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

whynot_31

The Heart of Brooklyn (located in a small storefront on Washington near EP) is seeking ideas on what kind of NEW businesses you would like to fill the twenty-four (24) still empty storefronts on Washington Avenue.

http://www.heartofbrooklyn.org/

Sorry, they aren't interested in hearing from people who would like even more Food/Bars and Hair/Nail Salons.

They are looking for NEW businesses that the community would financially support. Entities that you think would be economically sustainable.

If they get some good ideas, they will actively out reach to businesses in other parts of the city providing similar services and "pitch" the benefits of opening a location here.

In addition to getting ideas via this thread and other web means, they will be requesting input at the Economic Development Committee of Community Board 8. This committee will next meet on Feb 12, 2013 at 6:30pm at CNR on 727 Classon Avenue, corner of Park Place.

Please note: whynot_31 does not represent Heart of Brooklyn or CB 8. This post merely solicits comments that will be forwarded to them.

Let the jabbering commence....

Mods: Sorry for the double post. Washington Ave is the dividing line between PH and CH, so I figured two posts was the way to go.

kenieva

Bookstore!

chloeroyale

Why not , what happened over there it seems like a ghost town what happened to the optical shop diva desires the beauty supply shop ? They are all gone? The only business that seems the same is toms

whynot_31

You'd have to ask the business owners for the exact reasons they closed, but it is not unusual for there to be lots of businesses to close when a neighborhood changes and rent prices change.

Many can not afford the new rents, and/or have moved to areas where they think they will be more successful.

chloeroyale

Got u. I have a friend who has a business around there and she told me that one day she was in the store for 12 hours and only one person came into the store and that person was the mailman. And she will probably be closing soon.

whynot_31

Yup. As their old customer base moves away, businesses have to either attract a new customer base "here", OR become such a destination that thier prior customers will travel a distance to spend money with them, OR move their business to a place where they think they will be able to get customers.

Clay Films and I had a really good discussion about it on this thread about the changes that are going on Nostrand: http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/connecticut-muffin-coming-to-nostrand-ave

Returning to Washington Ave, I find it wierd that we don't have one of those places that sells good winter hats and gloves, umbrellas, and the like.

Mason on Franklin has some ok selection, but the store wouldn't need to be that large. It could be one of those tiny stores I see around. Nothing real fancy.

In the summer, the store could sell sunglasses and umbrellas.

Keneiva-

I can't think of any bookstores on Washington or Franklin.

Do you go to that bookstore on Vanderbilt? http://unnameablebooks.blogspot.com/

I rarely see people in there, and don't know how they stay in business.

There are some specialty bookstores on Nostrand near Atlantic, those seems busy.

burningorange

I think a pet groomer would be great. I used to take my dog to posh pets on flatbush but they have closed up because the landlord didn't renew the lease. (Apparently the landlord is kicking out the tenants on the whole block to build a big condo complex or something of that sort.)

Also it makes me really frustrated that the pharmacy isn't open on Sunday and closes early other days (before I can get home from work.) I always have to walk over to Duane Reade on Flatbush and 7th ave.

A store that sells some art supplies and other office supplies would be good too.

chloeroyale

Wow kicking out the whole block !!! Oh we'll who really has the power there!

newguy88

I've been wising for a good and affordable sports bar/grill.

chloeroyale

Alcohol alcohol that's the get high for the hipsters

jack krohn

I've shopped in Unnameable Books every so often and find that they have a good selection. I recently went there on a Saturday and it was pretty crowded. Many used bookstores do a big online business nowadays, using half.com or abebooks.com so perhaps that's how they pay their rent.

I think Washington Ave should have its own artisinal mayonaise store. The one on Vanderbilt is so busy that every avenue from Underhill to Rockaway Ave needs one. Especially if they employ Trinidadian strippers.

artistichic

Pet Groomer as there are a lo of pet owners off of Franklin Ave.

chloeroyale

I would love that but I think my pet is attached to Rocco and Jezebel

whynot_31

This pet groomer is in the immediate area of Washington Ave:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/fanci-pooches-and-purrs-spa-boutique-brooklyn

Perhaps they need to market more?

ehgee

newguy88- there's a sports bar at Park and Washington:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/half-court-sports-bar-brooklyn

According to Yelp, $10 pitchers and BYO food from any of the restaurants around, so definitely affordable. My roommate likes to catch Steelers games there.

chloeroyale

Why not I took my pet there the service was poor it should not take eight hrs for grooming

whynot_31

Readers, please keep the good ideas coming!

....let's remember, the Community Development types aren't going to seek out additional food/bars or nail/salon places....

And, they aren't going to look for businesses that directly compete with those already on the avenue.

NEW business ideas please....

chloeroyale

Why not competition is best for the consumer and I'm a consumer

whynot_31

Competition is good, and I am all for more of it, but those are not ideas this thread seeks.

In otherwords, I do not seek a conversation on what Washington Avenue businesses are "great" or what businesses "suck".

I seek ideas on what NEW types of businesses you (and other readers) believe will be economically sustainable on the avenue....

We can talk about competition later, in a different thread. ...I'll still be here.

chloeroyale

Ok what about a salad bar?

whynot_31

Chloe-

Salad is a food. One eats salad.

Maybe these lists will cause you to think of something that is not a food/bar or salon/nail, that you would like on Washington Ave:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retail#Types_of_retail_outlets

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Service_industries

This one lists 1200 careers. Could we benefit from having more people with these skill sets nearby? http://www.careerplanner.com/ListOfCareers.cfm

missd90

I would like to see a performance space for live music or community productions...there's that empty lot on Washington and Pacific...

or...

- art gallery

- community center

- a small movie theater

- a co-op space of some sort

- an educational resource that is partnered with another institution...something like this: http://thepoint.org/icp.php

newguy88

chloeroyale said:

Why not competition is best for the consumer and I'm a consumer

+1. Competition among the local shops is something that the Community Board should be supporting. If people are suggesting the same business that already exist it means that their not being satisfied by them. Hence supply and demand is not satisfied. Whynot_31 I think your being too dismissive.

But to appease you. How about a bike shop? Or a sports store?

ingenuity-jen

I DO shop occasionally at Unnameable Books, but I like Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene better-- better selection, great events, nice staff. It's worth the walk. If we had something like that, I'd be so excited. They also have stationary, which I like.

I know this is food answer (sorry), but what about a bakery? Not a sit-down cafe, dessert place, or whatever, but a place I can get bread, rolls, whatever, fresh-baked? I know there are some dessert/cake places along Washington and Franklin, but I'm thinking something that does straight up bread.

I noticed that Chrysanthemum's appears to be closing. They seemed to have really irregular hours (at least starting out) and only seemed to offer tea classes during the week when I was at work. I wonder if a different coffee/tea place could succeed. We don't need another cafe, but something like PS Coffee Tea N Spices in Park Slope might be cool. (My second food answer. Sorry.)

Or a homegoods/kitchen store.

chloeroyale

A small jewelry boutique with jewelry by local artist

ehgee

I wonder if one of those restaurant supply stores that do stoves & fridges & stuff up on Atlantic could open up a storefront for kitchen supplies? The ones in Manhattan are a good option for the budget-oriented chef:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/09mini.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

moufaisbad

a fresh fish market.

There is nowhere to get good, fresh fish outside of Saturdays at the green market and even then, if you dont get there by 8am you are screwed.

whynot_31

newguy88 said:

+1. Competition among the local shops is something that the Community Board should be supporting. If people are suggesting the same business that already exist it means that their not being satisfied by them. Hence supply and demand is not satisfied. Whynot_31 I think your being too dismissive.

But to appease you. How about a bike shop? Or a sports store?

I agree. But let's look at the brightside:

Any business person worth anything, researches where in the city people seem like they would jump ship FROM the existing businesses TO a new competitor.

If this thread doesn't scream that to business owners looking for a new (or first) location, I don't know what will.

...likewise, existing business on Washington are wise to read threads such as this to reach the conclusion that they need to up their game in order to earn thier neighborhood's business.

whynot_31

ehgee said:

I wonder if one of those restaurant supply stores that do stoves & fridges & stuff up on Atlantic could open up a storefront for kitchen supplies? The ones in Manhattan are a good option for the budget-oriented chef:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/09mini.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I would certainly join you in shopping at a mid-range housewares/kitchen store.

burningorange

A fish market would be great... a bit stinky in summer but there's no fresh fish nearby.

I've thought of opening a gallery, but I wonder if people would really buy enough artworks to sustain the rent.

whynot_31

Readers are more than welcome to continue to jabber on this thread and the other one in PH 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.