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December 18, 2007
Morton’s, Other Big Chains Coming to Downtown
Yesterday the Daily News published a story about a mystery “high-end steakhouse” taking space in the ground floor of the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge (top photo), but the restaurant’s identity wasn’t a mystery for all that long. Morton’s signed a lease for a whopping 14,500 square feet of space at the hotel, according to a press release published on CNN Money, and expects to open its 295-seat restaurant in late 2008. Doesn’t seem like the steakhouse could ever challenge Luger’s supremacy in Brooklyn (even after the Times demoted the old-school spot to two stars), but it’ll probably fit in just fine Downtown, which is increasingly drawing the national chain gang. Even more interesting (to us, anyway) was the news that Barneys, Apple, The Gap and Banana Republic have all expressed interest in taking space next door to the Marriott, in a city-owned building on Adams Street. We can only assume that the building in question is 345 Adams Street (bottom photo).
Luxury Shops for Downtown Brooklyn [NY Daily News] GMAP
Morton's to Open its First Restaurant in Brooklyn [CNN Money]
Photo of the Marriott by Scott Bintner forProperty Shark.
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Comments
isn't 345 adams the building next door -- the one with 345 written on it? the old bklyn edison building, i think.
Posted by: bklynite at December 18, 2007 10:26 AM
Not big on red slab of meat, but the more the merrier for Downtown Brooklyn. Since it's about the biggies, you mean you'll decimate the small mom and pops?
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 10:26 AM
The building in question is indeed 345 Adams Street. Muss Development, the builders of the Marriott, are purchasing the first two floors of the city-owned building and converting the offices to a reported (Eagle) 40,000 square-feet of retail.
Posted by: g man at December 18, 2007 10:27 AM
I'd just like to point out that the top photo shows the most useless bike path in NYC. Constantly clogged with cabs, livery cars, buses, and cop cars. Even after they painted the whole thing green, it's still ignored.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 10:27 AM
I think this is fantastic news. I think Barneys/Apple rumors (like Whole Foods and Trader Joes) are wishful thinking. But Mortons should do well with the tourists and business travelers and I wouldn't mind walking over there myself once or twice.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 10:33 AM
No brainer - Morton's (which IMHO isnt all that great) will do amazing at this location. Hotel guests, Attorneys & Judges and Brooklyn residents will all frequent the place. Except for Luger's (which you cant get into) and Ember's in Bay Ridge I cannot think of another legitimate Steak House in all of Brooklyn (a city of 2.5M)
As with virtually every national chain that opens in Brooklyn (Marriott, Home Depot, Target, Lowes, etc...) this will become one of Morton's highest grossing location and everyone will wonder why someone didn't open a steak house in one of the larger business districts in the country much much sooner.
Sorry to say while Mom and Pop sleep - corporate america is using its brains.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 10:42 AM
this is great news! come one, come all. downtown is booming.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 10:44 AM
how about bringing Gage & Tollner's back? isn't their old building empty now after the TGI Fridays went under (thankfully)?
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 10:44 AM
Gage and Tollner will be Ruth's Soul Food of Harlem fame.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 10:48 AM
Amy Ruth's, the Harlem restaurant, is opening a branch in the old G&T.
Posted by: g man at December 18, 2007 10:48 AM
Gage and Tollner's will soon be occupied by Amy Ruth's, a southern restaurant.
I agree that this is good news for Brooklyn. Somebody better tell Morton's to offer The What a free steak to reward his perceptive and accurate predictions of NYC real estate.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 10:49 AM
More to do for loitering around the court houses. Not sure it's all good news, but I hope it does not multiply obesity and tranced cow-faces in the area.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 10:50 AM
Too bad it wasn't a Ruth Chris - a much much better high-end steak chain
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 10:51 AM
Barney's in Brooklyn - best news ever! Only would be trumped by a baby gap...
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 10:52 AM
10:33...
you do realize the trader joe's and whole foods are not rumors, right??
they are in progress. trader joe's on atlantic and court, whole foods at 3rd and 3rd in Gowanus.
The latter obviously seems sketchy, but it's certainly more than a rumor.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 11:00 AM
Gage and Tollner was owned by the same people that own Casa Rosa, which was continually slammed on this board..
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 11:02 AM
Is the glass half full or half empty?
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 11:04 AM
BK Daily Eagle has a rendering of the Morton's showing it going into the space in you lower picture. 345 Adams is the former family court space next door to that.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 11:06 AM
apple will be brilliant.
they will make a killing there.
and i certainly would welcome and shop at a barney's co-op.
the area lies smack in the middle of cobble hill, park slope, ft. greene, dumbo, brooklyn heights and carroll gardens.
think of all stores that are just now catching onto the fact that this location has got some serious wealth...and the kindof wealth that likes to support its community by shopping local. even local chains.
i'd much rather spend a buck at the park slope barnes and noble (if i ever have to go there...over one in manhattan. it just seems like it must help).
bring on a restoration hardware!!!!
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 11:09 AM
That lower picture ain't of a city-owned building; it's of the ground floor of the new Marriott extension.
Posted by: johnife at December 18, 2007 12:02 PM
Peter Luger's is overrated.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 12:06 PM
never heard of peter luger's.
is that like a macaroni grill?
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 12:20 PM
12:20 -Idiot!
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 12:25 PM
Gimme a Pottery Barn, a Borders, a Republic (the Asian noodle/fusion restaurant in Union Sq), a Sam Flax, and gimme PARKING!
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 12:31 PM
unless other things change around downtown/fulton mall area (especially demographic of the shoppers) any new retail chain will end up like the atlantic center Target- profitable i'm sure, but like a scene out of New Orleans during Katrina. Useless employees, poorly stocked shelves, mob mentality while waiting on line...I know you people will say I'm a racist or whatever, but its true.
and mortons sucks.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 12:37 PM
Barneys in Brooklyn!!!!!
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 12:40 PM
"Gage and Tollner was owned by the same people that own Casa Rosa, which was continually slammed on this board.."
Joseph Chirico was the owner of Gage and Tollner and Marco Polo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gage_and_Tollner
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/24/25/24_25marcopolo.html
I don't think that CASA ROSA RESTAURANT and Marco Polo are owned by same person, are they?
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 12:46 PM
12:37....Hil-arious! (And I'm Black, from Brooklyn...don't think it's a racist comment)
I never understand why people are surprised when Brooklyn-based Target, Home Depot, Ikea, etc. are the "highest grossing location in the chain!". HELLO?!? We are a city of 2.5 million people and we are ridiculously under-retailed. The reason that these national chains are so "high grossing" is because they are servicing waaay too many per capita vis-a-vis other locations
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 12:56 PM
Is Luger's overrated because you go there expecting so much that your expectations could never be met? Perhaps. If so, Morton's must be the most underrated steakhouse because I never expect to get a decent steak and I haven't been disappointed yet.
If a Barney's is really coming to Brooklyn, it may sound ridiculous on my part, but that's exciting. I hated it when they closed the original store in Chelsea. Then the one in the WFC was closed permanently after 9/11. The warehouse sale is a pain. I hate going to midtown. A full scale shop in the boro would get my business.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 12:57 PM
"Gimme a Pottery Barn, a Borders, a Republic (the Asian noodle/fusion restaurant in Union Sq), a Sam Flax, and gimme PARKING!"
WHAT THE FUCK? This can't be a serious post.
Poster at 12:31, you can move to Houston if you want chain stores and parking lots.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 1:34 PM
12:31, you don't have to move to Houston. Plenty of parking in the Marriott. What? Oh, you wanted FREE parking.... Yeah, better move to Houston.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 1:39 PM
"Poster at 12:31, you can move to Houston if you want chain stores and parking lots."
Or Manhattan.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 1:41 PM
seriously. the news could be that the whitehouse is relocating to borough hall and people would still find something to complain about on this site.
this is great news. downtown bk is firing on all cylinders, and the hits just keep on coming.
Posted by: BrooklynLove at December 18, 2007 1:52 PM
I understand that Whole Food and TJs are happening in these two locations. Just saying they are also rumored to open in EVERY CONDO DEVELOPMENT EVER.
Wasn't an Apple Store going to open in first level of the Brooklyn Muni Building according to rumor two weeks ago? And in Williamsburg last week?
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 1:53 PM
Um, I have to point out that the Daily News story reads as follows:
"Barneys, Apple, The Gap and Banana Republic top a list of potential retailers."
In other words, those retailers top a list of tenants that the developer WISHES would rent from him. Along with the other sexy and obvious choices: Starbucks, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's (for some reason that escapes me--TJ's is a dump).
I would love to see any and all of those retailers come to Bklyn, either in this location or in any of the hundreds of better locations for such stores. And I'm sure it's going to happen sooner or later (well, Barneys might open a Co-op here, although obviously not an actual Barneys New York--that'd be like putting a tiara on a pig, ha ha).
But right now, this smells like nothing more than a developer's wishful thinking.
Anybody on the inside of the deal have anything more solid?
Posted by: Rehab at December 18, 2007 2:13 PM
Seriously, this is great news for all of us Brooklynites. We should be proud and happy we're drumming up more business in Downtown Brooklyn. Maybe Marty will run for president like Rudy for improving the quality of life in our city. Yeah, who really cares about the poor, the sick and the downtrodden? It's free enterprise, right?
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 2:17 PM
I don't think the developers would put those names out there to then end up with mcd's, old navy and burlington coat factory in the end.
I think they are probably in talks.
Not just wishful thinking.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 2:18 PM
The tiara goes on with the lipstick and wings
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 2:23 PM
Who's busting on Casa Rosa? They have the best gnocchi I've had in a long time. Maybe it smells funny and the wine list isn't very good but the food is great.
Posted by: gothamlawyer at December 18, 2007 2:26 PM
1:52 - actually Brooklyn was once seriously considered a potential site for the Capital so it would be historically appropriate - except your right before it could the NIMBY's would be complaining about the traffic, the terrorist risks, the gentrification and whatever other red herrings they could think of.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 2:27 PM
12:37 - why would anyone call you a racist - just because you refer to the Black people as "useless" and 'mob-like'???
Not at all, don't worry you covered up the racism so effectively by hiding your sentiment with codes like - the "demographics of fulton mall" and "a scene from Hurricane Katrina"
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 2:33 PM
not just black, but rican too. and who cares, is it not true??? and white people can be useless and mob-like, it just doesn't happen in downtown brooklyn.
i think the point was why would an apple store want to subject themselves to that? their whole image is cool and clean, not ghetto and broken.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 2:40 PM
Is it true that Black people and Puerto Rican's are useless and mob-like???
No its not
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 2:45 PM
Look, the area is obviously gentrifying, and Brooklyn is, indeed, riDICulously under-retailed, and businesses like this are coming and will continue to come.
I'm just saying: Just because a developer tosses out the names of a few shops he'd like to have in his building--coincidentally, the very most coveted, sought-after, heavily-wooed retailers on the planet--does not at ALL mean they're actually coming. It is obviously just a wish list.
Every developer goes through incredible contortions to attract hot, sexy brands to be their anchor tenants. That, friend, is the coin of the ever-lovin' realm in commercial real estate. Convincing the extremely well-run real-estate departments of Starbucks, etc., that your location is where they ought to be is very difficult.
Of course, I dearly hope these stores really do come. You can't buy anything in Brooklyn but t-shirts and messenger bags.
Guest 2:18, if you have any evidence to strengthen the story, I'd love to see it. I can walk to that Marriott, and if you give me a reason, I will.
Posted by: Rehab at December 18, 2007 2:53 PM
no fuckhead, is it not true that the atlantic center target is full of useless employees and has mob-like lines? why is everyone so hung up on the race thing?
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 2:54 PM
Actually, it IS true that the Atlantic Center Target is full of employees who don't give a damn about their jobs or their customers. Not all, but most. Worst customer service ever.
The lines are no picnic, either.
I can't decide whether the shopping experience is so shitty there because it's always insanely crowded or because most of the employees and shoppers are black/Hispanic.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 4:46 PM
If all the big stores (like Target in Atl Ctr, Daffy's, McD, etc) come in and continue to pay minimum wage, you can bet for a lousy customer service. Starbucks has good benefits so it will be quality for the area. Banana Rep, Gap and Barney's will be great, too, if and when they become a reality. Fulton Mall will morph from eyesore to a shopping strip pleasure. Let's get it on.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 5:04 PM
4:46=Driven by Hatred.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 5:10 PM
12:37=closet racist
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 5:14 PM
12:37=closet racist
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 5:14 PM
Except 5:04 - none of the stores mentioned pay minimum wage in their Brooklyn locations - and btw McDonalds tend to have great service (especially compared to other mass merchants) -
Oh well back to the sociological drawing board to come up with a blame-the-white-man explanation for the horrible employees working retail in NYC.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 5:16 PM
"Is Luger's overrated because you go there expecting so much that your expectations could never be met?"
No. It's overrated because the waitstaff is rude, the steak is nothing particularly great, the place is in the middle of nowhere, and for some inexplicable reason, it's very difficult to get a resevation there. On the contrary, I wasn't expecting very much when I went there, and I was not disappointed. That's why it sucks.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 5:17 PM
5:10/5:14 is a big pansy who is afraid to call it as it is. grow some balls, fag.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 5:23 PM
5:16 chip on the shoulder, not sure it was about you anyway, but how'd you come up with the white man's guilt? I admit McD's got fast service and the poison gets served pronto to the customers.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 5:28 PM
5:23=closeted gay
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 5:28 PM
I actually have had pretty good customer service at target. That's just from my experience.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 5:40 PM
i'll take a rude customer service rep over an anonymous coward spitting hateful venom anyday.
Posted by: BrooklynLove at December 18, 2007 5:51 PM
5:10=Moron
Are you denying that the Atlantic Center Target has a lot of awful employees?
Regardless of ethnicity of the workers or customers, the service there is BEYOND LOUSY.
The people in line suck too, but that's most of NYC.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 6:15 PM
Jeez, people. A Hooter's would be so much better than another high-priced trashy mall steakhouse. And FYI, Hooter's offers a "kids eat free all day" option, so all those Brooklyn DILFs are covered.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 6:16 PM
"Are you denying that the Atlantic Center Target has a lot of awful employees?
Regardless of ethnicity of the workers or customers, the service there is BEYOND LOUSY."
You seem to know quite a bit about the place. If it's so bad, why do you go there? Or are you relying on heresay?
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 6:20 PM
Those TEENAGER's that Target prefers to staff their customer service arm with are paid minimum wage.
I don't think they're lazy because their black, I think they just don't give a fuck. Period. They are making minimum wage in a store that serves a shit-load of people, selling discounted goods.
If you want good customer service, shop at a high-end store, where the service is a part of their branding.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 6:24 PM
"I don't think the developers would put those names out there to then end up with mcd's, old navy and burlington coat factory in the end."
Because developers are so very honest?
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 6:27 PM
"You seem to know quite a bit about the place. If it's so bad, why do you go there? Or are you relying on heresay?"
I go there twice a month. The service (for the most part) is lousy with a capital L, but I deal with it because I like to save money.
Posted by: guest at December 18, 2007 8:35 PM
12:37 "give me a Pottery Barn"? Grow up! Only babies go there. go gooo blog blah!
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 7:54 AM
"I go there twice a month. The service (for the most part) is lousy with a capital L, but I deal with it because I like to save money."
Then shut the f**k up and deal with the crapy service, or stay out of there. Problem solved.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:10 AM
"If you want good customer service, shop at a high-end store, where the service is a part of their branding."
I've had BAD service in places like the GAP on 42nd and Third Avenue, and GOOD service in places like Macy's in the Fulton Mall! It's all relative. Good service is not necessarily based on store location or category or in the ethnicity of the staff. More often than not, it's based on that indivdual establishment's culture.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:13 AM
11:13 It's about wage. If you're not paid your worth, you get an attitude.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:16 AM
11:10--what are you, one of the useless Target employees?
I obviously deal with the shitty service since I shop there twice a month. I also complain about the lousy customer service there because BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE SHOULD NOT BE THE NORM--especially when the employees are PAID to help customers.
And really, who the hell are you to tell anyone to shut the fuck up? Since you wouldn't tell a stranger that in real life, you're nothing but a sad internet coward.
Dipshit.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:43 AM
"11:10--what are you, one of the useless Target employees?"
Nope. I'm just tired of reading your whiny bulls**t.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:51 AM
11:51--
Fuck off, you mental midget.
In other words, take your own advice and shut the fuck up.
Oh yeah, and the service at Target is lousy.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 3:29 PM
"11:51--
Fuck off, you mental midget.
In other words, take your own advice and shut the fuck up.
Oh yeah, and the service at Target is lousy."
Admit it. You love the place. You're obsessed with it. That's why you're sputtering and freaking out. Get a hold of yourself. Go back to Target at Atlantic Center and have a Happy Meal.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 4:00 PM
It's true, I do like Target. I just can't stand most of the people that work at the Atlantic Center location. Many of them are almost as useless as your idiotic comments.
I'm not sure what gave you the idea that I'm sputtering, but I'm not freaking out--I'm just telling you to shut the fuck up.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 4:33 PM
chucky cheese is a more convenient dining alternative for atlantic center. i don't think they offer happy meals however.
Posted by: BrooklynLove at December 19, 2007 10:52 PM
They should definitely bring Barney's , H&M, Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware, Zara, Dean and Deluca...
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 12:40 PM
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