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September 17, 2008

It's Official: L'Epicerie Est Morte

It's all over now for L'Epicerie, the small neighborhood butcher and grocery spot that had been struggling for the last couple of years. The shop at 270 Vanderbilt Avenue in Fort Greene closed its doors for an August holiday this year and they just never reopened. Now, according to a local business owner, the space is in play. What would you like to see in this location? It's a pretty sweet location—just think of all the foot traffic from The Flea on Sundays! GMAP

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I don't know how they lasted this long? Their prices were ridiculous.Fifteen dollars for a fresh baked bread and that was when they first opened.

Posted by: iluvclintonhill at September 17, 2008 10:48 AM

something on the queer end -- little gay bar? i kind of like that as the title. i realize that this probably won't happen.

Posted by: bklynbpr at September 17, 2008 10:58 AM

I second the gay bar idea

Someone was talking about wanting to open a gay bar in the old Cellars space but it doesn't look like it's available any time soon

Posted by: werner at September 17, 2008 11:05 AM

Call it "Meat Market"

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 17, 2008 11:09 AM

I always thought "Manhole" was a good name for a gay bar.

Posted by: diego at September 17, 2008 11:21 AM

yes...there are many of them diego. The one in Chicago had a slogan: "Never a manhole cover!"

wanna grab a drink diego?? wink, wink ;), ;)

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 17, 2008 11:27 AM

it's about time - the prices at that place were absolutely laughable. i'd prefer a shop to a bar.

Posted by: amt230 at September 17, 2008 11:37 AM

Although we do need a good bar in the neighborhood (I love Alibi, but my girlfriend and her friends just won't go there anymore and I've given up the fight), the old Cellars spot is a much better space for it. You might think me unimaginative, but what we really need in the neighborhood is a good butcher shop. Nothing too fancy or high end, just a place where some folks hack up pigs and sides of beef for people to buy and cook. I was excited about Greene Grape Provisions when it opened, and I buy there from time to time, but I need a more affordable alternative for regular patronage.

Posted by: GoGoMrPoPo at September 17, 2008 12:02 PM

Dave, I'm not making up the names of these bars, except for the last one...Blazing Saddles, Aut Bar, The Back Door, The I-did-A-Rod (I'm sure Sarah Palin would love one of those in Alaska).

Posted by: Biff Champion at September 17, 2008 12:17 PM

not necessarily in this location, but i think our neighborhood needs a used clothing store! a place like beacon's closet. where i can sell my old clothes... and shop too.

i will really miss le'epicerie's sandwiches. maybe they could have concentrated on over the counter prepared food? similar to choice.

Posted by: lena at September 17, 2008 12:35 PM

Lena--I too wanted a Beacon's closet-type place that's closer to me. Have you checked out Blue Bass vintage? I haven't been yet, but it's definitely closer than BC http://www.bluebassvintage.com/

Posted by: birdbath at September 17, 2008 12:58 PM

I never understood this store. Compared to the similarly lux-priced Greene Grape, these guys didn't SELL anything. A whole chicken, and one or two things on shelves. Just bizarre.

This space is way too small for a bar. I agree, Cellars is begging for a clean up and would be a better spot...

Posted by: YngPlnr at September 17, 2008 1:05 PM

What we need in this space is what was already there--a gourmet butcher and cheese shop--only one that's run properly. It was pretty clear the place was failing--the reason there was no merch on the shelves was (I'm sure) that they didn't have the capital to stock the place. They lost me when I saw that they were selling onions that had completely sprouted.

Come on: somebody bring some decent food to Clinton Hill!

I'll second the motion that Cellars needs to be reopened as some kind of bar, gay or otherwise. How can the landlord afford to keep the place vacant so long? Anybody know the story?

Posted by: Rehab at September 17, 2008 1:14 PM

I vote for a flower shop. This is also my vote for Fort Greene and Bed-Stuy properties as well, if anyone's paying attention. Deli curb selections are great if you're on the run but sometimes you need something dressier.

Posted by: bklynbred at September 17, 2008 1:20 PM

something like marlow and sons in williamsburg...

Posted by: miss priss at September 17, 2008 1:22 PM

bklynbred...there's a flower shop on Tompkins (not great) and a new one soon-to-open on the 3oo block of Lewis Ave....along with a wine bar and a market very similar to Greene Grape's Provisions

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 17, 2008 1:27 PM

Actually their is a great flower shop on Myrtle called ROOT STOCK AND QUADE http://www.rootstockquade.com/

I would love to see a place like UNION Market in Park Slope move here to Clinton Hill with lower prices and in a nice space....ELLYs has gotten much better since the new owners took over.

Also I would love a book store, used or otherwise. Somewhere I could get books and not just the standard crap. Something like http://www.spoonbillbooks.com/ in Williamsburg or like Powerhouse Books in Dumbo.

Posted by: dead at September 17, 2008 1:51 PM

bklynbred, there's a florist on Myrtle and Hall called Root Stock & Quade that has beautiful selections. It is rather expensive compared to deli flowers, but there really is no comparison.

I still think CH/FG is too underserved to cater to specialized crowds ie gay bars and vegan restaurants. We still don't have a diner open past 7PM. I hope whomever takes over this space will do something simple and do it well.

Posted by: houseowax at September 17, 2008 1:51 PM

My theory: Open the gay bar first and the rest will follow. Excelsior was on Fifth Avenue long before most of the current restaurants. It could work again!

Posted by: SnarkSlope at September 17, 2008 2:03 PM

SnarkSlope has a very valid point. That's how whole neighborhoods got gentrified one-after-the-other through all my years in Chicago!!!

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 17, 2008 2:14 PM

yea, what is the story with cellars? such an eyesore. anything would be better.

Posted by: bklynbpr at September 17, 2008 2:28 PM

Wasn't anyone at the Fort Greene Indy Bookstore thing last night? I know an independent bookstore that is looking for 1500-2000 sf. Also, what IS the story with Cellars? Why has it been empty so long?

Posted by: Lisa FG at September 17, 2008 2:37 PM

If I ask for a Starbucks... oh, never mind.

I liked their sandwiches too. And I always meant to buy a chicken, even if they were like, $25.00.

Posted by: Heather at September 17, 2008 2:42 PM

I was at the bookstore party and it seemed to be a big success. My roommate and I were trying to think of 1500-2000sf spaces available and were having a hard time...

Posted by: bklynbpr at September 17, 2008 2:51 PM

I suspect the same fate awaits Get Fresh on Fifth. The prices are so high, they should call it Get Real.

Posted by: SnarkSlope at September 17, 2008 2:52 PM

...or "Get Fresh Direct"

Posted by: Biff Champion at September 17, 2008 2:54 PM

I"ve been wanting to open a gay bar here in CH for years...it's a better bet than hedging on the Stock Market!

Posted by: gwbrubaker at September 17, 2008 3:53 PM

The person that wanting to take over Cellars for years is me.

Posted by: gwbrubaker at September 17, 2008 3:55 PM

gwbrubaker...are you gay or just an opportunistic breeder who wants to make a buck on the fact that we tend to drink alot and lots of us order expensive fancy drinks (although not me)? Although one bar I go to in manhattan has a sign "Our house wine is Jagermeister" LOL

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 17, 2008 4:02 PM

Thanks for flower shop recs! I agree, a bookstore would also be a cool touch. Just to add to Cellars discussion, I saw some construction signs in the Cellars II windows but could've sworn original Cellars was still open (anyone go there when they served free buffet with drinks?). I think there was a death within the family within the year...not sure if that's connected with closing?

Posted by: bklynbred at September 17, 2008 4:03 PM

Old man Cellars died a couple of years ago. He seemed like kind of a bastard--he once yelled at a friend of mine for "leaning on his bar"--but fixed a fine free burger.

In my dream Freddies would move into the Cellars space and L'epicerie would be exactly what it tried to be...only good. A neighborhood grocery and butcher with fair prices.

Dream on...

Posted by: david243 at September 17, 2008 4:25 PM

Speaking of the "new" Tilly's, does anyone know if Tilly's widower retired? I like the new set-up & choices, but the prices that come with those definitely pinch.

Posted by: bklynbred at September 17, 2008 4:28 PM

Tommy Cellars just recently passed away this summer, so lay off of him. Stop trying to tell people what to do with their property.

Posted by: momo284 at September 17, 2008 4:43 PM

What do you mean, "new" Tillie's? Was it sold? Looks the same to me.

There's been a death notice, farewell note, and picture of the Cellars guy taped to the window for at least the year and a half that I've lived here.

Posted by: Rehab at September 17, 2008 9:10 PM

How can we possibly get an affordable butcher if the rent is going to be so high?

I don't have much hope for good quality meats in FG/CH. They need cheap space for decent prices and it isn't going to happen here.

Yes, you have to go out of the neighborhood, but nothing compares to Paisanos on Smith between Wyckoff and Bergen. Mean selection, sweet staff, endless hours, and 2 stops on the G-train.

Posted by: olavito at September 18, 2008 12:21 AM

what's the rent for that space???

Los Paisanos on Smith is the best!!!

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 18, 2008 9:22 AM

rehab, Tillie's (sp?) is under new management and has been for about eight months. It also has a new layout.

Posted by: bklynbred at September 18, 2008 12:45 PM

I've never commented on here before but the outpouring of hate and ill-will towards L'epicerie has shocked me into doing so. Their cheese was actually fresher than other markets like union market and greene grape, there weren't a million kinds but what they had was from better distributors. also as far as the prices go if you knew how to shop there, like if you bought the unique and incredible toulouse sausages and some of their fresh salad greens you could eat very well for pretty cheap. also they would happily cut the smallest slices of their cheeses so you weren't forced to buy way more than you needed. in addition the owners would make incredible banana muffins on saturdays with organic bananas and french butter that were better than any muffins in the city. the owner would periodically fish on long island and bring the fish directly into the store thereby offering the absolute freshest fish around. and finally doesn't anyone care that they had far and away the best quiche for the cheapest price in the whole damn neighborhood? due to the unfortunate closing i was recently forced to get the quiche from choice market and literally almost puked. quiche is really hard to get right and they had theirs everyday, freshly baked for only 5 bucks. truly a beautiful little place, my favorite in brooklyn. enjoy man-hole jerk-offs.

Posted by: fortgreenemachine at September 23, 2008 10:34 PM

What a snob who said Cellars is an eyesore. And L'Epicerie was cool. Small-time, unpredictable, with fresh fish sometimes, yes, great quiche, great Toulouse sausages & cheeses, and flawed like a real human is. I miss it. Good luck with your new wine bar or slick whatever-it-becomes.

Posted by: marybrkln at October 16, 2008 2:57 PM

« New York's Dirtiest Restaurants Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up »

September 17, 2008

It's Official: L'Epicerie Est Morte

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