[EasternPkwyQ]

Mr. Mooney received an eviction notice on October 30th, giving him 30 days to get out. Apparently, the landlord raised the rent [I have been asked to remove the dollar amounts as they may not be accurate] and then Mooney received an eviction notice.

Seems pretty extreme - I'm sure they're hoping that American Apparel's good buddies at Starbucks or some such place will take over the location. It makes me nauseous.

For me, this is a tremendous loss of a lovely neighborhood gathering spot. It may not be the hippest or the most glamorous, but it's such a great place to meet and talk to your neighbors - people from all backgrounds gather there and actually interact with one another. I have met some wonderful people there who I now count amongst closest friends.

The landlord the same person (or at least so I hear) that has evicted Royal Video. I don't know what else they own, but I certainly plan to boycott whatever takes over these leases and I hope others will do the same. This isn't Manhattan and we live here because it's not Manhattan and we want local business owners who actually contribute to - and care about - the neighborhood and the people in it. Mooney's does that and this is a tremendous loss to Prospect Heights and Park Slope.

[Innocent X]

Where will all the drunks go?

[DeWalt_Russ]

Dammit! That place had a great jukebox and nice low-key atmosphere. If it turns into a Starbucks, I'm sure I'll make it a point never to go there.

This is a real shame.

[EasternPkwyQ]

I'm glad you think it's amusing. Obviously, you don't really know the people who hang out at Mooney's. Yes, there are some drunks, but there is also a really nice community of people who gather there and interact, just like they're at Ozzie's or the Tea Lounge or some pretentious yuppie gathering spot. Only these people come from ALL walks of life, income brackets and so forth...

[Innocent X]

Mooney's is an institution around here. Great jukebox, great characters. Used to go there a lot years ago. It's a losing battle, this whole thing with local businesses vs. the chains of the world.

But...I still am curious about the answer to my question. I hope they find a home.

[jgregorie]

well welcome to new york circa 2007
all the cool old places are being priced out.

sadly its just the way things are today, there isnt much anybody can do about it.

and you know if a star bucks or jamba juice goes in to that space it will be packed 24/7

[arlette]

where is mooneys located? and royal video?

[Innocent X]

Starbucks, I must say, would be pretty sweet in either of those locations. They're just a much better option than our local coffee joints.

[Hamilton]

This is another chapter in the raping of Brooklyn .
Do we have any representatives that care about the ongoing destruction of our established communities or are they all whores in the pockets of the real estate marauders.

It appears Markowitz and Blooomberg diddle while Brooklyn burns

[Carnivore]

This is just terrible.

[Mamacita]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Mi and Papi were so upset last night when we read this. I was going to Mooney's before I even moved here. I remember going to the old Christie's location on the corner and getting some patties and eating them at Mooney's late at night. So sad.


So should we have a PH/PS happy hour at Mooney's before it's gone? Show our love?

[Carnivore]

[alafairnadia]

[Spain]

[Karl the Druid]

[Innocent X]

Well, the local coffee places leave a lot to be desired in my opinion which is why they're ripe to get destroyed by Starbucks.

[EasternPkwyQ]

[LeeHo]

That is such a bum deal. Mooney's is one of those real bars that has been around for ages and feels like home because it does exactly what a bar is supposed to do, make you feel comfortable and want to spend lots of time there. I will really miss Ben and the intricate designs he made on my head of guinness.

Really? What is the fucking point of shuttering the place. If Starfucks goes into that space I will forever boycott them and urinate on the bathroom floor they so kindly let me use.

BK is becoming much like it's bitch-ass sister next door and that really needs to stop.

BTW. is there any definitive news about Freddy's these days? I thought their days were numbered, but they seem to keep on trucking along.
_________________
The best of men aren't at their "best" at all times.

[Mamacita]

Is any of the gang around next week (the week of the 12th)?
We can meet up at Mooney's on a Thursday, Friday, hell, even a Saturday.
I'll make myself available. Anyone up to make a White Castle run too?

[nomad]

I'd like to join in if a HH does happen. I love dive bars, but have not plucked up the courage to go to Mooney's alone and can't seem to persuade a pal to join me.

I hate to think that when I'm sweating it out at 8am on the treadmill at Crunch opposite that I'll be looking at Starbucks/Jamba Juice etc rather than some slightly pickled old fella stepping out for a smoke from his first pint of the day.

[Innocent X]

It's just inevitable that Starbucks and Chase and AA and Duane Reade and whatever other corporate monsters roll into a burgeoning neighborhood and eat it up.

Local businesses are great...if they're worth their salt. But like I said, coffee shops around here aren't so hot. I'd feel bad if they were awesome and got knocked around by Starbucks, but if they suck then they kind of get what they deserve.

But I wish Starbucks would supplant the Heights' space vs. Mooney's.

[jgregorie]

well only good thing is if starbucks does go in it will increase property values in the area. having a star bucks within 5 blocks of your coop automatically = 5000 increase.

a starbucks is like a beacon to white people telling them its okay to live here.

man how long before wing wagon and el jaguar grand whatever on the corner get the boot.

wing wagon is the only place i would be upset by if it was gone. love there sweet potato fries.

[Karl the Druid]

starbucks slogan:

for what we lack in character

we just make it up
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destination: roam

[WhyFi]

[stacey]

[Carnivore]

Shall we say Thursday 11/15?

[apollonia666]

That's payday for me, so I vote yes!

[killvankull]

brooklyn imports (like myself) have to take some, if not most, of the responsibility for making PH profitable for realtors, landlords, developers --- and places like american apparel and the alleged starbucks. i'm paying what i consider an awful lot of rent to live here, so my claim to the high ground is limited.

storefronts of many (most) neighborhoods very nearby are not as hot; venture a dozen blocks away from park slope. no hipster coffee shops on washington - yet

having said that, it totally sucks that mooney's is leaving. on at least one st patrick's night it was a thorough mix of new and old brooklyn types. good stuff. if my landlord upped my rent that much (which is probably inevitable), my reply would be the same as mooney's: f you.

and starbucks. long live prospect perk.

[steve]

I think somewhere in this thread it should mention that Scott is one of the best bartenders in Brooklyn. He's always been a great host to the hash.
_________________
For The Love Of Paris, Don't Go To The Lounge!

[Santa]

this is the closest bar to me

this sucks

[sweet tea]

I'm there thursday. i'll go straight after work (7ish) if some other folk will come early. those who came out last week saw for themselves that i can't stay awake much past 9 on my teaching days....

this sucks.
_________________
That's right, I'm not from Brooklyn.
But Brooklyn wants me anyway.

[sprite]

This is sad. I've only been to Mooney's a couple of times, but I like it - such a great jukebox! I'm definitely there next Thursday.
_________________
What is essential is invisible to the eye. —Antoine de Saint Exupéry

[caseopele]

[alafairnadia]

[friendlypitbull]

If the bar is such an institution and so popular then a small increase of prices should more than make up for the increase in the rent.

And if Flatbush is destined for high rent chain stores then Mooneys would be smart to sign a long term lease at the higher rent and if he cant make it, sell the lease himself to some national chain.

I just have to ask how you can all call the LL greedy without knowing his/her expenses (taxes etc..) and also without knowing what the market rate is for similar priced stores on the strip.

If Mooney's was enjoying below market rents (apparently even Mooney's agrees that $4000 is below market) pursuant to a long-term lease - was the bar owner "greedy" for pocketing the $2000 for the last few years?

[Alex]

[poppy13]

I'm done for next Thursday for sure! I missed the last one cause of work stuff... anyone miss me? Haha.

Mod question - is it usually the case to post a new one for just HH events?

[alafairnadia]

[EasternPkwyQ]

[dailyheights]

Most depressing news ever.

[eterpay]

where will all the drunk old men go for their 8am pick-me-ups?

[Restless Native]

Scumbags..

I hope the landlord gets a nice case of food poisoning as karma for this.

[d-miriam]

did anyone ever gather at Mooney's in the 90's to cheer the Knicks on during the playoffs? heartbreak city, year after year! those were some of my most memorable nights in Brooklyn. what a bonding experience. I can't believe this bar is actually getting the boot. it's just such a sad, pathetic day...

[pensodyssey]

[Drano]

Guys. I'll miss Mooney's like everybody else, but you all are waaaaay too rag3d at just the landlord over this. The way I see it, we're partially to blame - at least since I've been coming to the HH's there have been more held at Soda alone than Mooney's - and we've had a heckuva lot that weren't at Soda. When someone new to the area comes to the board and wants to know a good place to meet people or hang out, Mooney's is rarely - if ever - recommended. Stories about drinking exploits, nights out, or whatever else rarely begin with, "We were at Mooney's, and..." It's easy to be pissed at the landlord, and there's definitely good reason for it - it's a big hike - but the fact is that the joint has a lot of competition which a lot of people here patronize more than they do Mooney's. That's a situation that could hardly be expected to change if they hiked drink prices to close the gap - and even if it did, doing so would probably gut their base business.

Anyhow, I'm just saying this because I was about to make a "the landlord should be shot, thrown in a ditch, and then hit with a stiff fine" post (do not do any of that stuff, please), and I realized it had been a loooong time since I had stopped in there for a quick one or brought a few of my friends to the place.