Recently came across this book, The Complete Guide to Ethnic New York, published in 1980, which was shown to us by our neighbor, living next door to the restaurant.
I have copied one of the chapters, Arab New York which offers a very fascinating history of Arab immigration to New York which dates back to the 1870’s in an area in downtown Manhattan which was called “Little Syria”. The book gives recommendations on restaurants and shops across Atlantic Ave, in the 80’s and lists out the numerous restaurants and shops that were around back then. Today very few of these places exist other than Tripoli Restaurant. Click here to see the chapter from “The Complete Guide to Ethnic New York