Noticed some work being done today, pretty far along and not sure I've seen it mentioned here. Space has kitchen equipment set up and some high tables with chairs. It did not seem like a big space. Maybe a lunch spot of some sort? This is next to Niahmah and across from BK Scoop.
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Niahmah's address is 787 Prospect, and it shares a one story structure that seems to be known as 785 Prospect, 789 Prospect, and 791 Prospect.
Which, just to make things a little complicated, is also known as 710 Nostrand.
Photo: citysearch
So, I think we are talking about 789 Park Place
and once again the tsarina has the story... Exquisite is moving in there and the corner space will be available.
That makes me wonder if Exquisite owns the buildings.
....the corner space would be very attractive to something more upscale than Exquisite, likely willing/able to pay more in rent.
The guys in Exquisite told me that they were moving into the smaller spot for the takeout business and the larger corner area was going to be kept for full-service sit down. This was a couple of weeks ago, so I don't know if plans have changed since then.
By moving the take out to a diffierent location, they could certainly change their present business model for the corner space.
It presently has formica tables and casual dining service.
I wonder if they will take the leap to tablecloths and a full liquor lic.
I think the neighborhood would support it.
walked past today and exquisite is moving around the corner, so the entire space facing nostrand is now available. wonder what it'll be!
Heads up!
An entity known as L’Angle Inc., is in the process of asking CB8 for support for a full liquor license for 710 Nostrand Avenue (corner of Prospect).
That's this place, the corner:

Nostrand is likely to get another bar!
oh no. we already have such a problem with alcohol/drug use at our corner. can't imagine it would get better with another bar.
Do you feel Nostrand Pub contributed to the scene around its location?
If it comes to fruition, this venue will serve a similar clientele.
The folks planning it will ask for CB8's support on Monday, October 7, 2013 at 6:30 PM at CNR-Center Light Health Care Center, which is located at 727 Classon Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (between Park and Prospect Places).
Name change!
The entity is now going by Z’ Bar Café.
It will potentially have a garden/sidewalk café. They are scheduled to present in front of the CB8 SLA Committee on Nov 4th.
Note: they are apparently renters, and distinct from the people who run Exquisite.The drug and alcohol problem will not be exacerbated by another bar/cafe. The alcohol/drug use people dont have money to go to a proper establishment. If anything better stores and restaurants will not tolerate bums hanging outside their establishments. and I would think twice about a garden/sidewalk cafe, there always is a sewage smell in that intersection.
This is a high profile corner, and I am interested in seeing who has the experience and capital to take it on.
At first glance, it appears as if we may have already had one prospective bar tenant back out, for another. At the SLA mtg, we will learn just how experienced the applicant is.
If I was to open up this place, I might start it out with a West Indian theme. The area might not be quite ready for something as generic as St. Catherine on Washington Ave.
The good news (!) about the drug/alcohol activity at that intersection is that its mostly older folks who start their day off about mid-day, have cajoled, begged, or financed their way into their vice of choice by the late afternoon and are usually inside and settled by the late evening. While they do sometimes get rowdy, they seem to spend most of their energy yelling and arguing with one another over whose turn it is to go into the liquor store.
They don't strike me as the type to even think about wandering into a bar for a drink, and if they do, I suspect their choice would be Q's Tavern which seems to cater to the old man drinkers in the neighborhood. Like Tsarina said, they are more of the $5 Thunderbird and the $2.50 nip crowd and less of the cocktails and microbrew set. I don't think they'll even focus on whatever comes to that corner.
In the rare event that these folks have money and want to spend it at a bar, they are usually not welcome at bars that must stay full to stay in business.
These folks tend to cause others to avoid their haunts, and are thus bad for business.
Z Bar Cafe would be foolish to make them welcome.
Exquisite has settled nicely into its new location:
Nov 4.
The owners appeared at tonight's CB SLA mtg. They didn't quite have all of their paperwork in order, and were asked to come back at a later date to try again.
However, my gut tells me that they will indeed get their paperwork in order and be approved.
They are new to the whole food service, bar industry scene. They seek to open a venue that has about 40 seats and closes at 3 AM.
Z' Bar Cafe
Hmm, between the name of the place and that CB SLA presentation, it doesn't sound promising. Maybe I can't disassociate it with Q's Tavern and Island CZ Cafe.
What's up with some proprietors feeling the need to let everyone know what the their establishment is? - i.e. Tavern, Bar, Cafe.
Maybe I just prefer an mysterious or misleading name (ie - Franklin Park is not a Park and the Crown Inn is not an Inn) and ambiguity.
I do hope they have not under estimated the length of time it takes to navigate the DOH and SLA processes.
I believe they are renovating the storefront currently, and the time between when you done renovating and when you can open is brutal on the check book.
....the BBQ place on Nostrand at Union is presently in this brutal stage.
Z Bar Cafe will next appear on Monday, December 2, 2013 at 6:00 PM at CNR-Center Light Health Care Center, which is located at 727 Classon Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (between Park and Prospect Places).
The owners appeared at the community board committee meeting last night in sharp dress clothes with printed copies of their application and a pen for every board member -- they certainly seem to be trying! The committee voted to support their application for a license - but they'll have to jump through several more hoops to secure rights for the garden/sidewalk cafe.
The owners said they hoped to open in February.
Also, the owners struck me as very genuine and committed - they're a hip and good looking young black man and woman who've never applied for these kinds of licenses before -- just the kind of Mom and Pop shop the CT muffin thread seemed to fear would be crushed out of existence. I wish them the best!
Can I get a reader who walks by this place everyday to tell me how construction is looking?
Maybe ask a construction worker how much longer they think they will need?
Thanks.
I reached out to the owner an have been informed they hope to open in May.
So, if all goes as per his plan, we are looking at only 8 - 10 more weeks!
I haven't, and can't find anything on SLA.
So, I am beginning to think this place is not going to open.
http://www.trans.abc.state.ny.us/servlet/ApplicationServlet
In other news on this corner, BK Scoops / KaffeJac is now a barber shop. The real winner here is the guy who makes the awnings, as they get a new one here every six months or so.
BTW, I believe the owners of Exquisite own the entire building. They moved the restaurant to the back portion when they realized that they could rent out the front for good money.
I believe they are attempting to find a new tenant on their own, as opposed to through a RE agent as a result of not finding any ads for the space online.
http://www.nychealthratings.com/nycrestapp/browse/3/Crown Heights
So, I believe Abu Saeeyd is going to operate a restaurant.
Brooklyn Brassierie, 710 Nostrand Avenue (corner of Prospect) – Full
the SLA & Sidewalk Café Review Committee will meet on Monday, December 1, 2014 at 6:00 PM at CNR-Center Light Health Care Center, which is located at 727 Classon Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (between Park and Prospect Places).
This place does sound wonderful.
....serving drinks to people while they watch women try on bras could work. Sounds like something people might like.
It would have a cafe/bistro menu, and serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The committee voted to support the application.
http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/45137/nostrand-ave-2015-map/p1
At the meeting I attended, the owner stated he planned to open before he rec'd his liquor license, because unlike some of the venues we are watching, this place will have a substansial food menu.
He just filed for his alc lic on 1/5/2015, and I would be surprised if he gets it before April 1.
That would give him roughly 6 weeks from today to finish construction and get DOH's sign off on the kitchen inspection. While the photos show them as being pretty far along, that is an aggressive timeline.
Hopefully DOH's schedule is not backed up, and they pass on the first try.
(I don't know the exact date of the request)
A trusted source informs me that the hold up is reportedly getting the permits in order. I.E. BREUKELEN BRASSERIE feels it has a kitchen that is ready, but it either can't get DOH to look at it, or DOH looked at it but does not agree.
As discussed above, the operators are willing to open before they get their liquor permit. That's good, because that is still pending also: https://www.tran.sla.ny.gov/servlet/ApplicationServlet?pageName=com.ibm.nysla.data.publicquery.PublicQuerySuccessfulResultsPage&validated=true&serialNumber=1283346&licenseType=OP
Hopefully this will get sorted out by May 15th.
From a landlord's perspective, "we got a tenant at the rent we wanted without having to pay for steam cleaning. Why would we do it?"
Lic is still pending: https://www.tran.sla.ny.gov/servlet/ApplicationServlet?pageName=com.ibm.nysla.data.publicquery.PublicQuerySuccessfulResultsPage&validated=true&serialNumber=1283346&licenseType=OP
Now, they seem to be putting very little effort toward the coffee shop crowd, while nearby Lula Bagel seems to continue to do well. Food and coffee are a central parts of Lula's identity.
The new place (Breukelen) stated that they would have a larger focus on food than alcohol.
I believe that Nostrand has a number of laptop and tablet people looking for a place to spend time and money. So far, they have not chosen Two Saints. It does not have the tables, outlets, and visibility many coffee shop customers seek.
I am interested in seeing how B Bra proceeds. I think a coffee place with big tables, food, wifi and alcohol could thrive on Nostrand. I believe there is customer base that is ready. The nearby place on Rogers (Manhattanville) seems to be doing quite well.
...that experience could give him a leg up on Two Saints. The little bagel place and coffee shop that Mike D runs are mainly take out places.
My sense is that the local customer bases wants some place big and comfortable where they can enjoy time outside of their cramped apartments, and potentially be seen and approached by someone good looking.
I think B Bra gets that, whereas Two Saints has created a setting that is too formal, and perhaps too intimidating for such "first contacts" during the day. For example, one can not see into Two Saints from the street. During the day, how is anyone supposed to know whether anyone is good looking in there before they go in?
Once inside, the layout it is not really condusive to meeting NEW people during the day. ...whereas coffee shops have big tables that facilitate -um- offering and getting assistance using a website from good looking people.
Hence, you are not weird.
Who would have thought that Nostrand Ave would offer escargot before any place on Franklin?
Note that they carry 4 beers on tap : Stella cider, 1664 blonde (pilsner), 1664 blanche (white), and a wild goose. The 1664 white ("seize blanche", in french) is definitely my favorite.
One salade, one tartine, and two beers, for $29.
The music is really good (I noticed some James Blake tunes)
I'll go back fore sure.
Of course, they could reduce those hours if they don't see the demand, and then increase them once they believe the area is ready.
We can ask such questions then.
I suggested the idea back in March 2014, when it was in the process of becoming Z'bar.
Would readers be interested in gathering on Thursday, August 20th?
...this would give the staff a little time after their grand opening to get their act together.
If you haven't been in a while, B Bra has updated its menu. When they opened, I thought the food was really good, but wondered whether the prices (mid-teens) would fly in the neighborhood. The new menu has an excellent burger, poutine, and assorted other good-for-you and not-so-good-for-you things. I think prices top out at $10 or $11, with most things under that (the burger is $7 if I remember correctly). And the people who work there continue to be super nice.