Which Foodie Is Coming to Court and State?
Who just signed the retail lease in the new building at the corner of State and Court in Brooklyn Heights? That was the question that had members of the audience scratching their heads at last week’s quarterly Brooklyn Real Estate Roundtable held at the Brooklyn Historical Society. The corner location, which includes about 2,500 square…
Who just signed the retail lease in the new building at the corner of State and Court in Brooklyn Heights? That was the question that had members of the audience scratching their heads at last week’s quarterly Brooklyn Real Estate Roundtable held at the Brooklyn Historical Society. The corner location, which includes about 2,500 square feet on the ground floor and another 2,500 in the basement, just rented at a record-high $125 a foot after “long and protracted” negotiations, according to Massey Knakal senior partner Tim King. As to who the tenant is, King would only drop the tantalizing clue that it’s a company that’s been in the food production biz for the last hundred years. The two that leapt to our mind—Zabar’s and Di Palo—only go back to the 1930s, so scratch them. An announcement is expected in the next week or two, but we thought if we all put our heads together, maybe we could figure it out. Ideas?
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That’s old news. It was mentioned on Chowhound and another board weeks ago.
I have it on good authority that this is going to be a Boar’s Head store. That’s right, like the deli meats. Apparently they want to open a “Carnegie Deli” like location and this is it. There will be full-on food service at the store, which is going to be a gourmet deli.
Gristede’s is closing their non-Manhattan locations, not opening new ones…
I love it, they make it in the back, and dont wrap it, they put it in water in a contaainer, the best way to store it fresh… and if you want salt, they dunk it in salt water for 2 seconds, and it seems to soak all the way through… would love to know where to get fresh pasta nearby
I know this isn’t CHOWHOUND, but what do you think of the mozarella at Caputo’s? And there must be fresh pasta around here somewhere!
3:16: No, you didn’t sound brash, and I know you’re not starting an argument. What I was trying to say is that it’s become increasingly difficult to find freshly made Italian foods in the area. BTW, there were some things I’d never purchase at Fratelli, not because they looked undesirable, but because I would make them myself most of the time. I think they might have gone downhill as you say when Ray, the owner, told us that he was thinking of closing the store, he really didn’t need the money, and was getting bored with it. That could be the beginning of the decline as he was already mentally out of there. The fresh “latticini” (fresh milk products) are what’s now missing from the neighborhood…mozzarella, fresh cheese (not the dry or aged cheeses), fresh pasta, that sort of thing. There was a time when you could walk a mere few blocks and have all those yummy items at your fingertips up and down Court St, but no more, and I miss them terribly. That’s why I’m keeping my fingers crossed that perhaps DiPalo would open up a place on Court St but realizing it probably won’t happen. [Also BTW, I’m 54 yrs old and have lived in CG practically my entire life (born overseas), educated in Brooklyn & Manhattan, wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, and I’ve seen many changes and many establishments come and go.] OK, I’ll give you Pastosa next to the pet store as evidenced by the photo I keep on my desk at home of my sister and me in our Easter Sunday best in 1963!! See ya around shopping!
7:57 here, I apologize if I sounded brash, I might not be italian,but I’ve been in the neighborhood for 37 years, I remember Pastosa (and If I may, I believe it was next to the pet food store, you can see the Polly-O birds sticking out underneath the sign of the grocery store there even today), I did not realize they bought into a chain, but I do personally think if that was the same people, they had gone downhill (which might explain why they bought into a chain, and then closed). I remember Fratelli’s marinated artichoke hearts were always hard,the riceballs were laughable compared to Esopsito’s, and most the other stuff looked like it was delivered there from somewhere else (if it wasnt, the packaging made it look that way) and I dont remember the Mozzerella being close to Caputo’s ever. I am not trying to start an argument, you are more Italian than i’ll ever be, i’m sure we shop at all the same places, I guess I just know what I like. Any other Italian Americans from the hood out there care to chime in?..
p.s. Sals Pizza owners were born in Italy, are Italian, and their food has been spiraling downhill since the 70’s,again, at least I think so.
Anyway, I am glad there are other people from the neighbrohood and proud of it going up on these boards, and its not just representative of newer residents..Cheers to you
Way too small for any grocery store, gourmet or upscale or downscale. Also split on two levels, with no room for an escalator. Grocery stores know that people don’t climb stairs with jugs of milk in the hands.
7:57: I know what I’m talking about (being Italian and having been born in Italy), and I think other Italian Americans in the area know what I’m talking about. Fratelli Ravioli sold different products than Esposito does, and I do shop at Esposito, as well. (Actually Esposito can use a good, thorough cleaning, if you ask me). I’m talking about Fratelli’s daily freshly made mozzarella, fresh pasta/ravioli/manicotti (not dried or frozen), and other Italian specialty items that I purchased there regularly. The smaller Fratelli farther up Court St doesn’t compare. As for Marco Polo’s soon-to-be opened new place…I’m looking forward to seeing what they’ll offer. A tidbit from the past…Fratelli used to be known as Pastosa Ravioli, and it’s previous location used to be on Court across from Carroll Park where the pet supply shop is now located. It goes back that far in the neighborhood(and so do I).