Old Mill Basin

Old Mill Basin had a strong Italian presence during most of the 20th century and there are still Italian businesses and families in the neighborhood despite a gradual exodus. The neighborhood is bordered by New Mill Basin, Flatbush and Flatlands. The main artery of Old Mill Basin, Avenue N, still has a few blocks with old Italian American businesses. Notable in this neighborhood are Aliotta Pastry, and Landi’s Pork Store. The Old Mill Basin neighborhood has long maintained a distinguishable Italian enclave. Bordering Marine Park and Canarsie, Old Mill Basin’s Italian influence generally includes businesses along Avenue N and T and the churches that are the center of the Italian community there have long been Saint Bernard, which is technically Bergen Beach, and Mary Queen of Heaven, which is technically Old Mill Basin; both of which can be seen on our website’s “Churches” section. Mill Basin burgeoned as a neighborhood after World War 2 and the creation of the GI bill which helped veterans purchase homes in this expanding part of Brooklyn. Over the years, many people from Canarsie moved to (new) Mil Basin and Bergen Beach as Canarsie’s demographic began to change and the desire for larger homes and more land grew. Old Mill Basin has also seen a large change in Demographics recently. The neighborhoods are bound by Flatbush Avenue, Avenue M, and Bergen Avenue.