Opening a business near Carroll St Bridge. Input NE1

I've been here for about a month. Love the area, although some would say that im invading the bococa area. I live really in downtown brooklyn/boerum hill borderline. right across from the fulton mall/smith st.

hey, id check it out!!

I take my kids to walk over the carroll st bridge all the time - have always felt it would be a great spot for a chill place to hang out, grab a drink, something light to eat. funky but unpretentious. I'll be there.

Care to bring something like the old Halcyon formula back to life?

Totally comfy music vibe, great coffee (Gorilla, perhaps?), some options for at least light foods and treats (Margaret Palca and/or Sweet Mellissa?), plenty of comfy funky retro seating and, of course, wifi.

I loved their live djs on any given weekend day.

They also stocked and sold a ton of vinyl and dj-related garb, then they moved from Smith Street to Dumbo and that's all they sell (dumped the whole food/coffee/lounge biz). Bummer. Loved the low-key, great beats lounge vibe.

But you have to get the comfy quirky neighborhood coffee lounge/cafe bit down pat to succeed.

Jam for Bread at Henry and Amity Street in Cobble Hill failed because it never got this. Too cold, sterile. The antithesis of quirky comfy. Food was prefab and sat in boxes in a fridge case, not prepared fresh. As a result, it was on the bland side. She really needed to get some rugs and couches in there (no worries about cost...cheap vintage store variety works in all these places), fix the food/coffee bar situation, and swap out the stark black and white cold decor with perhaps more earthy tones and some sort of visual texture (odd furnishings or wall items etc.). She had huge wraparound windows there on two sides, which would have been helped with some drapes or something to add to the cozy and soften out the boxy feel there.

Anything to take it from the hospital commissary feel to a more organic, warm, cozy and unique experience.

In contrast, The Coffee Den on the corner of Union and Hicks, despite being right alongside the BQE, gets this concept very well. And it is extremely successful and has been immediately embraced by locals as a result, despite being a bit out of the way for most (as opposed to instant hit new Tea Lounge outpost located centrally on Court at Kane Streets).

Go check out Coffee Den for ideas about how even a small, narrow space can get it so right (IMO), despite challenges of relatively offbeat location and limitations of their small space.

Fall Cafe on Smith by Union Street is just okay in my book. Not thrilled wit it. Just kind of a big square box inside. Coffee's okay. Food's okay. Its central location and good amount of loungey seating (and perhaps wifi?) is definitely what keeps it full.

If I can think of anything else to say, I'll update here.

Hope the above ain't too lame. Just kinda burst outta me. (hah)

Good luck!