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Whoa -- Beauty World is Gone! — Brooklynian

Whoa -- Beauty World is Gone!

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

I noticed today that the Beauty World and Beauty World Nails, located at the corner of Nostrand Ave and St. John's Place, storefronts have been emptied and are now sporting "For Lease" signs. The two salons, combined, would create a fairly big retail space for something new on Nostrand. Has anyone heard any rumors for what the storefront might become? I'm hoping for a nice sit-down restaurant or an upscale small market like Bob and Betty's/Pine Tree over on Franklin!

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Comments

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited August 2014

    753 Nostrand and 755 Nostrand have changed several times. Here is a photo of it from a while ago, from the corner:

    Here's a more recent photo, from the side:


  • clayfilms
    clayfilms

    I remember when it was a really cool accessories store (hats, gloves, scarves etc...)..they also had really nice luggage...

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited May 2014

    If one clicks on this link and then looks to the bottom left, one can see an ad for when it was used by Real Estate Broker, Chas L Gilbert, in 1919:

    http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/cul/texts/ldpd_7031148_064/gallery/images/ldpd_7031148_064_00000748.jpg

  • davidb
    davidb

    Interesting little snippet about this corner, and how it has changed over time...much like the way most commercial strips change... And there is little lament over the changes.

  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    On Friday, April 25, I was walking past the former Beauty World and the awning was coming down. The corner now looks really open. Any gossip? It seems that the stretch from Eastern Parkway to Nostrand was undergoing a LOT of work on Friday! There was active construction at the Chika Mexicana restaurant, Ital Shack, the burned out Chinese restaurant, and new pavement being poured at the Chicago 60 pizza place.


    BeautuyWorld
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited May 2014
    Yes, there is a lot of turnover happening on Nostrand.

    As the existing storefronts come up for lease renewal, they are closing because they do not believe that they will be able to pay the new rent.     

    In their view, the rent hikes could not come at a worse time.   Their businesses have often had a a drop off in business over the last year or so, because the customer base served is shrinking and they have not adapted the business to suit the area's new preferences and means.

    Select Bus Service is an additional factor, in that it is changing who is able to shop on the strip, and how.  

    If you stay still, you get run over.

     
  • laura palmer
    laura palmer
    I'm sorry WhyNot - I'm not sure I follow you and I'd really like to because I'm very interested in the way Nostrand is changing. To clarify, you're saying that storefronts are shuttering and going up for rent because:
    1) long-standing businesses (vegetarian Caribbean restaurants, beauty world)  are losing their customer base and have not adapted to suit the tastes of the neighborhoods newcomers 
    and
    2) Landlords are raising the rents as the leases come due for renewal

    yes?

    How is the SBS service causing businesses to close? Wouldn't it bring greater foot traffic? 

    I wonder if there's now enough of a new customer base on Nostrand to support businesses like those on Washington and Franklin. Chop Chop grub shop seems to be doing well. 





  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited April 2014
    Yes, that's the jest of it.

    I've edited my comment above, to make it a little clearer.   

    SBS will change pedestrian and car traffic along Nostrand.   As a result, it will create winners and losers.     

    In my view, Nostrand is a little different than Washington and Franklin in that its customer base is NOT as likely to be:
    - as young
    - renters

    Members of the Crown Heights North Association, I am looking at you.....    

    Readers who wish to hear about these views/theories in person, are welcome to attend the walking tour on Sunday May 4th:   http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/43995/ms-whynot-and-whynot-lead-a-walking-tour-of-western-crown-heights-sunday-may-4th-noon-#Item_18
  • FromSuchGreatHeights
    FromSuchGreatHeights
    I thought I read on here last week somewhere that this was going to be a new salon called "Deck." I can't find the original post though. It was by the future owner.
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/44030/new-hair-salon-coming-to-nostrand-ave-in-june/p1 Here is the announcement re Deck salon...it sounds like it is going to be a "small" salon...and the Beauty World space is huge...
  • vaportrail
    vaportrail
    Word on the street is that the people from Little Zelda, Wedge, etc have leased this space. It should be a little different than the typical stuff on Nostrand.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    That would be an interesting development.    

    ...this is a very high profile corner.     

    Did you hear anything about what kind of business he plans to put in?
  • vaportrail
    vaportrail
    My source wants to know the answer to this question as well. Depending on the answer, expect to see more new developments nearby that will not compete with this new store.
  • laura palmer
    laura palmer
    edited May 2014
    This is very exciting!

    "expect to see more new developments nearby that will not compete with this new store."

    Is that a hint, vaportrail? I'm going to treat it as one... What kind of store would beget more stores that don't compete with it? Something that serves as a destination to attract people from outside the immediate area, who might have a very specific kind of interest and income. For example, the ever-unsuccesful idea to create a daycare/play center in the area might bring parents to the corner who would in turn frequent a children's clothing shop, or an ice cream parlor...

    What else might fit that criteria...something like 3rd Ward and Brooklyn Brainery? 
  • vaportrail
    vaportrail
    My source wants to open a certain type of store on that block or adjacent blocks on Nostrand. If the Zelda people open a store that would compete with his/her concept, my source will not open it. Otherwise, they're ready to move forward. 
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    I would be really excited if a daycare or coop nursury/pre-school moved in -- it is a really big space so it would be a departure from the Little Zelda/Wedge/Hullaballoo tiny store model though.

    If a daycare center could provide quality care for around $1200-1500 per month for a full-time program and offer part-time options for all the freelancers/artists/creative types in the neighborhood, I think it would fill up in a heartbeat. And then an enterprising owner could use the space in the evenings and weekends for drop-in playgroups and family activity groups/events/classes. That is what I would do if I had capital and the stomach for entrepreneurship.
  • laura palmer
    laura palmer
    ohhh I see - thanks for the clarification Vaportrail --- Well my fingers are tightly crossed that the two parties have different concepts and that we get two exciting new developments on that part of Nostrand. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    I hope that the BOTH parties do not delay, because each fears the other will open first.

    ....vacant space doesn't benefit anyone.



  • Michaeldezayas
    Michaeldezayas
    Hi all! Anyone who wants to know anything about this new lease can call me, happy to share :) michael 917-499-3244
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited December 2014
    ^aforementioned owner of wedge and Little Zelda^

     
    Any of us interested to the degree that we will actually call him, and see if he discloses his plan?
  • laura palmer
    laura palmer
    I tried and got a voicemail - since I'm traveling right now, I can't easily leave a number for him to call me back. I hope someone else will try and get through - I'm so curious!
  • DeckSalonBrooklyn
    DeckSalonBrooklyn
    I'm Kara, the stylist opening Deck Salon. We are going to be at 755 Nostrand. I am in the smaller space that used to be a nail salon. I am super excited about opening a new business in my neighborhood! I live just a ten minute walk away down St. Johns. Deck is a small, boutique salon with a modern feel. I have worked in the city for a while and am very happy to be bringing my experience to Crown Heights. I absolutely love the neighborhood and have already met such wonderful people at the surrounding businesses on the block. I am not quite sure whats going on with the space next door but I can't wait to see what pops up! I am hoping to have a great lunch spot next door. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited May 2014
    Thanks DeckSalonBrooklyn!

    This explanation and photo might help readers not intimately familiar with Nostrand

    Beauty World use to occupy two storefronts:
    A big one "Beauty World" (753), and 
    A small one "Beauty World Nails" (755).

    In this photo, the spot to be occupied by Kara/DeckSalonBrooklyn is to the right of Beauty World, located behind a black SUV.





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  • vaportrail
    vaportrail
    This is definitely exciting. I'm hoping for a bike corral but bet this corner is less than ideal for one.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited December 2014
    Nostrand would be quite busy for a bike corral.     I'd fear it would generate a photo of a bike crushed by a extra long SBS bus...

    BTW, I got a chance to talk with Mike DeZayas, and he states he is finalizing his concept for the space and will reveal it about 2 weeks.

    For the record, I wish to state that I have been telling the guys at City Sub (located on Bergen near Flatbush) that they should open on Nostrand each and every time I am in there, and am disappointed that they did not take my brilliant advice, and secure this space.
  • jfinks
    jfinks
    I'm assuming it will be food related though, knowing he is behind Wedge and Little Zelda?
  • laura palmer
    laura palmer
    Although he's also behind Launchpad, and in another thread a commenter notes that the art space is no longer programming shows and will be "repurposed" this summer - I wonder if the two events are linked? 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    He is not affiliated with LaunchPad. (That is a different Mike, Mike K)

    However, Mike D is affiliated with that tiny Hullabaloo Bookstore. It (obviously) is a non food venture. Yes, he is also behind Wedge and Zelda.
  • laura palmer
    laura palmer
    Ah my detective work is foiled again. Does Mike K have a stake in other neighborhood businesses? 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    Mike K is behind the Yoga Collective on Franklin, near Lincoln.

    Mike D used to be behind the It Takes A Village child co-op, but it collapsed.

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