Jimmy's Gourmet Lunchbox

capt. planet

Subject: Jimmy's Gourmet Lunchbox

A new sign went up this week over the former Cheffy's Restaurant on Nostrand bet. Park Pl and Sterling. I'm told it is being operated by friends of the nice daycare center on the opposite corner. A garden cafe so I'm told. Sounds like a great addition to the local scene. Two restaurants in one week one block apart on Nostrand Avenue. Where will it end??? The former Black Lady Theater across the street gets turned into an independent film forum???

won't ub my nabor

Pardon if this is a silly question, but what is a garden cafe?

Re: the independent film forum for the BLT -- that sounds fantastic, but is that dream, rumor, or speculation????

As was previously posted, some Pratt master's students did a presentation about how to spark community development in CD8. NostrandPark covered the story. [insert shameless plug here -->] http://nostrandpark.com/2009/05/14/planting-the-seeds-for-change-in-community-district-8/

Some of Pratt's suggestions for Nostrand include a "Crown Heights School of Beauty" and a "Restaurant Row". They also suggest opening up a movie theater on Sterling (between Nostrand and Rogers).

A general movie theater sounds good, but I'd definitely love to see an independent film theater, particularly since there are a lot of artists and filmmakers in the neighborhood. And the BLT sounds like a great location for it. Is this in the works, or I am just getting my hopes up for nothing...??

homeowner

Another food option would be great, but if I'm not mistaken, that building shares a yard with the apartments on Park. Not sure what the situation is like in the back for a true garden cafe. I didn't think the Nostrand Avenue properties had large yards at all.

As for the movie suggestion, I'll fill you guys in on a little remembered secret. The church on the SW corner of Nostrand and EP used to be a movie theater. In addition to the regular screening area indoors, there was a large (500+ seats) outdoor theater on the roof where movies were shown during the spring and summer. On the back side (Union Street) of the building there are metal stairs that lead to the roof, and from the Crown Heights North side of EP you can see the large wall on the roof that films were projected onto. How cool would it be if some film or theater buffs were to work with the church to get summer movies back up there?

won't ub my nabor

Yes, I actually knew about the theater. In fact, there was a piece on it and another old movie theater in the neighborhood on the ILoveFranklinAve blog: http://ilovefranklinave.blogspot.com/2009/04/worshipping-in-movie-houses-and-making.html. (Yes, yes, I'm a Crown Heights blog junky).

Since the church owns the theater, I thought the movie thing would be a lost cause. But I like your suggestion about working with the church to get theater. There is the group, Rooftop Films, which does independent films. Maybe they could make it happen.

davidb

Just so we get it right and have folks looking for the right establishment - it is Joey's Gourmet Lunchboxx - not Jimmy's!... and it is spelled with two "xx"s...not a misspelling...just some marketing flair!

capt. planet

The thing that's unique about BLT is that it's for sale. While not as ideal as such former theaters as the one on EP, Bedford and Bergen and Bedford and Lincoln Place, it is available. It also is small, meaning that a lot of chopping up would not have to be done. You may recall the former Saunders Theater on PPW in Park Slope was once one huge theater but is now something like 9 small theaters and called the Pavilion. A simliar fate might await large theaters in Crown Heights if they ever became available.
Let's see if we can work with what we've got. Does anyone know what price the owner is asking for BLT?

rosweed

Great! What's on the menu?

won't ub my nabor

Does anyone know what price the owner is asking for BLT?

They are asking $2 million for the BLT: http://www.masseyknakal.com/listingimages/setup/pdf/633741064448161250_Setup.pdf

I wonder if they would be willing to lease the space?

homeowner

If I'm reading this correctly, the $2mm is the price for both BLT and the Slave 1 on Fulton.

won't ub my nabor

If I'm reading this correctly, the $2mm is the price for both BLT and the Slave 1 on Fulton.

No -- I think they are just letting you know that there is a package option available. But it appears that the $2 million is just for BLT. Slave 1 is going for $2.95 million: http://www.masseyknakal.com/listingimages/setup/pdf/633718691042537500_Setup.pdf

ben

In this article they give an initial listing price of $1.45M for the BLT. http://ny.therealdeal.com/articles/slave-theater-faces-extinction

I wonder if there was a lot of demand and thus the increased price. It would be surprising but welcome given the current state of the economy and RE market.