« Building a Consensus for Growth in Flatbush What's Up with 200 Adelphi Street? »
December 5, 2007
Banks Gunning for Royal Video Spot?
Over the next couple of weeks Royal Video is going to be moving its business a few blocks north on Flatbush, to a smaller storefront near Prospect Place that briefly housed Curves (see photo on jump). The original store between Bergen and St. Marks, meanwhile, is likely to be afflicted affected by the bank branch expansion craze. Two banks are currently bidding to take Royal Video’s old spot, according to one of the store’s employees. Whether or not the bank talk is true (and we’re betting it is), we’re definitely going to be sad to see Royal’s yellow-and-green signage go the way. GMAP
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/3094
Comments
Two bizzare elements in this story.
First, who in their right mind would decide to move their video store to a new location in this age - ever hear of Netflix, video on demand??? Plus, that was always a crappy video store.
Two, what is the deal with all the banks? Pretty soon there will only be two types of storefronts in the Slope, banks and real estate agencies. Are the people advising the banks to open up all these branches the same people who advised them to given out100% mortgages to people with no documentation?
Posted by: Brooklynnative at December 5, 2007 10:08 AM
Wow the neighborhood is changing, The Royal Porn Video store is moving!!!
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 10:09 AM
Great, USED Porn for sale, load up now.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 10:11 AM
Awesome, I'm loving the retro vibe of that block. I'll be able to rent my vhs tapes while I'm waiting for my 1 hour film developing next door? I hope there's a store nearby that'll sell me a pager.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 10:18 AM
I owe those guys money. I STILL haven't returned a video I rented in 1995.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 10:35 AM
It's a charming sign, sure....but my god. That space is large enough for a supermarket.
There is no need for that any longer, as someone said.
I am disappointed about the bank situation, but really in grand scheme of things, Park Slope isn't filled with banks, as someone claims. There's basically one of each bank branch on 5th and 7th.
In fact...I go to Commerce and from my North Slope/7th Avenue apt, I have to walk to 5th and 1st for the Commerce.
Banks are a problem in Manhattan for sure, but I don't see how one of each is that big a deal.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 10:50 AM
Brooklynnative, actually there are THREE types of stores in the Slope: banks, real estate agencies, and cell phone stores.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 10:51 AM
there are also more unique stores and restaurants in park slope than most neighborhoods around, 10:51.
open your eyes a little bit.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 10:59 AM
The more I think about it, the more I don't like the idea of a bank in there.
It will make that whole corner dead after 5 pm.
Given that it's right across the street from very successful Flatbush Farm, can't we get something that will actually add something to the street life in there??
How about a Korean Grocer? Or a Barzini's (of the upper west side fame)?
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 11:04 AM
have a sense of humor, 10:59. my eyes are open...i certainly eat and shop at the non-bank/real estate/cell phone businesses. but like a lot of 'hoods around the city we don't exactly need another bank. how about a decent grocery store that doesn't a monthly work commitment, or any of a dozen other types of businesses that serve a diverse community.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 11:17 AM
Bank Craze in PS? Really?!? Would like a Citibank here.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 11:19 AM
Say all the down stuff you want about Royal, but they been the place for your low income neighbors to go... the ones still trying to afford to live in Brooklyn. Look when all the laundrymats are priced out, guess its time to pack up and go. dig?
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 11:19 AM
Problem is, the only business that can afford the new rent to be charged on that place is a bank or a large chain.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 11:26 AM
maybe the low income neighbors can now read more books instead of watch so much porn.
how is a video store catering to the "low income neighbors?"
netflix is cheaper than royal video.
i'm not following your line of thinking.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 11:28 AM
First of all, Royal Video is moving SOUTH of its current location. Second, which banks are vying for the space? Citi and Bank of America (maybe Commerce) are the only ones that would make sense there. I bet it's BoA...
I agree with Brooklynnative, though--who on earth rents videos anymore? And by moving south on Flatbush, this store is only closer to Blockbuster (which has a superior netflix-style rent online, drop off in the store policy) and the site of the now defunct Video Edge. I give it a year before it goes completely belly-up
I don't see how a bank, which has ATMs and is basically a 24-hour operation, would kill the life on that corner, though. It's next door to Sugarcane and across the triangle from Flatbush Farm. Besides, what kind of nightlife on the corner of Flatbush are you looking for 11:04?
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 11:54 AM
I don't call people scampering in a locked door after 5pm to get cash, street life, that's for darn sure.
Royal Video was open late and had people coming and going well into the evening.
That's what I call street life.
You don't notice a difference in streets lined with shops and restaurants to those lined with banks and real estate agencies?
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 12:09 PM
who needs night life when there is plenty of porn to watch.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 12:15 PM
"Brooklynnative, actually there are THREE types of stores in the Slope: banks, real estate agencies, and cell phone stores."
There is a METEORITE store on 5th Avenue.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 12:23 PM
A Citibank would be nice.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 12:26 PM
You people are never happy.
When banks don't invest in neighborhoods, you complain of racism and classism and bemoan the check-cashing places.
But when banks proliferate, you still whine.
As always, damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 12:33 PM
"There is a METEORITE store on 5th Avenue."
An empty meteorite store I might add. Worst. Business plan. Ever.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 12:45 PM
I don't think it's about damned if you do, damned if you don't.
I think it's that different people have different opinions.
Imagine that.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 12:49 PM
I guess I meant what kind of street life are you looking for on FLATBUSH? It's a f*cking super-highway!
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 12:54 PM
well considering some nice places along this stretch of flatbush....franny's, sugercane, a new bakery opening up, american apparel...i really don't consider it a superhighway.
i consider it a busy street with improving retail.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 1:01 PM
It's actually a pretty busy intersection becuase of the foot traffic from Sugar Cane, Flatbush Farm, that burrito place, and the Bergen street station. Seems like a really large space to just hold a bank branch. You could fit a bank branch and another store/restaurant in there.
There is already a Wamu on Flatbush, and also a Chase ATM at the Duane Reade. There's also that check cashing place in the columned building on the same block.
The deli next store has been closed for a while too-- is that part of the deal?
Posted by: Park Place at December 5, 2007 1:35 PM
i believe there is a real chase branch right up on flatbush nearer to grand army plaza.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 1:54 PM
ah the memories. i played many a fine video game in that store back in the day. would love to have all those quarters back.
time for some park slope trivia:
who can identify the infamous event that took place at said GAP flatbush chase branch almost 20 years ago?
Posted by: BrooklynLove at December 5, 2007 2:41 PM
That columned building with the check-cashing place used to be a Citibank! There was also one on Fifth Ave. They closed in the early or mid 80s, if I remember correctly.
Wasn't the "infamous event" the bank robbery by the sex-change wannabe, the story of which became the movie Dog Day Afternoon?
Posted by: rf at December 5, 2007 4:11 PM
not the event i had in mind but such an event would definitely qualify as infamous.
any other entries? staying w/n the theme of robbery.
Posted by: BrooklynLove at December 5, 2007 4:55 PM
bank robbery where cops got shot and shot back but not dog day afternoon- that was out in gravesend or somewhere...
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 5:04 PM
what made the event i have in mind infamous was the identity of the victim of the robbery. and in this case the term infamous could be synonymous with shameful.
Posted by: BrooklynLove at December 5, 2007 5:17 PM
Answer - the priest depositing the tuition to the Catholic elementary school - but it wasnt a Chase bank
FSRG
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 5:37 PM
also, more like 15 years ago than 20 on the timing.
Posted by: BrooklynLove at December 5, 2007 5:37 PM
Well, I live right on that block, and I can think of many things I'd prefer to see in that space- how about an upscale grocery? a bakery? a (gasp!) bookstore? Anything but another bank. Snooze city.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 6:09 PM
A bookstore. That's funny. Sadly the area is losing all of the bookstores except the B&N. High rents. Low readership levels. Oh well.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 6:30 PM
record and tape traders!
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 7:56 PM
FSRG got it, but it was a chase then, well kind of - it was chemical still at the time.
my post re 15 years must have got held up in the approval cue along with FSRG's. i was able to dig up an old nyt blurb that jogged my memory as to the specific year - 1992.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE4DE133BF932A15757C0A964958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/F/Finances
hard to believe that as recently as 15 years ago stuff like that was happening at this location.
brooklyn, son.
Posted by: BrooklynLove at December 5, 2007 8:18 PM
I live two blocks away. While I'd, honestly, love a Citibank on 5th, that would do just fine by me. I hate walking to 7th and President in this weather.
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 9:41 PM
Latest Restaurant Additions
-
Nana
added November 20, 2008 12:02 PM in Park Slope -
Pomme de Terre
added November 19, 2008 12:01 PM in Ditmas Park -
Scopello
added November 18, 2008 12:01 PM in Fort Greene -
DiFara
added November 17, 2008 11:59 AM in Midwood -
Chiles y Chocolate
added November 14, 2008 12:02 PM in Park Slope -
Downtown Bar and Grill
added November 13, 2008 11:58 AM in Cobble Hill -
Tempo
added November 12, 2008 11:57 AM in Park Slope -
The Chocolate Room
added November 11, 2008 12:01 PM in Cobble Hill, Park Slope -
Tanoreen
added November 10, 2008 12:02 PM in Bay Ridge -
Black Iris
added November 7, 2008 12:02 PM in Fort Greene
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.