Casa Amadeo, antigua Casa Hernandez
Also known as: The Manhanset, Casa Hernandez, Casa Amadeo
Why it's listed
Casa Amadeo occupies a single storefront at 786 Prospect Avenue in the Longwood section of the Bronx, on the ground floor of the Manhanset, a six-story apartment building completed in 1905 to designs by James F. Meehan. The building's Neo-Renaissance design includes a rusticated stone base, red brick upper floors, a Corinthian-columned entrance porch and a deep sheet metal cornice. The shop was founded in the early 1940s by Victoria Hernández, one of the earliest female Puerto Rican entrepreneurs in New York and the sister of composer Rafael Hernández. In 1969 it passed to musician and composer Mike Amadeo. Regarded as the oldest Latin music store in the city, it served as a gathering place for musicians, a source of songs and recordings, and an informal archive. Its storefront keeps black structural glass from about 1940 and hand-painted lettering. The property was recognized for its architecture, its founder, and its role in Latin music and Puerto Rican community life.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the store is the oldest Latin music store in New York City and a site that embodies the development of Latin music and the Puerto Rican migration experience. It is tied to founder Victoria Hernández, an early Puerto Rican female entrepreneur and sister of composer Rafael Hernández. The Manhanset is also cited as an outstanding Neo-Renaissance apartment building with ground-floor commercial space from the Bronx building boom.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 01000244, listed March 23, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 786 Prospect Ave., Bronx |
|---|---|
| County | The Bronx |
| Listed | March 23, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000244 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905; 1941-1969 |
| Architect / builder | Meehan, James F. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals: Neo-Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Hispanic, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a music store on the ground floor with apartments above; the storefront retains c. 1940 black pigmented structural glass, while other storefronts have varying integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.81922, -73.90167 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 01000244.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5047780
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.