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March 11, 2008
StreetLevel: Schermerhorn Supermarket Deal Falls Through
Well, this one's not a crowd pleaser. Turns out plans to put a 12,000-sf supermarket into the biggest ground-floor space at the State Renaissance Court building have been tabled. The building's owners have instead cut up the space and rented half of it to the Red Cross; the other 6,000 square feet are still on the market along with four other smaller (around 1,000 sf) storefronts. Those small spaces are being eyed by "neighborhood businesses" like liquor stores and pizza parlors, says State Renaissance Court developer Hesky Brahimy. The would-be supermarket owner was a retail novice, says Brahimy. The developer still hopes to attract some sort of gourmet grocery to the remaining large space in the building. "A grocery is what's most needed around here," says Brahimy, though "we'll entertain all offers."
Streetlevel: A New Supermarket for Schermerhorn [Brownstoner] GMAP
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Comments
Why does the Red Cross need streetlevel retail space?
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 2:43 PM
That sucks.
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 2:44 PM
shocker
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 2:46 PM
It would probably be easier for the Red Cross to conduct blood drives, and give out information and aid, if they had a street level presense. One might be more inclined to give blood if you walked by and saw a drive, as opposed to going into a building, past security, up the elevator, etc.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at March 11, 2008 2:53 PM
I'm not at all surprised. The so-called Downtown revival has been overblown by politicians and developers who are in bed with them. Only anything-for-a-buck brokers and gullible buyers who fancy themselves visionaries are silly enough to believe the hype.
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 3:01 PM
THe Red Cross hmmmm
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 3:47 PM
people, a 12,000 sf supermarket would be doomed before it opens. Not big enough. thats why only a novice was interested.
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 3:49 PM
That's terrible. This site needs active retail space, not a dead storefront (particularly one for a homophobic organization).
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 3:53 PM
a "retail novice"? Originally the rumors were of a national gourmet chain moving into that space. I wonder what chain would be considered a "novice"?
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 3:54 PM
MM, I think this is the disaster training and response part of the Red Cross.
Posted by: g man at March 11, 2008 4:16 PM
That's a big blow to the neighborhood. That street is dead at night, and this was a chance to bring some traffic to an otherwise useless block. I don't know if anything else will be able to bridge the gap between Downtown Brooklyn and Boerum Hill like a market would.
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 5:09 PM
I think 12,000 would be on par or on the larger side for a Brooklyn supermarket in the area. A lot of the Key Foods are closer to 7,000 - 10,000 SF.
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 6:04 PM
Downtown Brooklyn is a dump. Always will be.
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 6:34 PM
Red Cross gave up their place on Pineapple Place so this might be why.
Posted by: guest at March 11, 2008 8:12 PM
real shame. this area is happening anyway, though.
Posted by: guest at March 12, 2008 9:49 AM
6:34 = Queens resident.
Posted by: guest at March 12, 2008 12:21 PM
12:21 you are soooooo good at reading people. I live in the East village, am from the UES and work in downtown Brooklyn. If a supermarket doesn't open in Manhattan, it is not news. If it doesn't open in a dump, everyone knows about it and actually gives a shit. Court Street has got to be one of the most disgusting stretches of road in the country and the movie theatre has piss on its seats. Sorry, but DT Brooklyn is a shithole, and an ugly shithole at that.
Posted by: guest at March 12, 2008 1:20 PM
was this a Busy Chef venture that was shelved?
Posted by: guest at March 13, 2008 2:07 PM
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