Every neighborhood has a cursed storefront — maybe it was once a Latin fusion joint, only to be turned into a high-end seafood spot, downgraded to a fish fry joint, and then switched into a coffee shop. But can you ever get a cup of coffee without being haunted by the memories of a bad taco you ate there many moons (and owners) ago? In Brooklyn Heights, 41 Clark Street is among the local cursed addresses. Since 1982, seven restaurants have passed through the 5,000-square-foot space.

Roger Desmond, who is the owner of its latest (and most recently deceased) incarnation, Palmira’s, told the NY Sun that the building was struck by lightning in 2003, forcing the restaurant to spend its first two years hidden beneath scaffolding. When the scaffolding came off, the restaurant still couldn’t make money:

“We gave it a shot, but there just aren’t enough people in the neighborhood to make a 150-seat restaurant work when you need to make $25,000 a week just to break even,” [Desmond] said.

The article also notes that smaller restaurants, like Henry’s End and Noodle Pudding, do better in this neighborhood — but does anyone have a better idea for the huge space that Palmira’s vacated?
Brooklyn Locale Fails a Seventh Eatery [NY Sun]
Goodbye Palmira’s [Brooklyn Heights Blog]
Palmira’s [Homepage]