The Candy Store- opening soon on Franklin/ Sterling

whynot_31

Urbanexplorer said:

sounds like launchpad 2.0 - meh!

Yea, I'm not sure what the business plan is for this space.

In the case of Launchpad, the owner heavily subsidized the place: He owns the building, folks make donations, and there are occasionally fund raisers, but there is no way the space brings in anything close to market rent to cover the opportunity costs. I think of it more as a "gift" to the community than anything else.

I'm not sure that Cool Pony is going to have the same "low" expectations regarding income. Unlike the people presently operating Launchpad, the people who are operating Cool Pony are paying something that is equal (or close) to market rent.

...Hence, Cool Pony may have to bring in some regular, substansial revenue to survive. Hosting events and classes at market rates is what I see in its future, and I expect the competition from entities like Brooklyn Brainery, and 1000 Dean Street to be fierce.

When the space was Candy Shop, it had events just about every weekend....

chloeroyale

When I say fitness center optical store jewelry store and spa I mean high end not whole in the wall. I would love to have a jewelry store that sells 14kt gold white gold platinum and of course a girls best friend DIAMONDS!

chloeroyale

Hopefully 1000 dean street can come forth with some high end stores

ilovefranklinave

Ambled in earlier today - they've got a soft opening with a whole bunch of performances coming this weekend, and they're aiming for a March 1 "grand opening."

http://ilovefranklinave.blogspot.com/2013/02/cool-pony-arrives-this-weekend.html

whynot_31

From ILFA's comment section:

1 wrote: Wow trust fund kids in the hood...

I feel bad for the neighbors and recommend arguing against a beer/wine license. This reeks of late night parties. How do they expect to pay there rent which rumored to be on excess of 5,000$. Good luck with that selling (clears throat) 78's!

.

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2 wrote: Garnet and Kevin have been owners for a while, and I'm glad they still own the space. There is so much unnecessary stuff opening on Franklin, replacing businesses that actually had a function- The hair salon for ex. And now Jamrock the Jamaican restaurant is closing I wonder what is going to open there. We don't need another bar/ overpriced grocer/ overly hip overly priced pizza joint....

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3 wrote: there are enough quirky thrift-style shops on the avenue as it is, not sure what this one hopes to add (and this is coming from someone who is probably among their intended demo).

I think what is interesting about these comments is the concept of "need", "necessary", and "enough".

In reality, business open and survive not based on what a given community "needs", but on what the owners believe the community will financially support, and what the community actually supports. This distinction is crucial.

There is, of course, a small minority of businesses that seem to not follow these rules. They seem to perpetually operate in a manner that they barely break even or actually lose money. These owners seem to be either:

-following their life dreams of operating a business that is not based on money, OR

-in need of money, but lousy at making it.

I wish this business the best.

If their business fails, I hope that it does not involve too much investment. In many ways, operating a failing a business is not as bad as paying for a worthless college degree:

-The cost is often not as large.

-The lessons are more immediate, as are the chances to implement corrective action

P.S. Businesses that seem stranger to me have survived and thrived! They should listen closely to the market, not me.

chloeroyale

There goes real diversity on Franklin ave with Jamrock closing ! oh will I can see the Franklin ave rents will probably start at five to six thousand and peak at fourteen thousand during this year and next !

whynot_31

As the neighborhood changes, businesses have to adapt and reinvent themselves to survive and thrive. Another alternative is to move to an area in which they think their services match the preferences of the local demographic.

I hope everyone's stay in the neighborhood is profitable, or rewarding in some way. As this stops being true, they should make changes....

chloeroyale

High rents is what's driving people out!!!!]

chloeroyale

Cool pony 5000.00 it's just the beginning I feel park slope rents coming

whynot_31

Yup. One needs a very profitable venture to survive on Franklin these days.

Bring your A Game.

Note, in this instance, I am defining "profitable" as merely being the difference between income and costs BEFORE rent.

P.S. People should not assume that Candy Shop closed because it was losing money.... Businesses close for other reasons. They own the building and will be opening another venture soon, but not in that location.

chloeroyale

Money is a bottom of everything u don't make money so goodbye unless your health is shot and u are being called to the cemetery

whynot_31

More details re: Cool Pony

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130301/crown-heights/crown-heights-thrift-shop-cool-pony-mixes-live-music-puppet-cabaret

The neighborhood is about to get a big influx of people seeking antiques and kitschy items, as a result of the 1000 Dean St. project.

This store could be the first of many similar stores that seek to profit from this coming customer base.

homeowner

The neighborhood is about to get a big influx of people seeking antiques and kitschy items

Can't they stay where they are? Last thing I want is stores full of twee crap.

whynot_31

My theory is that businesses are wise to pitch said stuff to people milling in the area eating lunch and whatnot on weekends, as part of the identity we are about to receive as a result of 1000 Dean.

You are right, we weren't asked it we wanted said crap, or people looking for said crap.

....opinions on such matters are rarely requested by new businesses. When they are requested, they are only listened to if they feel they will improve the position of the firm.

tateinbk

So I walked by Cool Pony the other day. It didn't look fully set up but a couple hours later there was a guitar player in the window and about 8 people sitting on benches inside watching. I would love a good thrift store, but they seem to be going for dark, messy, casual and certainly isn't inviting to me. Has anyone actually gone in?

ridonkulous

Here's hoping it's more thrift store and less performance space. They seem to open late in the afternoon, odd for a store. But I do like the look of their window display (and am hoping now that their clothing racks seem complete that there will be less sawing and drilling noise coming from the back yard at 3:30am )

ridonkulous

Poor little wink sign didn't work up there...

whynot_31

Ah, the renters are endearing themselves to their neighbors.

How sweet.

whynot_31

Press on Cool Pony:

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/36/11/dtg_hipstersnotparents_2013_03_15_bk.html

It is starting to sound like a more thought out business idea than just vintage clothing and puppets. This latest article doesn't mention puppets at all.

eastbloc

Puppets and thought-out business ideas are definitely at odds.

whynot_31

This last article sounds encouraging. I'll have to walk by thier Grand Opening on March 15 to see if they attact a crowd, and get a feel for their concept.

whynot_31

This article states it now opens officially on March 20th. FYI, it also does not mention puppets.

http://nymag.com/shopping/openings/cool-pony-2013-3/

BTW, I recently saw the landlords (ie the owners of the Candy Rush). From the sound of it, their attention will be placed solely on Tastebuds and getting to live a real life.

Cool Pony sounds as if it is going head to head in the small events on Franklin Ave, Crown Heights.

Let's see if the neighborhood will support both.

tsarina

not knowing where i left off in the discussion of developement on or off Franklin.... The Fresh bagel bakery on St. Marks just east of Franklin will open within two months. He is filing for LLC and then it will be a done deal. All the permit are ready. Just talked to him today.

whynot_31

I think it would be an injustice for Bagels to not get their own thread.

I will make it so.

http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/bagels-for-st-marks-near-franklin-june-2013?replies=1#post-766310

whynot_31

Cool Pony appears to get a more solid business plan!

whynot_31 said:

This article states it now opens officially on March 20th. FYI, it also does not mention puppets.

http://nymag.com/shopping/openings/cool-pony-2013-3/

BTW, I recently saw the landlords (ie the owners of the Candy Rush). From the sound of it, their attention will be placed solely on Tastebuds and getting to live a real life.

Cool Pony sounds as if it is going head to head in the small events market on Franklin Ave, Crown Heights.

Let's see if the neighborhood will support both.

Cool Pony, located at 721 Franklin, has decided it would like to (needs to?) bring in some more $, and is in the process of getting permission to sell beer and wine.

They will see if they can get CB8's support on August 5, 2013.

nothinlikeabklyngirl

I've only been there once, but it was a strange experience. It was a Friday afternoon and the place was empty. My friend and I went in just to take a peak (we'd had lunch at Chavela's and didn't feel like parting so we were wasting time wandering: a cookie at Lily & Fig, browsing at Calabar Imports and Owl & Thistle, then a drink at Crown Inn. In Cool Pony, we were completely ignored by the two guys working there -- no greeting, no help offered -- as they crisscrossed around us rearranging things. Then they turned the music up. They couldn't have made us feel more unwelcome.

samuelcole

Yeah...

So I had a really good experience once, when I wandered in because I heard/saw really decent blues being played. The audience was the owners, the musician's daughter, her boyfriend, and us. They let us BYOB some Sixpoint cans. I 'tipped' them and the musician. I'm unclear on how that was a long term business plan, but it was fun! If they can make that sustainable, awesome.

My wife has gone later for clothes, and said the selection was poor and overpriced, but neither of us are fashionistas, so who knows.

whynot_31

Cool Pony is clearly not liked by by everyone.

At last night's CB SLA mtg, the committee was not impressed.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130806/crown-heights/cool-pony-liquor-license-lighting-rod-for-angry-neighbors

Because the CB SLA Committee is merely advisory, it should be interesting to see whether the actual NYS SLA gives Cool Pony the permit despite neighborhood concerns.

The whole process of the CB (and the neighborhood as a whole) slowly learning how much control it is able to actually exert been sort of interesting to watch.

Note: The Karen Granville who is quoted in the above article is one of the same people who was vehemently opposed to the bike corral: http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/36/5/all_crownheightsbikerack_2013_01_25_bk.html

Needless to say, she lost that battle.

ridonkulous

I have to say, those quotes in the article are spot on. Cool Pony acted like they had no neighbors from the start, even before they fully opened. There's a reason for community board mtgs and the like. A store isn't just a private residence where you can have your friends over to party in the back yard.

It's a shame bc I like their music, clothes, etc, but they clearly didn't think ahead.

Is there a way to comment directly to the SLA or does it all go thru CB8?

whynot_31

The ways in which the SLA can be contacted are listed here:

http://www.sla.ny.gov/contact-directory

http://www.sla.ny.gov/register-a-complaint

To help the clerk who is going to process your concern, you'd want to provide the address of the business, and stress that the business is in the process of requesting a lic (not already in possession of one).

Cool Pony's address is 712733 Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11238.