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eastern parkway and franklin ave. — Brooklynian

eastern parkway and franklin ave.

anonymous
anonymous
edited November -1 in Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens
All those shops look like they are closing there-where American fried chicken was-what's going on?
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Comments

  • cythren
    cythren
    That row of storefronts along EP just past Franklin have been closed for at least a year, I think. The only new closing that I know of is the chicken joint. That space has been annexed by the store that sells miscellaneous cheap crap next door. They're doing a thriving business. The chicken place is now their furniture annex. They have a good selection of hideous particleboard bookcases n stuff. I have a few of their wood-like bookcase thingys gracing my apartment. The particleboard/wood-print laminate style matches the ugly plastic tile flooring in my apartment perfectly:-)
  • margie
    margie
    According to the Crow Hill Ass'n, a Starbucks is going into the old fried chicken place. The Mazon store (dollar store) will be remodeled and a couple of stories of condos will be tacked on to the top of that building.
  • carnivore
    carnivore
    Wow, Crown Heights gets a Starbucks before Prospect Heights! Unless you count the one in the Atlantic Terminal mall...
  • cythren
    cythren
    Wha?? I can't imagine that is true!

    Starbucks? Condos? on Franklin?
  • margie
    margie
    This is information from a Crow Hill Community Ass'n meeting in the fall. We were told that a Washington Mutual was opening on Eastern Parkway (that did happen) and that work would start on Mazon's, too. She said the fried chicken place would move across the street (fried chicken place is gone and a storefront went up on Franklin but doesn't seem to be open). Then the construction would begin, but Mazon's would stay open. Eventually, Mazon's would also get a facelift. I think we'd all like to see that.
  • capt. planet
    capt. planet
    margie wrote: This is information from a Crow Hill Community Ass'n meeting in the fall. We were told that a Washington Mutual was opening on Eastern Parkway (that did happen) and that work would start on Mazon's, too. She said the fried chicken place would move across the street (fried chicken place is gone and a storefront went up on Franklin but doesn't seem to be open). Then the construction would begin, but Mazon's would stay open. Eventually, Mazon's would also get a facelift. I think we'd all like to see that.
    The owner of Mazon has paid for drawings for a new 7-10 story mixed use building to be built on the entire northeast corner of EPW and Franklin. He acquired the entire site some time ago. He presented drawings at a meeting of the CB 8 Housing Committee at least 8 months ago. I ran into Eli Mazon recently and he said his plans were moving forward. His plans were for condos and a retail storefront of some kind. I know that Crow Hill has been lobbying for a bank for some time for that location.

    Hang on to your hats, sports fans. It ain't the same old 'hood it used to be.
  • anniewilde
    anniewilde
    Are we really going to get a friggin' Starfucks? UGHGHGH. I've been thinking all along--CH is either going to become a dull, completely hideous park slope lite--with characterless chain stores and overpriced trinkets--or it could go the much more interesting FGreene route--interesting neighborhood driven racially mixed spaces like Tillie's Cafe, Madiba, all the amazing french restaurants and the french "epicerie du quartier," the funky vegan jamaican herbal and natural food stores etc.--all of which are run by creative, genuine people who are deeply invested in the neighborhood. I've been talking to a friend about trying to buy a building and using part of it for some kind of open to the community arts space--but we need more community driven development of all kinds--if not, this is what we'll end up with--think about what Harlem looks like--bleak interspersed with bland--ultimately--if we "get" a Starbucks--it's because we deserve it!

    Let's seriously try to all think about what we can do...While the real estate is still this low, I can't imagine it would be impossible to open some genuinely funky spaces...I'd love to see something like the bar/restaurant/art space my friend True is opening in Bed Stuy--(Stizzy). Not to mention it would be nice to have a cafe/bookstore. There are zero bookstores around closer than PSlope...
  • cheech
    cheech
    i wish i were in a position to do more or even open a place myself, which i eventually want to do and this neighborhood is the spot! anyone looking for a partner?!?
  • sje
    sje
    anniewild, you said "while the real estate is this low". Where are the inexpensive storefronts you're referring to? I'd be very interested.

    BTW, I'm in the process of moving to Sterling between Nostrand and New York, and to my surprise, after spending some time on Nostrand, I found that it's exactly how you describe Fort Greene, one mom and pop, creatively run, local shop after another, and appears to be quite thriving. Immeasurably better than Franklin, in that respect.
  • homeowner
    homeowner
    Yes, but Nostrand suffers from an overabundance of three things, nail shops, beauty salons, and roti. Vacancies are low, but so is diversity. I'd love a place like Ibo's Landing on Thompkins or some place like Embora on Fulton.

    I know I can buy kale juice around the corner from my house (not that I would) but do I really need 15 shops hawking fake hair?
  • sje
    sje
    Nostrand IS obviously THE Fake Hair District in Brooklyn. :lol: Supply and demand must be keeping them all open. Point is the shops look like homegrown neighborhood places, not chain stores, which pleases me, no matter over-rotied or not.
  • capt. planet
    capt. planet
    anniewilde wrote: Are we really going to get a friggin' Starfucks? UGHGHGH. I've been thinking all along--CH is either going to become a dull, completely hideous park slope lite--with characterless chain stores and overpriced trinkets--or it could go the much more interesting FGreene route--interesting neighborhood driven racially mixed spaces like Tillie's Cafe, Madiba, all the amazing french restaurants and the french "epicerie du quartier," the funky vegan jamaican herbal and natural food stores etc.--all of which are run by creative, genuine people who are deeply invested in the neighborhood. I've been talking to a friend about trying to buy a building and using part of it for some kind of open to the community arts space--but we need more community driven development of all kinds--if not, this is what we'll end up with--think about what Harlem looks like--bleak interspersed with bland--ultimately--if we "get" a Starbucks--it's because we deserve it!

    Let's seriously try to all think about what we can do...While the real estate is still this low, I can't imagine it would be impossible to open some genuinely funky spaces...I'd love to see something like the bar/restaurant/art space my friend True is opening in Bed Stuy--(Stizzy). Not to mention it would be nice to have a cafe/bookstore. There are zero bookstores around closer than PSlope...
    Annie brings up some interesting questions: how will Crown Heights North turn out? It is unlike Fort Greene in that it lacks the cultural institutions like BAM and Spike Lee but it does have a strong West Indian identity that makes it different than say Bed-Stuy. The new Natural Foods store on Nostrand bet. Sterling and St. Johns looks interesting. It seems to be coming from a West Indian tradition yet appealing to the health conscious.

    Saje provides another example of a fusion West Indian diner that reflects the unique blend of folks living in the community.

    CHN future might be fancy Caribbean eateries. That would be unique in Brooklyn to my experience and would give us a unusual flavor not found in other nabes. You've got Brawta in Boerem Hill and Mandiba (South African, actually) in Clinton Hill, but no concentration like CHN might offer.
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    Carnivore wrote: Wow, Crown Heights gets a Starbucks before Prospect Heights! Unless you count the one in the Atlantic Terminal mall...
    maybe a Realtor told starbucks they were in prospect heights :p. not crown heights hehe.
  • sje
    sje
    armchair_warrior wrote:
    maybe a Realtor told starbucks they were in prospect heights :p. not crown heights hehe.
    =D> =D> =D> :lol::lol::lol:
  • gingerolive
    gingerolive
    sje wrote: anniewild, you said "while the real estate is this low". Where are the inexpensive storefronts you're referring to? I'd be very interested.

    BTW, I'm in the process of moving to Sterling between Nostrand and New York, and to my surprise, after spending some time on Nostrand, I found that it's exactly how you describe Fort Greene, one mom and pop, creatively run, local shop after another, and appears to be quite thriving. Immeasurably better than Franklin, in that respect.

    I used to live on Sterling bet. Nostrand and NY. I loved it, sorry I had to move. (great block). Yes Nostrand is thriving, I only wish the same for Franklin Ave. I now live on Franklin and Pacific and I like where I am now also. I usually walk to bedstuy or fortgreen for shopping and such. I do believe that Franklin Ave won't stay a no mans land forever. Things are changing and they will for the better
  • anniewilde
    anniewilde
    Greg: Crown Heights North doesn't have cultural institutions? Isn't the Brooklyn Museum a cultural institution in CH North? I think it's right on the PH/CH border, but I still think it counts--and Spike Lee was in FG, I think, before it was really super trendy. I think we can do more than just fancy restaurants--I really believe that this neighborhood could be an arts and culture magnet, for a variety of reasons--and pull as a counterweight against the more uber bourgeois Park Slope vibe--or that's what I'm hoping--since this corner of BK seems to be swimming in people with an off the beaten path sensibility--and the west indian vibe, I think, has lots of interesting possibilities--hopefully more than just food...
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    cheech wrote: i wish i were in a position to do more or even open a place myself, which i eventually want to do and this neighborhood is the spot! anyone looking for a partner?!?
    Hi, yes I have been thinking about opening a place in that area. Love to speak to you about a possible partnership. I am not sure how to reach you though. You can email me at [email protected]
  • cythren
    cythren
    anniewilde wrote: Are we really going to get a friggin' Starfucks? UGHGHGH.
    Oh, I don't know...those frappucinos are quite tasty. And they have free wireless.

    C'mon, Starbucks is just a popular coffeshop chain. It's not evil like Wal-Mart.
  • neene
    neene
    and mcdonalds gives away toys...

    i don't really think starbucks are harmless
    many small and more interesting coffee shops have closed all over nyc because of the "invasion"
    they might be fine for a mall or any part of the country that doesn't understand "coffee""
    but for ny city...
    sorry
    i don't live here to walk into a generic establishment that looks the same everywhere,
    imho, one of the best parts of the ny experience is the individuality, variety and personality of small businesses

    and
    i am not sure that everyone who orders those bizarre drinks understands that they are not drinking coffee, they are having desert

    actually the only good thing i have to say about starbucks is that they create easy access to public restrooms all over the city
  • sje
    sje
    Thank you Neene, well said. THose ridiculous crapocinos have 3000 calories. It's NOT a cup of coffee.
  • leeho
    leeho
    I agree with everything that has been written above. Oddly, though, I have changed a little bit in the past few years. I used to hate Starbucks with a passion. Really, really hated them and the fact they were on every street corner, closing many unique independent places, etc. Then I had an old high school friend who worked at one. She was simply a barrista and she got pregnant and they gave her paid leave for a few months before and after she had a kid. I think their social policies are decent for a giant company and they promote within.

    I certainly prefer for a Gorilla Coffee over a Starbucks, but it isn't a horrible thing for that intersection, nor is it that surprising that it would go there. I'm all for an independent business to open shop there, but I sure wouldn't like it to be another Muddy Waters or some shit like that.

    I guess I'm flip-flopping on the subject, but I kinda see Starbucks as the not so evil giant, and their regular coffee, not the mochchino or frappacrap, is actually not bad. It is also free trade, right?
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    Starbuck's coffee doesn't deserve it's name - but the company has taken a great social stance; they only buy coffee from bean plantations that allow their workers to unionize, and all employees get a share in the company, etc.
  • ashlee spears
    ashlee spears
    the only other coffee shop around here is saje, isn't it? at least they'd only be driving out one place- unless we keep supporting it!

    starbucks coffee is awful, but i will admit to enjoying a frappucino on a hot summer day...
  • masha99
    masha99
    Was in Mazon's today and spoke with him. As you all probably know, he's closing March 1st and expects to be closed for two years, and in that time, do the work Greg mentioned upthread -- the retail storefront below, the condos above.
  • sje
    sje
    Mazon on Nostrand? I just saw the sign today.
  • kenieva
    kenieva
    LeeHo wrote: I'm all for an independent business to open shop there, but I sure wouldn't like it to be another Muddy Waters or some shit like that.
    just curious...why do you hate Mudy Waters? Is there coffee what you dislike? I was there a couple of times in the Fall and i kind of liked the place...i don't drink coffee though.


    I don't think/i hope that Saje has anything to fear from Starbucks...it's not the same thing. I for once plan on keep on going to Saje.
  • gingerolive
    gingerolive
    I sure wish there was a vegan/vegetarian restaurant on Franklin Avenue. I was thinking about opening one sometime in the distant future (things are kind of tight right now). Unless someone else has plans to open one...
  • apollonia666
    apollonia666
    kenieva wrote: [quote=LeeHo] I'm all for an independent business to open shop there, but I sure wouldn't like it to be another Muddy Waters or some shit like that.
    just curious...why do you hate Mudy Waters? Is there coffee what you dislike? I was there a couple of times in the Fall and i kind of liked the place...i don't drink coffee though.

    Muddy Waters is pretty notorious (at least here on the boards), mainly for the owner being reeeally obnoxious and rude. I haven't been in there myself, but evidently she's nasty -- especially if you ask for a napkin. Here are a few old threads that cover some of the usual complaints about the place:

    http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32221
    http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5128
    http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=325
  • neene
    neene
    sje wrote: Mazon on Nostrand? I just saw the sign today.
    i think masha was probably referring to the main store on franklin & eastern parkway which is more of an upscale 99cent store.
    i will miss them while they renovate, have found some great stuff there

    i believe there are 1 or 2 on nostrand, true 99cent and not so wonderful
  • masha99
    masha99
    Yes, Nina, that's the one I meant. The day before Thanksgiving, I got four padded, good-quality folding chairs there for about eight bucks a chair. Right now, everything is 33 percent off. Stock up on laundry detergent and shampoo. :wink:
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