This article is sponsored by the local hearing aid specialists in Bensonhurst, NY at EarSpa and Your Home Audiologist. We hope that you enjoy learning more about the historic neighborhood of Bensonhurst and how it has evolved over the years becoming Brooklyn’s second Chinatown and Brooklyn’s Little Italy.

A Brief History of Bensonhurst

The neighborhood is named after Egbert Benson, whose children and grandchildren sold his land to James D. Lynch, a New York real estate developer. Lynch purchased the old farmlands from the Benson family in the mid-1880s and began selling private lots in Bensonhurst-by-the-Sea, now known as Bath Beach.

The first sale of land in "The New Seaside Resort" area was advertised in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on July 24, 1888. Bensonhurst grew as an Italian and Jewish enclave in the mid-twentieth century. Despite a surge in commercial development in the 1980s, some land remained undeveloped. Bensonhurst had become a diverse community of Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Middle-Eastern, and Russian residents by the early 2000s, as condominiums were being built. The neighborhood, as well as neighboring communities, have been dubbed "Brooklyn's Chinatown."

Little Italy in Bensonhurst

The community of Bensonhurst is often referred to as the “little Italy” of Brooklyn due to the over 20,000 Italian-speaking residents living in the area in the census of 2000. The Italian community is aging however, there are still quite a few family-owned Italian businesses. The 86th street area is popular for these family businesses. Bensonhurst is considered one of the largest communities outside of Italy of Italian speaking residents, in addition to having hte largest Sicilian and Neapolitan speaking communities outside of Sicily and Naples, respectively.

“Brooklyn’s Chinatown”

Although much of the population in Bensonhurst includes Italian, Jewish and Russian residents, many of the new businesses moving into the area in the 2010s - present have been Chinese owned, including a number of new restaurants along 86th street. The 86 Wong Chinese Restaurant is one of the earliest Chinese businesses in Besonhurst. The Bensonhurst Chinatown is easily connected to the Sunset Park Chinatown by the N, Q and W trains. Sheepshead Bay is also a growing Cantonese speaking neighborhood.

Places to Visit in Bensonhurst

Regardless of if you are just visiting Bensonhurst or if you have been a long-time resident, there is plenty to see and do within the area. This includes visiting:

• Magen DAvid Synagogue

• The Historical New Utrecht Church

• Milestone Park

• Bensonhurst Park

• Adventurers Amusement Park

• Brooklyn Public Library Highlawn or New Utrecht branches

• Dyker Beach Park

• Seth Low Playground

Of course, you cannot miss Lenny’s Pizza, which was mad famous by John Travolta in the beginning of Saturday Night Fever.

Our Local Office

EarSpa and Your Home Audiologist are based in Brooklyn offering at home services for your audiology and holistic ear health needs. Services can include hearing tests, balance tests, tinnitus relief, ear cleanings, and hearing aids. In addition to traditional audiology services, Dr. Srour specializes in a holistic approach to ear health the can have benefits for your entire body health. Auriculotherapy and ear acupressure using ear seeds can help you find relief for many different symptoms by targeting the central nervous system.

Contact our Bensonhurst hearing aid office to discuss your hearing concerns or to schedule a hearing test.

EarSpa New York

By Appointment Only or At Home
1310 Avenue R
Brooklyn, NY 11229
(347) 695-6309

Your Home Audiologist

At Home Visits - We Come to You
Call to schedule a visit. Not sure if we come to you? Call to learn more. Travel fee may apply.
(347) 695-6309