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December 23, 2008

A New Cafe for Bushwick

bushwick-cafe-1208.jpgThe gentrification meter just ticked up in Bushwick. According to that neighborhood's blog of record, there's a new spot to get your coffee-and-croissant fix all day long: Cafe Orwell opened up at 247 Varet Street last week. (Drip coffee "solid," espresso "well above par" and number of electrical outlets "ample.") Cafe Orwell is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. GMAP




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:33 AM | Comments (15)
Categories: Bushwick, Streetlevel

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"The gentrification meter just ticked up in Bushwick."

Well the Home sales number just ticked downward...

Home Sales in November Fell at Faster Pace Than Expected

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/24/business/economy/24housing.html?hp

WASHINGTON (AP) — A real estate group said Tuesday that sales of existing homes declined far more than expected last month as buyers reeled from October’s big plunge on Wall Street. The median sales price fell by the largest amount on record.

Well hold on to that "gentrification meter" thang. It will pay big dividends in 2028..

"In addition, the Commerce Department reporting Tuesday that sales of new homes fell in November to the slowest pace in nearly 18 years, while new home prices dropped by the biggest amount in eight months."

18 Years ago? That's the last time they tried that "Gentrification" thang. Look where that went....

The What (But.. But.. they told me it was a "up and coming" neighborhood)

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at December 23, 2008 10:43 AM

Cafe Orwell. I'm picturing webcams at every table (except that one over in the alcove).

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at December 23, 2008 10:46 AM

while you rejoice with gentrificious coffee bars, these folks have other problems:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/23/nyregion/23homeless.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion

Posted by: blackstoner at December 23, 2008 11:21 AM

Let me update you: The area where this cafe is located was fully gentrified at least three years ago, if by gentrified you mean full of white artsy recent college grads, expensive bodegas posing as "natural" food stores, cafes, art galleries, and "creative" restaurants with vegan-friendly fare.

In other words, it's in the first stage of gentrification, where neighboring Williamsburg is on the verge of Soho-ization.

Wild things going on just a little to the south. In the next three months, the area between the Myrtle J and the Jefferson L is getting a new restaurant, an artist-run bar, an organic grocery, and a really fancy new apartment building that actually looks pretty good.

Posted by: mopar at December 23, 2008 12:13 PM

does gentrification apparently mean having a nice cafe? so the benefit of a non-gentrified neighborhood would mean what by contrast?

Posted by: goldie at December 23, 2008 12:52 PM

non gentrified neighborhoods provide the same coffee (sometimes better) but with decent prices. and food and restaurants don't arbitrarily stamp the word "organic" on everything to jack up the price. non gentrified neighborhoods aren't filled with coffee shops that act as computer labs for people who seemingly have nothing better to do in the middle of the day, all day and everyday, than to just stare at their laptop and listen to music, completely voiding the real meaning of what a coffee shop is really supposed to be. personally i find those types who infest cafes more of a nuisance than some guys on a corner drinking 40s and having fun, but that's just me.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at December 23, 2008 1:15 PM

the word gentrification is completely meaningless at this point.

just because a location is no longer stuck in the 1950's means its been gentrified?

I sure dont have the answer.

Posted by: Santa at December 23, 2008 1:16 PM

Santa, don't you have some last minute things to do today??

Posted by: Biff Champion at December 23, 2008 1:23 PM

pittbull, yet you live in park slope. i know, love/hate relationship with it.

Posted by: goldie at December 23, 2008 2:04 PM

I think gentrification means a sharp and sudden rise in housing costs combined with a sudden influx of people who are, as a group, somehow noticeably different from the former occupants of the area.

The people in Morgantown where this cafe is located are simply filling up former factory space. A little further to the south, rents in the last year have rapidly increased (while for-sale prices have rapidly declined) and relatively poor artists types are in fact displacing even poorer immigrants.

Posted by: mopar at December 23, 2008 2:06 PM

Of course, now factory space is so expensive (because it is pegged to the value of living space) few businesses can afford to locate there. Even though people are living there precariously, I am not in favor of changing the zoning in this area to legalize work-live or just live because then a bunch of developers will just swoop in and build hideous "luxury" condos.

Posted by: mopar at December 23, 2008 2:11 PM

pretty dumb spot if u ask me.the whole area north of flushing ave is mostly industrial.unless u count the Bushwick PJs.

Posted by: buckfast at December 23, 2008 2:35 PM

Actually!!!

This industrial section in Bushwick with a bunch of old buildings turned into lofts has changed in past few years. There are a lot of Hipsters living around here and all nearby business are striving. That said its still a long ways before being fully gentrified, but at the pace that Williamsburg is going Bushwick borderline east Williamsburg (anywhere near the L train) is the most affordable living for these type of college kids, professional artist and entrepreneurs.


Posted by: Crooklyn at December 23, 2008 4:08 PM

i still dont see the hood becoming another W'burg,like people thought.

Posted by: buckfast at December 23, 2008 4:48 PM

Brooklyn gentrifying?

No....South Bronx, THAT is the final frontier.

Posted by: Prodigal_Son at December 24, 2008 9:02 AM

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