Survey: What New Business for Pacific Street?

nostrandpark

Hey all - the owners of Pacific Oasis Cafe are looking to expand their operations and open up shop in the neighboring storefront.

They were kicking around some ideas (Mediterranean take-out, ice cream parlor, and candy shop to name some of the ideas), but we suggested that they conduct a survey to get a better sense of what might make sense for residents. We said that we'd help them with the online outreach.

And so - the question for the folks out in Brooklynian-land is - what kind of store would you want to see open next to the Pacific Oasis Cafe (Pacific Street between Nostrand and New York)?

The storefront that they are scouting is only 600 sf, but it does have a backyard....

idlewild

A fried clam shack. Either whole bellies and/or cherrystones.

whynot_31

^^^^ plus fish.

The customer could choose one of several batters they wanted their fish sandwich fried in: Jerk, cajun, beer, tempura, etc.

...it would be so yummy.

I would love to sit in the back yard and then eat it. It would be sort of like those places on the beach in the West Indies.

In inclement weather, I would sit on the stools inside the small restaurant.

homeowner

A salad place. Its low overhead easy to run and easy to staff.

whynot_31

A salad place would be good if the landlord wants nothing to do with a fryer and the associated vent requirements.

Salads also smell less.

Do the owners of pacific oasis like fish? They'd better, if they open a fish/clam place.

urbanexplorer

clam / custom fish shack that also serves chowder, shrimp salad and lobster rolls with steak cut skin on french fries, onion rings, or salad options to be washed down with a cold beer or a glass of wine in the backyard dinning area surrounded by drift wood, surf boards, tiki torches etc. Clam bake events with live music in the backyard on Saturday and Sunday afternoons during the warmer months.

whynot_31

are we reaching the conclusion that we'd like a miniature version of Hot Bird?

http://www.yelp.com/biz/hot-bird-brooklyn

urbanexplorer

Haven't been to Hot Bird yet, do they serve all the seafood and side goodies listed above?

whynot_31

No.

Hot Bird is different, but similar to our ideas.

You should go.

idlewild

I thought Hot Bird went out of business more than 15 years ago. Are they the same people, or another incarnation? I remember the old Hot Bird not being very good. Really dry chicken.

whynot_31

New owners and business model but same name to take advantage of name recognition from 30 years of yellow painted buildings. Follow link above for the current incarnation.

booklaw

We loved the original Hot Bird. When they first opened, their rotisserie chicken was excellent, and delivered with corn on the cob and some other side I do not now remember, was the cheapest imaginable way to feed a family of four with a healthy and nutritious takeout dinner. At that time, they were the only purveyors of rotisserie chicken in the area. I still miss it!

trumystic

General categories of things that I would like to see around here...

-Drugstore: where I can get skin care products and other toiletries at a reasonable price ( and should be open on Sundays)

-Hardware store: that would have stuff than an apartment dweller needs (I dont count the place on Nostrand cause its geared to a professional audience or the place on Bedford cause its always closed)

-Bookstore/cafe

-Good eats: whatever it is has to be good and cheap think street food ie under $7. Give me Vietnamese sandwiches, fried bakes and saltfish, noodles, tacos, meat on a stick- whatever it is make it tasty and cheap and people will come. But make sure it is food you know and that you can make authentically.

-Ice cream: but please dont make it all frou-frou and $3 a scoop other wise you will fail. But give me some good mango or vanilla ice cream and I will be all over that place

The owners can decide if any of the above would fit in that space and or their business model.

P.S. For those talking about fried seafood- Maroc which is on Park Place between Bedford and Rogers serves up shrimp, crab and other fried seafood goodness. Its a tiny little spot but in the summer they have tables on the sidewalk. It has a Caribbean vibe and has smoothies and drinks to boot.

Also the fresh seafood place on Nostrand @Sterling I think (which has a better selection than what I saw at Compare Foods) can steam or deep fry your seafood for you while you wait.

nearnostrand

As noted above, the space is only 600sq.ft. If this is a serious query - at least for the purpose of this thread, we should give answers that actually might work within the aforementioned space. I would like a Target store, but come on.

My recommendation would be, if the stores are conjoined, to open up the wall and allow for more kitchen space and seating space, while also offering higher quality coffee, tea, and home made pastries.

nearnostrand

Also, a clam shack sounds delicious, if the owners actually know anything about fresh clams and their preparation. I takes my clams (and oysters) seriously!

idlewild

Trumystic said:

General categories of things that I would like to see around here...

-Drugstore: where I can get skin care products and other toiletries at a reasonable price ( and should be open on Sundays)

-Hardware store: that would have stuff than an apartment dweller needs (I dont count the place on Nostrand cause its geared to a professional audience or the place on Bedford cause its always closed)

-Bookstore/cafe

-Good eats: whatever it is has to be good and cheap think street food ie under $7. Give me Vietnamese sandwiches, fried bakes and saltfish, noodles, tacos, meat on a stick- whatever it is make it tasty and cheap and people will come. But make sure it is food you know and that you can make authentically.

-Ice cream: but please dont make it all frou-frou and $3 a scoop other wise you will fail. But give me some good mango or vanilla ice cream and I will be all over that place

The owners can decide if any of the above would fit in that space and or their business model.

P.S. For those talking about fried seafood- Maroc which is on Park Place between Bedford and Rogers serves up shrimp, crab and other fried seafood goodness. Its a tiny little spot but in the summer they have tables on the sidewalk. It has a Caribbean vibe and has smoothies and drinks to boot.

Also the fresh seafood place on Nostrand @Sterling I think (which has a better selection than what I saw at Compare Foods) can steam or deep fry your seafood for you while you wait.

I've always wondered what the deal with Maroc has been. It seems every time I went past there, it's been closed. But, I will take another look. I still want my clam shack though.

yby

It would be nice to have a Nostrand Ave version of Nam's on Franklin Ave.