New play spot for Kids on Franklin Avenue!

MHA wrote:
I assert -- based purely on anecdote -- that the children's section of the New York Public Library is under utilized space, given it's collection and potential for use, and were it an entity dependent upon patronage it would be long closed -- oh yeah, the hours are going to be cut, right?

I'm going to have to disagree with you here, MHA, at least regarding the central branch of Brooklyn Public Library. On weekday summer afternoons, the children's section is like Grand Central, packed with kids from infancy to early adolescence and their caregivers. And, remarkably, the demographics reflect a good cross-section of Brooklyn.

Funding for NY Public libraries, including our own, has not been cut because of lack of use. The Brooklyn Public library system attracted 13 million visitors through its doors last year. No, instead huge cuts to the libraries were announced out of a desperate attempt to balance the state's runaway budget. After these huge cuts were announced in May, so many Brooklynites protested them that 80% of the funding was restored to our library system.

I think that libraries provide an essential service to our communities, and especially to neighborhoods like Crown Heights. Whether we like it or not (and I don't) now that NK has closed, there is no other children's bookstore to take its place. Nor are there small independent bookstores (like the one on Washington Ave, east side) or big, rambling chain stores such as Barnes & Noble like you find in Park Slope. Libraries are it.

And there is a reason why a neighborhood like Crown Heights has to depend on its libraries, a reason why parents who live here are going to buy their kids video games, instead of books. The reason depends on two facts: 1) reading is the biggest indicator of a student's ability to succeed academically, and 2) parents who read raise kids who read.

Related to the first fact, kids who read grow up and graduate high school, they graduate college, they may even become one of the 10% of Americans who do post-graduate work. In our knowledge-driven society, we reward people who succeed academically with middle-class jobs. And, until recently, people who could afford to leave didn't stick around Crown Heights.

Then, related to the second fact, the people who could afford to leave Crown Heights are now off in their Fort Greene brownstones (or the equivalent) teaching their own kids to read, largely through example. Adult readers value reading, and not just for where it can get their kid, but also for the sheer goodness of it.

I hope you don't mind me now turning the tables on you a bit, MHA. And, of course, it's fondly (as I would be fond of anyone who believes so strongly in the power of books to transform lives). MHA, you are one of those kids who managed to get out of "the ghetto," presumably through your academic achievement which relied on your ability to read. And you are also someone who values reading, to the extent that you were even purchasing books at NK for the kids around you (who then didn't read them, probably because they've never seen anyone spend their time reading before).

I know this is a long post, but all of it is just to say: please support your public library. NK was a beautiful, idealistic concept, but a thriving public library is the best shot that kids in Crown Heights have at developing a life-long reading habit. Our libraries work very hard to figure out how to engage kids across socioeconomic levels with reading. A kid may not be able to rely on a parent to bring her home books, but eventually she will be able take her own self on over to her neighborhood library.

Krowonhill,
I don't mind the tables turned at all. I enjoy conversation, I welcome new ideas, and new ways of perceiving the world.
I still hold to my opinion about why NK did not thrive however. It's interesting that were you to ask any Black business owner -- ANYWHERE -- about Black patronage of their business, you will get a response akin to what happened to NK. And that is, Black people have serious issues with supporting Black business. One would think that the existence of Black business would mean an automatic slam dunk for the proprietor, but it doesn't. And many have said that's because Black businesses are rife with unprofessionalism. Really? How many Black professional athletes have attorneys who look like them? I contend that the reason NK failed is because Black people have issues with their own. We do not want to be reminded of Black success, because if 'She can work hard and make it, then he too can work hard and make it.' Often we don't want to be reminded of that. In such a context, failure becomes a reassuring comfort.

I've worked in a number of Black businesses in my life, and I know a number of Black business owners. The struggle for them is doublefold. I am not saying here, 'I am Black therefore I know what I am talking about.' I am saying that the notions of the wrong demographic, too pricey price points, bad merchandise -- that's all fluff. The real reason for it's failure is an issue of a demanding class, unfortunately. There wasn't enough of it...

I meant that there was not a large enough demand for the products Nairobi's Knapsack sold, and, implicitly that lack of a 'demanding class' says something about the type of people in the neighborhood. It is an allegation steeped in elitism, obviously, but I'll take the heat for it.

So. I peaked into the space (which looks great) and it looks like a really fancy bodega type of place. HUGE fridges on the sides, lots of aisles full of more upscale types of snacks -- and a counter to do something...sandwiches? (MAYBE MY DREAM OF A MAKE-YOUR-OWN SALAD BAR?!?) But that said, it looks great and may have a seated place in the back.

Sushi maybe will also be served...like prepackaged? or maybe that's no longer? or maybe this will be the "New Nams" and the smaller current Nams will become sushi? Who knows...not me. But I can keep guessing if you want.

An answer was found by Nick from ilovefranklinave:

"Nam's new "sushi" place is looking closer and closer to opening in the old Nairobi's Knapsack space. I spoke with the owners two nights ago, and they'll be keeping their current location open for fresh produce while moving dry and packaged goods to the new shop, where they'll also have coffee and sushi bars. Perhaps this will finally allow them to widen their comically narrow aisles in the old place."

Well, pine is relatively inexpensive lumber, so I am inclined to think their prices will be too. If it was called 'Oak Tree', or 'Walnut', or 'Redwood', then we would have a problem...