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March 17, 2006

Future of Bodegas & Liquors Thrown Into Question

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We've gotten a number of emails from folks wondering about the fate of Bodegas in Clinton Hill and Liquors in Fort Greene, both of which have been shuttered for the past couple of weeks. We hear, but cannot confirm, that the owners have run into some financial troubles and that both will be closing. We hope for their sakes and for those in the neighborhood that this isn't true. Also, what does this mean for Lewis & Ruby's?

Comments

I think they got tired of the business and sold to other owners who are going to remodel and reopen. Thats what Ive heard

Posted by: Anonymous at March 17, 2006 10:23 AM

Liquors has a note in their window saying that they are renovating and will reopen. Not sure about Bodegas. I liked the atmosphere in Bodegas, but some of the dishes were pretty average - breakfest food was fine. I really like Liquors though, hopefully they'll come back as their sign indicates...

Posted by: Anonymous at March 17, 2006 10:25 AM

All three closed!
I spoked with Christian few weeks ago and he told me that he was tired of the restaurant buisness and found some better ways of making a living, if that's the case, I want to belive him I wish him good luck.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the bodega location, hopefully even a better restaurant or a great gourmet grocery, come on! anyone out there awake inhalf to notice the potential of this corner and the all fulton street, there is not conpetition there yet! As I live near by I just wish that something will happen soon, I'm tired of going to shop and dine in other neighborhoods. Has anyone notice the fence up on the empty lot next to the checker board building in Fulton? What's coming up? It says condos

Posted by: Anonymous at March 17, 2006 10:33 AM

I'll miss Bodegas but only because the neighborhood is woefully underserved. It wasn't that great. This is an opportunity for someone to open a much superior place.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 17, 2006 10:48 AM

I attended the Society for Clinton Hill meeting on Wednesday, and it was confirmed that the owners have decided to close both restaurants. Financial trouble was vaguely implied. Perhaps someone else is taking over Liquors? Bodegas was one of my favorites. Impossibly slow service, but a few really good dishes at very reasonable prices. Guess we'll have to start hanging out at Boca Soul across the street.

Posted by: lesterhead at March 17, 2006 10:53 AM

i wished they had had announced prior to closing, i would have gone to Liquors one more time to have the hijiki covered salmon with coconut cashew rice... ohh, i miss it...

Posted by: lc at March 17, 2006 11:02 AM

I eat at Boca Soul across the street a few times a week. I like their food, but we sure could use some variety in the restaurant department in this area. Subway is not a great place to take friends out to dinner.

Posted by: Shahn Andersen at March 17, 2006 11:02 AM

Go to Kush, the food is really good and the service is great. Jacques and gang are very nice. Brunches are very tasty... (Fulton/Putnam b/t Cambridge Pl. and Grand Ave.)

Posted by: Anonymous at March 17, 2006 11:04 AM

I second you on the salmon dish at Liquors... very nice. They mixed nice drinks there too.

Posted by: lp at March 17, 2006 11:05 AM

Shahn, Locanda Vini e Olii around the corner from your soon to be abode is really nice, and great for groups of friends as it lends itself to sharing... Kush is nice too - plus there are all of the places on Dekalb Ave.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 17, 2006 11:10 AM

I must admit that I love the aesthetic of Lewis & Rubys and what it offers to my neighborhood but the food isn't that good IMO.

Posted by: blkbuttrflie at March 17, 2006 11:14 AM

Yeah the food at Lewis & Ruby's was a major disappointment. Hopefully whoever reopens the spot will provide something special.

Posted by: Dave at March 17, 2006 12:01 PM

I think the closing of these restaurants is indicative of the failure of new small businesses to receive the financial and operational support they need to operate in an "up and coming" neighborhood (if we can apply this term here). It's sad that the only time small independent businesses can sustain themselves is after tons of new condos move in and the neighborhood is sufficiently gentrified. By this time, major chains have also noticed the neighborhoods and you have 3 Starbuck's, a Dunkin Donuts, and a Whole Foods up in a few months, thereby crushing all hopes of any small business being able to sustain themselves. I no longer envision the transition seen on the northside of Williamsburg where small businesses have given way to places like Starbucks over a period of years. It's sad that the first place we're going to see open will most likely be big chain stores that can absorb a loss and we will patronize them as we are very short on options.

Posted by: Frankie Flatbush at March 17, 2006 12:49 PM

Lesterhead, what is the Society for Clinton Hill? Are meetings open to all residents of the hood?

I hope something great goes in the Bodegas/Liquors spots too...(hadn't checked out Lewis & Ruby's). As posted last week, can someone please open a good coffee shop/cafe around here? With good quality coffee, I mean.

As for Vini e Olli, it is wonderful, but the prices make it a place to splurge for special occasions IMO. Then again, if you own a $2MM house, maybe it's an everyday kind of place for you.

Posted by: renogirl at March 17, 2006 1:27 PM

I believe anyone can attend the meetings (usually once monthly on a Wednesday evening). Sometimes they do special tours and such, which might require membership (Navy Yard tours, etc). I think membership is $20/year. They also organized last year's Clinton Hill House Tour. I paid the fee, so I get a flier in the mail monthly about the meeting/events. Website is http://clintonhill.org/

The meeting times are often inconvenient for me, so this was my first. It was fairly informative. I'll try to keep up and continue reporting!

Posted by: lesterhead at March 17, 2006 1:45 PM

Lesterhead,
Please feel free to email us notes on the meetings and we'll post 'em.

Posted by: Brownstoner at March 17, 2006 2:56 PM

Frankie Flatbush, while you make an interesting point I don't think you can always throw every situation in that category. I sincerely believe that Lewis & Rubys is in a great location, I don't think that the "small business in up and coming neighborhood" thing is necessarily the case in this situation. the food just wasn't good. there's a bookstore and a coffee shop next to that restaurant and those aren't closed... there are also other small shops on Lewis within that same area. I agree that considering the things you mentioned this makes it harder for small businesses but you cannot just offer poor quality because your business is in a "up and coming" neighborhood and you don't have much competition. as far as bodegas, I'd never been there (kept putting it off) but that's not a bad location either.

Posted by: blkbuttrflie at March 17, 2006 3:04 PM

Bodegas is good location, but in my opinion, the food was hit or miss. Some things were ok, some were not very good at all. There are plenty of people in the vicinity that will support any quality establishment - look at Locanda e Olii (even a bit out of the way from main streets in Clinton Hill) and its been doing a quality job and been doing very well for several years now.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 17, 2006 3:09 PM

For a great coffee shop you should check out Outpost on Fulton between Irving Place and Downing Street. They've got great coffee, free wi-fi and recently added beer and wine to their list of libations. It's really cute inside and the owners are really nice.

Posted by: lizzieb at March 17, 2006 4:34 PM

Bodegas was constantly being promoted by PACC, which has been trying to do a BID on Fulton for quite some time. What always drove me crazy was how tacky Bodegas looked from the outside--dirty awnings and windows, and an unpleasant view of their kitchen.

I hope the next business there will be a bit more inspiring!

Posted by: Anonymous at March 17, 2006 4:53 PM

I agree, Vini e Olii is not for everyday. I just meant that a good small business, even if more expensive, will do well in the neighborhood. Thinking mediocre food/service (not that Bodegas was that bad or was "mediocre") will be good enough will most likely result in a business failure imo. I'm just responding to Frankie Flatbush above. My answer is that the good quality small businesses are doing well. The "so so" small businesses not so well. Go for quality (doesn't have to be super expensive, but don't be afraid of making it a little more high end) and it will do well I think (and hope).

Posted by: Anonymous at March 17, 2006 5:15 PM

My Bed Stuy recommendation go to

Bread Stuy, Lewis Ave - always the best for coffee, service and great cakes, Big up to Lloyd and Hilary.

Doctor's Cave, Marcy Ave - only open in the day I think its 11am to 3pm. Cooked food is wonderful all hand cooked with love and Tim & Jean are great characters.

Food4Thought, Tompkins Ave - friendly and great smoothies.
These places offer great service and get my support and local dollars.

Posted by: Dave at March 17, 2006 5:45 PM

Agree 100% with the earlier poster. Build it and they will come. Locanda Vini e Olii, Olea, Ici, Luz (for example) are first rate places that do well and deserve to. Brunch at Olea is only marginally more expensive than Bodegas, but infinitely better.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 17, 2006 7:58 PM

whats the big deal about one bodega closing we got to many of them in the hood anyway.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 18, 2006 1:18 AM

I don't know if Bodegas is in a good location. The new Subway take-out across the street opened under new management and was robbed in the same weekend.

Posted by: Supergirl at March 18, 2006 1:38 AM

Come on!!!!! People get raped and kiledl around 5th avenue in Mahnattan, are you blind not to see the potential of Fulton? is the main commercial street of that side of the hood and there is only one good store "Olivino" isn't this neighboorhood thirsty of good stuff or should we keep spending our money at garden of eden.. whole foods .... in the city??? give me some goody and I rather spend my money here than elsewhere.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 18, 2006 9:38 AM

where on Marcy is Doctor's Cave & what kind of food do they have? I love the name.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 18, 2006 3:34 PM

it wasn't A bodega, it was called "bodegas" and was restaurant...

Posted by: Anonymous at March 18, 2006 5:19 PM

I think we should band together as a group, get the lease for the location Bodegas was in, and put in a high end gourmet grocery there. It would be sorta like the Park Slope food co-op without us all having to work there.

Will we support good things when they happen in our neighborhood, or will we have to take the initiative and make change happen on our own?

Posted by: Shahn Andersen at March 18, 2006 8:05 PM

Another voice from the Fulton Street neck of the woods that says we ABSOLUTELY would support quality establishments on Fulton.... and, Bodegas was mediocore at best, which is why we didn't support it much. It's going to take one really good restaurant (and I don't necessarily mean expensive, just delivering good quality, nice vibe, decent service) or wonderful food store to light the fire on a strip that's been way overdue on decent commercial development (and I don't mean Starbucks).

Posted by: kcf at March 19, 2006 9:02 AM

Doctor's Cave is on Marcy corner by the Boy's High School and is run by a Jamaican women and her English husband.

The food is all hand cooked from all organic ingredients.

Posted by: Dave at March 19, 2006 10:17 AM

We don't know the fate of the Lewis and Ruby location, many people have tried to obtain the property and the owners are asking to much money. I don't know how long it will need to sit for the price to come down but, it has alot of potential. There is no real good food in the hood yet...Solomon's Porch is coming along, I believe soon someone will come along with the right vision for the place and make will work. I'm sad Akwabba is not there anymore...boy that Sunday Brunch. Doctor's Cave!!!!!
If you go once...get ready to FALL IN LOVE WITH GOOD HOME COOKING AGAIN!

Posted by: bed stuy grl at March 19, 2006 1:01 PM

Regarding Doctor's Cave... I work in the old Boys' High building and have not seen the Cave open in many months. It was a nice lunch alternative to a crappy deli sandwich. So they are still open? On the weekend for brunch then? Because neither I nor any of the other teachers with whom I work have been there in a long time; we were sure it had closed...

Posted by: Anonymous at March 19, 2006 5:26 PM

Doctor's Cave is still open in the week I was just on Thursday. Sure they are open from around 11am to 3 so they got you covered.

I don't think they open on weekends though talking about opening for brunch in the summer.

Posted by: Dave at March 19, 2006 9:26 PM

thanks to everyone with positive comments on the Cave it's good to know people care. To those of you who have missed it, we re-opened the cafe on October 1st 2005 after a six month hiatus to pursue another project. Our hours of business have been, and continue to be, Monday thru friday, 10 am to 3pm, Sunday Brunch 11am until 4 pm. Don't assume......come and see!

Posted by: tim cutler at March 20, 2006 5:59 PM

Shahn, I think that's a great idea. I live in the Stuy, but I'd be willing to talk with you about it some more.

Posted by: browngirl at March 21, 2006 9:44 AM

The quality *has* gone down at locanda. But if people let Catherine/Frnacois know, I'm sure they will rectify the situation immediately.

Posted by: Anon. at March 21, 2006 12:09 PM

I'm not surprised they closed. My husband and I used to go to Liquors for drinks when they first opened and well, their drinks were fine but nothing special. When we finally went for dinner last year, the food was grim (duck served with hot wing sauce?) and a mouse ran over my foot. Yes, we need more restaurants in the Greene, just better ones than what we currently have/had.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2006 6:39 PM

Boca Soul across the street has great food and moderate pricing. Heard they recently secured their liquor license. It never tried to compete with Bodegas and has been doing well so far. The Reason Bodegas closed is still a mystery, but they were good for the block and I think Boca Soul will encourage other quality restaurants to sprout up. Its more important that we support our neighborhood and this will encourage other cool businesses to open on Fulton. Not Subway's, or McDonalds, but custom stores and restaurants etc. They will add a much needed element to the area.

Posted by: rose at March 26, 2006 9:59 PM

I am looking to open a restaurant and was wondering if anyone knew how to contact the owners?
Thanks

Posted by: DK at August 10, 2006 11:36 PM

« Luring Brooklynites to Jackson Heights Street Sign As Key Selling Point »

March 17, 2006

Future of Bodegas & Liquors Thrown Into Question

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