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September 23, 2008

The Borough of Mom and Pop Shops

hardware0908.jpg
Don't let the big-boxification of Red Hook, the Starbucks-like growth of Dunkin' Donuts or the slew of chain shops in our neighborhoods fool you: Mom and Pop stores still reign supreme in Brooklyn, reports the Daily News. They find a pharmacy in Dyker Heights, a Bed-Stuy bookshop and a Cobble Hill hardware store surviving both the mallification of Brooklyn and the rocky economy. These are places where the owners know their patrons' names and real customer service exists (you know, there's an actual informed human to assist you). One thing we've seen is that a major chain can rapidly force nearby commercial rents to increase, as recently happened with the Flatbush Target. Will these Mom and Pops survive as more big guys make their way to Brooklyn?
Brooklyn Loves Its Mom and Pop Shops [NY Daily News]
Photo by bitchcakesny.




Posted by lisa at 9:05 AM | Comments (19)
Categories: Retail

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I dread it when I can't find what I need in the local hardware store and I have to go to Home Depot. Is there any employee in that store who knows anything about anything? What is the screening process they use for interviewing.

Posted by: dittoburg at September 23, 2008 9:12 AM

Maybe the financial crisis will make rents cheaper for mom-and-pops. Of course, if no one has any disposable income left, it won't really matter, will it!

Posted by: itsagas at September 23, 2008 9:19 AM

"I dread it when I can't find what I need in the local hardware store and I have to go to Home Depot"

This doesn't happen all that often. I've found that good hardware stores are generally much better stocked with the sort of esoteric items I need than HD or Lowes.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at September 23, 2008 9:27 AM

Hooray for Brownstone Books! That place is a treasure.

Posted by: StuyMom at September 23, 2008 9:35 AM

Isn't that the hardware store on Metropolitan in the burg?

Posted by: A Guest at September 23, 2008 9:45 AM

Bowles is half-right: changing stock to reflect what people actually want to buy is a good thing, but sometimes those "old signs" are a positive--many people respond to them as "mom and pops" because of the classic signs and make a point to go in and support their local businesses.

And Tony's is on Smith Street near Wycoff.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at September 23, 2008 10:02 AM

That is indeed Crest on Metropolitan. Great store, a true Mom and Pop.

Posted by: buttermilk channel at September 23, 2008 10:05 AM

Speaking of mom and pop stores.

Pitchnik is pissing off alot of people on flatbush ave.

Posted by: Santa at September 23, 2008 10:21 AM

One big box store does not make "big boxification." Anyone who thinks that Ikea was the tipping point towards the "big-boxification" of Red Hook is greatly underestimating the resistance the next big-box will face trying to find their way in.

Posted by: Left Hook at September 23, 2008 10:48 AM

I love crest, they'll sell you an ounce of nails in a paper bag. And the old wacky guy behind the counter at the back knows everything.

Posted by: dittoburg at September 23, 2008 10:49 AM

Santa - What's Pintchik up to? I'm assuming you mean Pintchik, in his role as real estate overlord, as opposed to Pintchik in the role of hardware store. I've been curious about all of those For Rents on storefronts near the AY footprint. Are those his?

Posted by: i disagree at September 23, 2008 11:07 AM

i disagree, yes those storefronts with yellow/red "for rent" signs are Pintchik. And as a Brooklyn born and bred NYer let me say this: Pintchik is not that great and is overpriced and their staff is not that helpful.

There are local hardware stores on Smith Street and on Montague Street that have helped me when I needed something. Heck, I found an old school electronics shop on Canal Street that's been helpful to me and they have been around for decades. Pintchik? They are about as useful as Tarzian Hardware on 7th Avenue in Park Slope: Neither are useful and both are "neighborhood traditions" that just stink.

And in the case of Pintchik, the warehousing they do with their storefronts really kill that part of Flatbush. They are not good neighbors.

Posted by: Jack at September 23, 2008 11:20 AM

what do you mean by warehousing? holding them back demanding a ridiculous rent? sorry, i'm not very knowledgeable about commercial RE.

Posted by: i disagree at September 23, 2008 12:24 PM

How does white immigration factor into this? I hear 4 of 10 new yorkers are not born here and at least 2 of 10 of the remainder are the children of immigrants. The immigration figures look quite high for poles, brits, russians.

Posted by: dittoburg at September 23, 2008 12:49 PM

oops

Posted by: dittoburg at September 23, 2008 12:50 PM

Pintchik owns the majority of the buildings on flatbush ave north of GAP.

Posted by: Santa at September 23, 2008 4:24 PM

thanks. i knew that but i was wondering what jack meant by "warehousing" and not being good neighbors. the block south of AY does seem to be quite depressed due to the empty and/or less-than-busy storefronts and i'm wondering if someone can illuminate for me the reasons.

Posted by: i disagree at September 23, 2008 5:17 PM

i live in a non-pintchik owned building on flatbush and the owner of my building just sold half of it to...

...pintchik.

but now that AY may not happen who knows; if it is the rents are going to be insane.

Posted by: Santa at September 23, 2008 8:51 PM

Intresting. FYI for those of you further interested in Mom&Pops:

MAS to Host Panel on Preserving Neighborhood Businesses
Monday, October 6, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
@ West Side Institutional Synagogue,
120 West 76th Street at Columbus Ave
FREE, reservations recommended. RSVP online.

http://mas.org/mas-to-host-panel-on-preserving-neighborhood-businesse/

Posted by: Truck Sized at September 29, 2008 3:12 PM

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