Streetlevel: Lots of Doings on Vanderbilt

The Daily Heights message board has the new offering from Beast as a Country/Western themed bar.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 2:52 PM

Zaytoons opened up a location a few months back as well.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 2:53 PM

also, soon to open is plan b - a bar in the old Half wine bar space. They are just waiting on their liquor license to be approved but the sign is up.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 2:56 PM

Word of Kosher deli coming soon....

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:02 PM

Vanderbilt still creeps me out a little bit at night.

Nice stuff coming though.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:06 PM

3:06: What are you worried about?

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:15 PM

Looks like Muddy Waters went out of business again, too. I guess Joyce across the street was stiff competition...

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:18 PM

I just don't feel comfortable there. It's too deserted and lots of characters hanging out...especially in the northern stretch of vanderbilt.

It's not yet vibrant like 5th avenue.

But getting there.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:24 PM

kosher deli? Fantastique -- or as my peeps say, sababa! Where, when and under who's aegis is this happening?

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:24 PM

Vanderbilt seems like it will always play second fiddle to Park Slope's 7th and 5th Aves. It's too bad every store closes at 7:00 PM or earlier. Another update is that Muddy Water lost the coffee shop battle to Joyce, the johnny-come-lately to the block.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:26 PM

yeah, i think that was it, 3:26.

if it's possible, the stuff on vanderbilt closes even EARLIER than park slope stuff.

i like noona, but i won't walk all the way up there from ps anymore because the walk up vanderbilt...even at 8 oclock or so is just too depressing and deserted.

all the stores are closed up and the only people hanging out look like they were let out of the state pen.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:30 PM

where is vanderbilt ave?

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:37 PM

good, 3:30. stay the hell away. wouldn't want some lame, scared PS asshats coming to Beast and drinking all the Grimbergen (it's mine, all mine!)

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:40 PM

your attitude, 3:40 is what keeps vanderbilt from truly becoming a vibrant strip.

it's very unwelcoming and people feel that.

maybe it's why there is such high turnover of businesses there.

you don't even want people who love your neighborhood and live a few blocks away but happen to be in park slope to visit your establishments.

i would never feel that way about others coming to visit park slope.

i say the more the merrier.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:45 PM

I think that I'm pretty sensitive when a place feels "unwelcome" but I just don't get that on Vanderbilt. And where are "undesirables" "hanging around"? When is the last time that you were there?

I love the fact that Vanderbilt is changing every month--for the better.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:55 PM

I'm so glad Muddy Waters is out of business - what a horrible place run by a horrible woman. It's a shame she seems to have succeeded with Chocolate Monkey, but what a truly dreadful human being.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 3:56 PM

no. please do stay in your vibrant (=overcrowded), safe (=boring), better-than (=delusional) strip of 5th ave. vanderbilt is fine without all the PS stroller traffic. if you feel comfortable in the area, as i do, then cool.... come on over, let's have a beer. if not, go back to PS.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 4:00 PM

vanderbilt creeps me out alittle at night as well but that was months ago when it was just soda bar.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 4:03 PM

vanderbilt is very similar to the end section of 5th ave that runs into flatbush. I wouldnt call vanderbilt any less safe either.

also there are tons of strollers on vanderbilt.

Regardless I love both roads and vanderbilt is improving with these new additions.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 4:08 PM

prospect heights stroller mom here! we aint skerred of vandy and playpen describes us better than state pen.

i find that the supply of retail seems logically to be following the demand for it. no reason to think that won't happen with open hours the same way it's happening with the type of businesses.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 4:09 PM

"vanderbilt is very similar to the end section of 5th ave that runs into flatbush"

not quite...the stuff on the northern end of 5th has become quite upscale.

and that stuff stays open late too...oko frozen yogurt is open till 11pm!!!

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 4:14 PM

4:14, have you ever been to joyce? how does that not qualify as upscale? you seem to be talking out of your tres expensive yogurt dispenser.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 4:28 PM

Vanderbilt is transitioning from a neglected street to a viable commercial avenue. I agree with 4:09.I would expect that to follow the demands of the neighborhood.

Too bad about Muddy Waters. I was only there a couple of times. Joyce has better baked goods and beverages, but we could use another good cafe over on V.Bilt--Joyce gets too crowded, and that corner (Prospect & Vandy?) needs an open storefront--not pulled-down grates.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 4:29 PM

with sport merch stores...

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 4:35 PM

Once AY is built, Vandy will have one of each fastfood chain and a Walmart.

Enjoy the Beast while you can.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 4:38 PM

4:35 and 4:38, the sport merch and chain stores will be, if anywhere, in between the most common mass transit portals and the arena. that's not vbilt - it's flatbush and atlantic. which is where crappy retail and chain stores are now. i'll agree that a starbucks is probably inevitable, but not much more than that.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 4:44 PM

don't be so naive, 4:44.

it is a known fact that vandy will become a commercial strip for the 16 new highrises that will be built as a part of AY...a hop skip and a jump from there.

that isn't factoring in the spillover arena commerce space that will certainly be overtaken on vanderbilt.

come on now.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 4:53 PM

4:44 here. not naive, just have an understanding of how cities can and do evolve when there is. suggest you stop the fearmongering and look around you.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 5:05 PM

4:44 here again... ^^how cities can and do evolve when there are active and involved local neighborhoods.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 5:09 PM

You clearly didn't go to any of the Atlantic Yards meetings, 4:44/5:05.

If you think Vanderbilt will be immune from Atlantic Yards area development, you are sadly mistaken.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 5:09 PM

5:09 - 444 is right. cities evolve. everyone against AY has the stink of madison square garden, shea , and yankee stadium imbetted in their heads. they obviously havnt left nyc in some time to see how other cities have used new stadiums and mass development to their advantage.phoenix, houston, philly. also- walk around wrigley field. in recent years the hood has turned from eh to incredible. relax hipsters

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 5:22 PM

never said immune. i understand how capitalism works and, clearly, so do the new businesses that are opening on vanderbilt. of course, if y'all decide not to patronize new local businesses now just because 4 years from now there might be a TGIFridays on the corner, then your doomsday scenario just might come true.

as an aside, if vanderbilt falls prey to AY, so will north 5th Ave. i love 5th ave, but i'm just saying.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 5:23 PM

The sky is falling!!! And it's all AY's fault!!! Give it a rest will ya'? The louder you people get the more baseless and reactionary your claims become. This IS a city after all. Things change in a city. They always do. They have to.

I'm sure chain stores (AAAGH) might occupy some spots on the avenue, but it's just silly to assume that they're going to absorb every last local business. I mean, unless AY can also transplant all of the current residents of the area with Olive Garden-loving people from Paramis I just don't see a wholesale takeover of this unique area of Brooklyn by generic chains.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 5:53 PM

5:22pm guest: Your comments would be a bit more valid if we weren't talking about about FCR as the developer. Look at Atlantic Terminal Mall -- it's a bunch of truly crummy retail tenants with tremendously high turnover. I'm praying they bring in someone with a more high end sensibility to line up the AY retailers.

Meanwhile Vanderbilt pre-AY is developing very well thank you in a nicely organic way. Zaytoons is a fabulous new addition: great middle eastern food and very inexpensive. It's always packed. Hre's a shout out also to the (relatively) new furniture/home decor store btw St Marks and Bergen on the east side of the ave. I think it's called Fabrique. Anyway, a very nice selection of mid-century modern furniture boldly reupholstered and fun accessories. There's also a new bar called Plan B opening where Half used to be (next door to Amorina). And yeh, neighborhood consensus is that Muddy Waters won't be missed.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 5:55 PM

Meh-dy Waters, buh-bye!

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 6:33 PM

Prospect Heights is the best neighborhood in Brooklyn period. It beats PS CG BH CH FG BH CH and all the others - PH ROCKS!!!!!!

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 7:54 PM

Can't argue with you on that one, 7:54. You presented your facts and made us all look like fools. Bravo!

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 7:57 PM

If you want to pretend PH isn't a stroller-mom capital, 4:00, go ahead. Your nabe is PS lite and it always will be. GO BED STUY!

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 9:07 PM

Vanderbilt rocks! Where else can you get old school mix tapes conveniently located on a fold-out table right outside the Metfood??
PS?? I think not homie!

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 9:10 PM

you can get old school mix tapes in ps on 5th avenue around 8th street.

without the recently released inmates on every corner.

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 9:24 PM

what happened with the garden cafe, by the way?

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 9:44 PM

what happened with the garden cafe, by the way?

Posted by: guest at January 16, 2008 9:45 PM

The woman who owned Muddy Waters was, indeed, a terror with zero social skills. Her other business (first Chocolate Monkey and then Well Lounge) recently went under. According to a notice on the front door, the marshal got involved. Good riddance!

Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 9:18 AM

The world is a better place without that wacko from Muddy Waters/Well Lounge running any kind of business. I've never met a more unwelcoming, nasty person, especially one who is behind the counter, trying to run a business. Her coffee always sucked—I had it once and based on her attitude and the shittiness of the product never returned.

I live in Prospect Heights and have heard from literally DOZENS of residents who have had a terrible experience, incident, etc. involving her. The sign in the window at the shuddered muddy waters reads "look for muddy waters in spring of '08 on washington ave. Yeah right. We will all avoid you like the plague.

Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 9:29 AM

Recently released inmates will be employed in one of the many shitty jobs available once AY was built. Then watch the economy grow!

Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 9:30 AM

i don't know why folks have issues with the muddy waters gal... she's always been nice to me. what gives?

Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 10:19 AM

10:19 = muddy waters gal

Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 10:44 AM

As a resident of PH, I can see the point of the PS commenter above. Compared to 7th and 5th Avenues, Vanderbilt can seem intimidating to those who spend little time there. The northern section, mainly Dean and Pacific, can seem deserted. With the recent addition of Barrette this desolate feeling with hopefully change. I also think that once AY comes around that the area will become more lively.

Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 11:09 AM

RE: REHAB:

the difference is that Wrigley Field is used between April-October. AY will be an event space when not used for sports (Nets). so, AY will be used MUCH more often. The charms of Wrigleyville are different when it's not baseball season. Whereas, people near AY will need to deal wit this all year round.

Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 1:57 PM

Vanderbilt is fine. I pass through several nights per week after 9pm and the only people I see are folks headed home from the subway, and that one homeless guys down under the scaffolding near Atlantic. The remark about "recently released inmates" is pure nonsense.

Posted by: guest at January 17, 2008 5:45 PM