nice surprise,” she said.
Though three small pieces were broken, Costa has carefully restored them. She says the glass, delicate as paper, is otherwise in impeccable condition—a rare, beautiful relic of Greenpoint’s past now brightening a modern therapy office.
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