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Checkers - formerly gaseteria on empire blvd - Page 2 — Brooklynian

Checkers - formerly gaseteria on empire blvd

24

Comments

  • jack krohn
    jack krohn

    Sounds like a good plan, whynot. I'd say go for it - social workers always need to supplement their incomes. :)

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    I was thinking the job would be taken by someone with a truck, and a history of similar experience.

  • thecameralady
    thecameralady

    whynot_31 said:

    As a result of being vacant for so long, it kind of amazes me that this site hasn't been vandalized, or had its brand new kitchen equipment removed in the middle of the night.

    How do you know that new kitchen equipment has been moved in? I just assumed it was basically a shell at this point. :mrgreen:

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    I assume the area professionals have already determined whether this job is a good one.

    ...they seem to scope things out faster than I.

  • bobmarvin
    bobmarvin

    "How do you know that new kitchen equipment has been moved in? I just assumed it was basically a shell at this point".

    Or moved in and already stolen.

  • dmiami
    dmiami

    I still think this is a terrible spot for a dive through restaurant. Traffic nightmare.

    I can't imagine someone trying to steal equipment from there for that same reason. people and cars 24/7.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Do you think a drive through restaurant would cause more traffic than when it was a series a of gas stations?



    Photo: Brownstoner

    1069 Washington Avenue = 43 Empire Boulevard

  • thecameralady
    thecameralady

    It's not just where Checkers is that is a problem; it's how the building is set up. The lot is not that big and the Checkers building sits squarely in the middle.

    Vehicles impeding traffic on the Washington Avenue side would be especially problematic now that the MTA has restored B48 service to Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. The NB B48 turns onto Washington at that intersection.

    Then again, at this rate, I doubt it will ever open so it won't be an issue. :smurf:

  • prodigalson
    prodigalson

    Checkers are mostly a grill surrounded by a parking lot, afterall.

    We had a Checkers on Robert Street in West St Paul. It closed down in less than a year due to pukie "food", no parking, and very little seating area.

  • dmiami
    dmiami

    I agree with thecameralady about the way the lot is being developed. It's hard to tell for certain, but it seems like cars would not have a lot of space on the actual lot itself. I can forsee cars blocking the sidewalk as they line up to get on the lot. Look at the pic above for the gas station (cars all over the place).

    Also, traffic is bad today...

    You've got a Wendy's drive through, a busy bus stop, McDonalds Drive Through and Western Beef parking lot enntrances within a block. With the restructuring of the interection at Empire, Flatbush and Ocean, traffic regularly backs down Empire past Washington. This has happened while this lot has been vacant.

    Adding anything that involves cars queueing up here will make it worse.

    I would rather they follow the model of Popeye's and Dunkin Doughtnut. No drive thru, and built upto the side walk to make it pedestrian friendly.

    I'd love to compare customer traffic between Popeye's and Wendy's. Same block, one restaurant with a parking lot and drive thru, one that is built for foot trafic to the side walk.

  • homeowner
    homeowner

    Actually, Popeye's and Dunkin Doughnuts get a lot of folks who park in the Wendy's lot for takeout (not that I've personally done that or anything :-00 )

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    On Saturday, 6/22/2013, I saw a backhoe at work.

    My rookie guess is that he was digging to prep for the installation of some type of utility (gas, electric, sewer, etc).

  • thecameralady
    thecameralady

    I did see someone going into that site recently to work in it.

    I wonder what is taking so long to finish this particular site.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Late August 2013: finishing touches applied.

    Sign announces "opening soon"

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Sept 23. Not open yet. Apparently we still lack minimum wage employees and frozen burger patties.



    photos: Daniel Ivy

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Dec 22

    Incredibly, it is still not open yet.

  • montgomery rogers
    montgomery rogers

    I looked through the windows a couple of weeks ago, all the screens for the ordering system are powered up -- if it wasn't so new, it would look weirdly abandoned.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    I know fast food is profitable, but I would imagine it is going to take them a long time to recoup all of the time and money they have spent opening this place.3 years.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    It seems there may be incompetence in the "Store Development" department.
  • mugofmead111
    mugofmead111
    I now have another bone to pick with that site.The property owners have been derelict with snow removal. I've been reporting them to 311 along with submitting pictures. I know the city is supposed to fine property owners, but I wonder whether it's enough of a deterrent.
  • mugofmead111
    mugofmead111
    edited February 2014
    update: the sidewalks have been shoveled!

    here's another update: menus are in place inside! from what i was able to see from the sidewalk, there is absolutely no seating inside. (there apparently is no room for seating anyway.) it looks like this checkers will strictly be a walk-up or drive-through takeout joint.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited March 2014
    While this place is not yet open, on March 16th, Ms. Whynot and I saw a person inside Checkers.

    He appeared to be working, not burglarizing.    

    Destruction of the Gaseteria began in early 2010.    Will the Checkers be open by April 2014? 




     
  • mugofmead111
    mugofmead111
    i've seen a person inside that checkers too once a couple of months ago. the kitchen appeared to have been set up, but of course, no customers yet. :) 

    i really wonder why it's taking so long to open one little burger joint.

  • mugofmead111
    mugofmead111
    Bump! 

    This morning I noticed that directional arrows have been painted on the ground in the drive-thru. Traffic is to enter from the Washington Avenue side and exit on the Franklin Avenue side. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2014
    I'm a little embarrassed to admit I just checked the Checker's website to see if it has anything about an opening date.


    My research determined there are three existing Brooklyn locations, but no mention of this one yet.
  • Lambsy
    Lambsy
    My family and I are obsessed with when this place will open. My 5 year old often says the sign should read "Opening NOT Soon." In the past few days we've seen people inside and one day it looked like a meeting of about 8 people (maybe a training.) We're not even Checkers fans but it's killing us that it's not opening!
  • mugofmead111
    mugofmead111
    edited April 2014
    Checkers is now open! (The sign should be changed to reflect that.) 

    A number of people were waiting outside for their orders. All traffic that I observed at that moment was on foot.

    I spotted three parking spaces on the Franklin Avenue side; one is a handicap spot.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    Um, woot?!

    4 years.
  • mugofmead111
    mugofmead111
    It's been that long? Wow. I wonder what was behind the various delays. 
  • dmiami2
    dmiami2
    It's actually not open yet. It was closed yesterday but the sign said Opening Tuesday. Just in case anyone was planning to go....
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