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New Businesses You Want to See on Nostrand Ave — Brooklynian

New Businesses You Want to See on Nostrand Ave

crownheightster
crownheightster
edited November -1 in Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens

Hi Everyone,

Everyday I see the "What New Business Do You Want to See on Washington Ave." That got me thinking about what new business I would want to see on Nostrand Ave, particularly between Atlantic Ave and Eastern Parkway, which is closer to where I live. Everyday I see newly empty storefronts, and I wonder what kinds of businesses will take their places. Maybe if we get a list of things people are interested in, we can give it to the Community Board Economic Development Committee to consider.

Here is what I currently love about Nostrand Ave:

- some excellent greengrocers like Triple S Market and Green Mango Tree, with plenty of great produce and fresh dairy

- two full-service supermarkets (Key Food and Met Food) with varied and quality selections

- Trinidad Golden Palace Bakery

- Syd's Serious Sandwiches

- Gloria's restaurant

- Chris's restaurant

- Our fresh fish markets

Here is what I would want to see on Nostrand Ave:

- A fancy market, like Bob and Betty's or Pine Tree on Franklin Ave

- A coffee shop, like Pulp and Bean, for quick coffee and breakfast things

- A bagel store, like Bergen Bagels

- New sit-down restaurants with a variety of difficult cuisines at good price points, like Mexican, Thai, Korean, Italian, French, a breakfast/diner, good Chinese, Southern, American, BBQ, Ethiopian, brick oven pizza, whatever! It would be nice to not have to go out of the neighborhood every time I want to eat out

- New bars and evening gathering spaces. I am thinking of something like the Chocolate Room in Park slope, where you can get a dessert and a nice coffee in the evening if you want to meet some friends but don't want to drink alcohol

- well-stocked CVS, Walgreens or Duane Reade drug store

- A fancy mani/pedi place or spa where you can treat yourself nicely but not break the bank, the kind of place where you might want to get your mom or sister a gift certificate for their birthday and make them feel special

What do you all think?

«13

Comments

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    The changes you desire will need to fit in with the massive changes presently underway:

    http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/changes-on-nostrand

    I'll have to think about which ones I think fit, and which ones don't....

  • snd_mxr
    snd_mxr

    A sushi restaurant or sit down italian restaurant and maybe a thai or indian restaurant?

  • newguy88
    newguy88

    A decent neighborhood coffee shop for sure. Also a neighborhood bar that I wouldn't have second thoughts about entering would be great. Also a bike shop would be super. But not one that caters to the spandex wearing Lance Armstrong look alike club.

  • homeowner
    homeowner

    Newguy, do you have second thoughts about entering NoBar, and if so, why?

    I ask because that seems to be a higher end bar geared towards the changing demographic of younger, successful artistic types in comparison to the older places on the Avenue.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    SND_MXR said:

    A sushi restaurant or sit down italian restaurant and maybe a thai or indian restaurant?

    These two Indian places recently opened.

    Niahmah

    787 Prospect Pl | Btwn Rogers & Nostrand Ave

    Taste of India

    1018 Bergen St | Btwn Rogers & Nostrand Ave

    http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/all-areas/crown-heights/indian/

  • homeowner
    homeowner

    Niahmah has good food but the ambiance leaves a lot to be desired, so I never order in, only take-out.

  • vaportrail
    vaportrail

    Keep in mind that there is a Rite Aid on St. John's btw NY & Brooklyn Ave. While it is a big dingy, it seems to always be well stocked and the workers are helpful.

  • ingenuity-jen
    ingenuity-jen

    I'd vote for a coffee shop/cafe and some more sit-down restaurant options. I live closer to Washington, but my boyfriend is over on New York. We end up eating over in my area because there are fewer options/variety in his.

  • faithful
    faithful

    I would also like to see better amenities on Nostrand. I find myself going out of the neighborhood for many things. A good pizza place with great italian food would be great! It's nice to see the Connecticut Muffin on the corner of Bergen, but oftentimes, it's pretty empty!

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Yes, we talked about CT Muffin a lot when it was about to arrive, and seemed to agree that they were locating in a neighborhood where many people weren't going to patronize them.

    http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/connecticut-muffin-coming-to-nostrand-ave/page/1

    As we are aware, a business only needs ENOUGH of the neighborhood to patronize them.

  • pitmama
    pitmama

    I would love to see a nice cheese and provisions shop. Every time I want to buy a good loaf of bread, charcuterie, or cheese I have to hop the bus to Brooklyn Larder or pick it up while I'm in the city. A quality wine shop would also make me, and a lot of people that I know in the area, very happy. When you are coming from the Albany and Kingston area, Franklin can seem really far away (especially during the winter months).

  • faithful
    faithful

    whynot_31 I agree. I'm going to try and patronize CT Muffin at least once a week as well as other businesses in the immediate area.

  • newguy88
    newguy88

    faithful said:

    It's nice to see the Connecticut Muffin on the corner of Bergen, but oftentimes, it's pretty empty!

    I've been to that one and it reminds me a lot of a corporate coffee chain at an airport. Plus I prefer to patronize non-chain coffee places. So even though its a stone's throw from me I choose to go elsewhere.

    homeowner, I didn't realize NoBar is a thing. I don't tend to go that far up Nostrand unless I'm commuting. I'll be sure to check it out.

  • thecameralady
    thecameralady

    faithful said:

    I would also like to see better amenities on Nostrand. I find myself going out of the neighborhood for many things.

    This is my life story.

    There is a vacant commercial space on street level in the Plex on the corner of Sullivan and Nostrand; I'd like to see something a little more upscale go there, like an organic mart. (Yes, I know Associated is across the street, on general principle I am meh about the local supermarkets.)

    A quality pizzeria would be nice too.

  • nothinlikeabklyngirl
    nothinlikeabklyngirl

    There's a bike shop called Ride on Fulton, between Nostrand and New York (http://bed-stuy.patch.com/listings/ride-1ff410e3). And there's a Duane Reade in Restoration Plaza, one block past that. But I would agree that the Rite Aid on St. John's is better stocked. Plus it's open 24 hours.

  • tsarina
    tsarina

    your gal on the go here. Talked to Mitch of Nostrand Ave Pub today. He says his craft beer, 20 taps and liquor bar will be open in two weeks. No later that April 21. As God is his witness. AND he happened to mention that the old Starlite/Metro PCS spot on Bergen and Nostrand (across from CT Muffin) has been rented to some salad bar/deli place, more upscale, not just another arab bodega. The gates are down and man oh man, i can't wait to see what that is gonna be like.

    Back to Nostrand Ave Pub. I checked out the back yard. Its gonna be nice.

    Reporting to you from the corner of st. Marks and Nostrand.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Based on Tsarina's excellent reporting, I am pleased to announce the Spring Gathering of Brooklynian:

    Friday, May 10th, at 8 PM.

    Nostrand Avenue Pub.

    I have created a dedicated thread: http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/brooklynian-spring-2013-gathering-friday-may-10-2013-8-pm#post-766484

    We now return to our conversation:

    Yes! A good little salad bar/deli place!

  • pitmama
    pitmama

    I was walking down Nostrand last night, and noticed a sign on a storefront near Dean, advertising that Bicycle Roots will soon be opening there. They recently had a fundraising campaign to raise money to help with signing a lease and moving inventory, with hopes of opening this spring. So, it sounds like there will soon be another new addition to Avenue.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Today's Brownstoner:

    Looks like Crown Heights is getting a bike shop. A tipster sent in this photo of a sign that just went up at 609 Nostrand (between Bergen and Dean), promising “Bicycle Roots,” a “full-service bike shop” coming soon. It replaces a nail salon. Think this will be a useful addition to the neighborhood?
    http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2013/04/bicycle-roots-coming-to-nostrand/#disqus_thread

    Pitmama-

    Thanks to you we beat Brownstoner by 1 day.

    Good job!

  • ptdlugosz
    ptdlugosz

    Looks like times are boomin' for that strip of Nostrand! Connecticut Muffin, the soon-to-open Nostrand Pub and now a bike shop? We're in the right place.

  • epiclylaterd
    epiclylaterd

    I'm fine with the new stuff coming to Nostrand as long as Syd's Serious Sandwiches doesn't have to raise their prices/doesn't go out of business. They have the best and cheapest sandwiches in crown heights.

  • newguy88
    newguy88

    whynot_31 said:

    Today's Brownstoner:

    Looks like Crown Heights is getting a bike shop. A tipster sent in this photo of a sign that just went up at 609 Nostrand (between Bergen and Dean), promising “Bicycle Roots,” a “full-service bike shop” coming soon. It replaces a nail salon. Think this will be a useful addition to the neighborhood?
    http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2013/04/bicycle-roots-coming-to-nostrand/#disqus_thread

    Pitmama-

    Thanks to you we beat Brownstoner by 1 day.

    Good job!

    Yes yes! Yes! Now please be reasonably priced.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    An article points out that the current businesses on Nostrand are rapidly being priced out.

    http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130416/crown-heights/longtime-commercial-tenants-feel-squeezed-on-up-and-coming-nostrand-avenue

    Needless to say, it is often in the landlord's interest to have a property vacant for a few months in order to get a higher paying tenant.

    ...commercial leases are traditionally 5 years long.

  • nothinlikeabklyngirl
    nothinlikeabklyngirl

    Bicycle Roots has a bunch of "before" pics of their new space on Nostrand. The post also says they hope to open in four weeks or so: http://bicyclerootsbklyn.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/our-new-store-in-progress/

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    bicycleroot wrote: Now that we’ve given you the grand tour, can you imagine what the space will look like when we open?

    Of course, a beautiful store is just one part of the picture. Nothing is more important than friendly, knowledgeable, professional service, which is what Bicycle Roots is really known for. We can’t wait to open and serve the neighborhood. Watch this space for updates to find out exactly when that will happen!

    The writer sounds very excited about this new venture. If he can get his staff to live up to those ideals, I predict he will do fine.

  • ehgee
    ehgee

    The store is moving from Fulton Street after being open less than a year after some lease troubles or something. It was (and presumably will be) a commuter/utility-oriented store. I only heard good things about the store when it was open.

  • nearnostrand
    nearnostrand

    Somehow I missed the fact that the Nostrand Ave. Pub wouldn't be serving food. :-( Walking in and finding this out made me really really sad. I just didn't know. I guess I projected my inner desires on their business. Boy was I looking forward to a nice sit down place - with food, simple food, but food. They said I could bring my own meal but it's just not the same. Oh well. I guess I'll just have to eat before I go.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    I hope you plan on joining us on Friday, May 10: http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/brooklynian-spring-2013-gathering-friday-may-10-2013-8-pm

    ...I'll be getting takeout somewhere on Nostrand and then eating it at Nostrand Pub while I greet people.

  • dmiami
    dmiami

    looks like a new BBQ joint is going in on union street where Liv Cafe was. G.Lee's Smoking BBQ. Hope is good.

  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    I'm resurrecting this thread because I looked at my original list of wants and desires and dreams from March 2013, and so many of them have come into being since then! To recap, Nostrand Ave now has a great bagel spot (NA Bagels), two new coffee shop/cafes (Lula Bagel and the upcoming Tinto Coffee), a fancy mani-pedi place (Damselfly), and two new bars (Nostrand Ave Pub and the upcoming Z Bar). We have a fantastic new bistro type restaurant (Chop Chop Grub Shop), a BBQ restaurant (G. Lee's), and Chika Mexican seems to be on its way towards opening soon. I think this is a HUGE amount of change for 1 year. Wow.

    Here is my new list of things I'd love to see on Nostrand in 2015...I'd welcome some of the group's thoughts! I think that one of the nice things about Nostrand is that we have a lot of different-sized storefronts, so maybe something like a paper goods store could actually be successful in a small space (a la the Little Zelda/Hullaballoo/Wedge small space model). Businesspeople and Entrepreneurs, maybe take some notes and make some money?
    • More mid-scale sit-down restaurants with ambiance and a range of cuisines, such as Thai, Korean, Szechuan Chinese, Italian, Peruvian, Indian, a classic American-style breakfast/diner place like Tom's or Mega Bites, Southern/Soul Food, Cajun, West Indian, French, burgers, whatever; I want to eat and spend money in my neighborhood!;
    • A pick-up dinner kind of place, like Lincoln Station with its yummy, well-priced rotisserie chickens;
    • A fresh bakery/cafe type place, probably closer to Eastern Parkway so as not to compete with Richols;
    • A classic NY by-the-slice pizzeria like Roscoe's on Franklin Ave or Luigi's up by Pratt;
    • A specialty grocery store, like Bob & Betty's (though my heart and wallet will likely still stay primarily with the Met), or even a grocery that is like a permanent home to a farmer's market or CSA;
    • A bank branch, other than Banco Popular;
    • A postal services/internet/printing place, like Lincoln Postal (do we have one?)
    • Some middle-scale boutique stores selling clothes and shoes for men, women, and/or kids, including mid-scale/upscale consignment stores;
    • A store selling supplies/homegoods and housewares for DIY-type people -- gardening supplies, canning/beer brewing/cheese making/artisanal foodmaking supplies, cooking and baking supplies, etc;
    • A wine bar that sells wine (if I can't have a nice wine shop because of the liquor license limit, i'll dream bigger, even though this is probably not allowed at all);
    • A paper goods store that sells things like cards, stationary, journals, and hostess-type gifts (maybe like Owl and Thistle, but less precious);
    • A butcher/quality deli, like the old Karl Ehmer's, where you can get a pound of cold cuts or steaks and a good sandwich for lunch;
    • A hair salon like Badlands in Park Slope;
    • A frozen yogurt or ice cream store.

    Any other ideas/dreams/desires/needs? What are we missing? What do you leave the neighborhood to buy or experience?



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