What kind of NEW Businesses would you like on Washington Ave?

whynot_31

Inpixels-

Your imagination is beyond my comprehension.

Wbm-

I too salute you, and advise you to trek to the completely acceptable NSA.

I now return to the subject of United Deli. I spoke them this evening and they stated that they are going to remodel everything. "We are going to move the fridges to the back wall. We are not going to stock any of this merchandise"

....they are in the process of becoming a version of St John's marketplace. Please stop by and congratulate them on their decision, and tell them we are delighted they are staying in the neighborhood!

P.S. This thread (and its parallel on on the CH board) have made me very impressed with how hungry and thirsty we remain, despite the improvements that have already occurred.

Present and potential merchants, are you reading?

Anyone have more non food/bar, non hair/nail ideas?

inpixels

Did someone say Subway?

Meh.

Subway sandwich has an 11-inch size problem

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/subway_sandwich_has_an_inch_size_DVYY6cohbYlp8byojHTIGN

bkchickie

homeowner said:

Now, is when I say NA-NA-na-NA-NA to all of you "we're actually in Prospect Heights" folks. Nostrand has two fish markets (one of which does a slamming steamed fish pot lunch)!

Ooh, tell me more about the lunches, please!

bkchickie

wbm said:

This neighborhood needs a real pharmacy. One that doesn't close at 5pm. I'd love to see a Duane Reade or a CVS on Washington Ave.

Wonder what kind of demographics Duane Reade/Walgreens or CVS looks for in a neighborhood. That stretch of Washington feels like one of the few Duane Reade-free zones in the entire city.

ETA: I agree, a second pharmacy option on Washington would be great.

homeowner

BKChickie- Fish market on Nostrand just off of Sterling (near Gloria's) has an area in the front that used to sell only fried fish sandwhiches and meals. Recently they added steamed fish to the menu. They have a steamed fish pot with fish, crab legs, corn on the cob, potatoes, etc. You can get it steamed and seasoned only or with melted butter on top. I've been in there a couple of times and seen people ordering it and it looks and smells great, but I've never taken the plunge myself because it's so much food (definitely enough for 2 people). I've asked a couple of people that have ordered it and they've all recommended it.

ingenuity-jen

I second the earlier vote for a Jack's Discount store. There's one near my office in Manhattan and I'm always popping in there for stuff.

And a pharmacy with later hours would also be appreciated.

bkchickie

Homeowner sounds like a great lunch for two, or lunch for one & leftovers with cornbread for breakfast the next day!

inpixels

Re: 99 Cents Jacks / Jack's World

Jack's roots are in Brooklyn... maybe the time is ripe to return?

I could see it happen in the fire lot that gets rebuilt next to the old Calabar Imports at St. Johns & Washington discussed and photo above

"Jack has always been a retailer at heart. Growing up in Brooklyn, Jack was the kid who had the lemonade stand, the teenager who worked the Aqueduct Flea Market and the young man who sold bed spreads and comforters to Department Stores. Jack wanted his own retail store and was offered a very unique opportunity to take over a short term lease of a store in Brooklyn. Jack made it fly. Jack created excitement for his customers through the exceptional values sold in the store. When his lease was winding down a real estate developer from Manhattan met Jack and convinced him to open a store in Manhattan. History was made!!!!!"

http://jacks99world.com/about.asp

joeschmo

upscale 99 cent store, really?

all the new businesses on wash ave are great, it's the ones that are still around that let drugs get sold in front of their business that need to be replaced, with anything of redeeming value.

but instead of what we need less of, what we need more of is a good children's clothing and toy shop; another bank; someplace to get a really good rotisserie chicken on the way home from the subway; duane reade or CVS on that corner plot across from the police castle that stores a bunch of cars would be perfect.

inpixels

upscale 99 cent store, really?....it's the ones that are still around that let drugs get sold in front of their business that need to be replaced, with anything of redeeming value.

Guess you've never been to Jacks

In fact it's an "upscale" version of this type of store that would put the nail in the coffin of the 99 cent stores on Washington (if you can call them that... go to Franklin for the real 99 cents stores) effectively getting the results that you seem to be after.

don't think these business are mutually exclusive as OP @whynot_31 said there are "twenty-four (24) still empty storefronts"

notsayin

Jay B - don't forget Dee's Pet Food at 716 Classon near Propspect Place - he's open 9am to 10 pm and offers free delivery.

Jay B said:

We need a pet supply store. The one on Vanderbilt is too expensive and too far to lug cat litter and food all the way back to Washington. Chase Bank would be nice too.

back to brooklyn

While walking down Washington yesterday, I noticed how small most of these vacant storefronts are. I don't even think you could fit a fish market into one, let alone a Duane Reade or a Jacks (which is the size of a department store.)

I think it would be an interesting proposition to find some of the non-food vendors from the defunct DeKalb Market, and hook them up with storefronts where they could sell their vintage toys, homemade clothing, stylish hats, carefully selected LPs, homemade lamps and other esoterica.

These vendors were comfortable operating out of a shipping container, so they are just the right size for Washington Avenue's tiny storefronts. And stores like this would make an excellent complement to the museum, making Washington into a daytime destination.

I also agree that we need a bigger pharmacy, and I would love to have better food shopping options than Key Food and NSA (No Strings Attached?), maybe a butcher like Fleischer's or a fish store like the one on Court Street, and a simple greengrocer like Mr. Melon on Fulton Street.

inpixels

again, a larger store can fit in the yet unbuilt building that was burned down on St. Johns and Washington

bkchickie

Back to Brooklyn said:

While walking down Washington yesterday, I noticed how small most of these vacant storefronts are.

*snip*

I think it would be an interesting proposition to find some of the non-food vendors from the defunct DeKalb Market, and hook them up with storefronts.

These vendors were comfortable operating out of a shipping container, so they are just the right size for Washington Avenue's tiny storefronts. And stores like this would make an excellent complement to the museum, making Washington into a daytime destination.

Great idea! "Washington Ave: the artisans' mile."

homeowner

I heard once at a precinct council meeting, that the PD were concerned about illegal conversions of storefronts (landlords splitting one storfront unit into two). I wonder if some of the smallest Washington Ave storefronts are even legal?

whynot_31

The HOB people recently took some photos of what seems to be the better sites available. Here they are:

P.S. one of these sites signed a lease today, 1/22/2013! It will soon be occupied

whynot_31

Readers are more than welcome to continue to jabber on this thread and the other one in CH section, but your input probably won't be considered by HOB or CB 8.

...I have sent them the links and told them thanks for asking our input.

smrf

I'd really like to see a produce shop, a Chase branch, a bakery and a Southern restaurant or wing spot on Washington. A pet shop would definitely do well too.

ntfool

Hmmm. What feels completely ridiculous and out of left field? Oh, I know! A cigar bar!

...oh, wait...

whynot_31

At some point, some woman who has just left the new fancy tea and flower place, and some guy who has just left the new cigar lounge will go the NSA supermarket.

They will meet in line. Complement each other, exchange emails, date for a few months, become fascinated with each others differences and then decide to just share one apartment instead of maintaining two.

Hey, it could happen.

http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/cigar-lounge-opening-saturday-on-washington-near-dean

http://brooklynian.com/forum/prospect-heights/tea-and-flower-place-for-washington-ave

whynot_31

Here's more info on this effort from the Wash Ave Merchants Association:

Commercial rents for spaces on Washington and Franklin avenues — which range from 500 to 1,500 square feet and rent for between $2,500 and $5,000, she said — are a tempting opportunity for retail establishments on much more expensive commercial corridors such as Smith and Court streets, where rents for comparably sized spaces can go for almost double those amounts.

And it’s exactly those types of businesses that Oton and other economic movers and shakers in the neighborhood hope to lure.

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/36/10/dtg_prospectheightsbooster_2013_03_01_bk.html

Where's that comic book store Homeowner wanted? Yup.

kc7179

Butcher

Fish Store

stacey

KC7179 those are my exact thoughts too!

Plus I have been trying to convince Paisanos on Smith to open up a store up here.

kc7179

Might as well try to convince Fish Tails on Court to open up here as well! Paisanos willing to open a place here?

stacey

kc7179 said:

Might as well try to convince Fish Tails on Court to open up here as well! Paisanos willing to open a place here?

Ah KC we are truly kindred souls I absolutely love Fish Tales Paisanos always says "its something we should look in to" but never commits to an answer

whynot_31

More snazzy vacant store front photos from Wash Ave Merchants Association

bkchickie

stacey said:

KC7179 those are my exact thoughts too!

Plus I have been trying to convince Paisanos on Smith to open up a store up here.

A Paisanos branch on Washington would be FANTASTIC!

whynot_31

Now available in survey form!

Make us happy, take the survey!

http://surveymonkey.com/s/washingtonavenue

whynot_31

Here is how specific spaces are going to be marketed to the larger community.

http://prospectheights.patch.com/articles/visions-for-vacancies-820-washington-ave

Goal: Fill storefronts by 2014.

Ready?

whynot_31

Today (April 3rd), one can also talk to the folks who work for HOB and then literally "stick" what kind of business you would like on Washington Ave to the plywood located at St. Johns and Washington.

I kid you not.

For extra points, tell her whynot_31 sent you