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March 30, 2009

Follow Up: Garry's Revealed

Garrys-Flatbush-033009.jpg
Guess this sign that went up at the end of the week puts to rest any fear that Garry's Wine & Liquor would go all gentrified on us when it opens at 80 Saint Marks Avenue in the next few weeks.
Streetlevel: Garry's Moves Up the Block GMAP




Posted by Brownstoner at 11:00 AM | Comments (45)
Categories: Park Slope, Streetlevel

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Comments

it hurts just to look at it. why do the owners of the building allow this? i mean, the dunkin donuts signage isn't beautiful, but it's standard DD fare, and sort of invisible in that way. this, nuh-uh.

Posted by: i disagree at March 30, 2009 11:15 AM

That sign is straight-up AWESOME! I love it. Seriously, I do.

Posted by: tybur6 at March 30, 2009 11:18 AM

I only buy my liquor by the barrel.

Posted by: neilw at March 30, 2009 11:18 AM

I think it's fun.

I like it too.

Posted by: 11217 at March 30, 2009 11:30 AM

there needs to be a commission that reviews and approves the signage that stores come up with. this is ridiculous.

Posted by: mellowjohnny at March 30, 2009 11:34 AM

you think it's fun? i have some forks you can stick in your eyes for a really good time.

yeah, we're gonna have to agree to disagree on this one.

Posted by: i disagree at March 30, 2009 11:38 AM

A big sign that draws people's attention... that's what helps foot traffic stores stay in business. I personally love 3D signs like this, but even if I didn't... I prefer a liquor store that is operational to a closed down liquor store.

Posted by: tybur6 at March 30, 2009 11:39 AM

definitely does not scream out quality or class, but who knows, after some time, it may grow on you. like a fungus.

Posted by: goldie at March 30, 2009 11:43 AM

I don't mind it - that corner is ugly as is anyway.

Posted by: infinitejester at March 30, 2009 11:46 AM

11217...would you like it in your building or next to the building that you live in???

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at March 30, 2009 11:51 AM

you can't seriously be arguing that this kind of sign is necessary. "Garry" was obviously doing well enough before, and had no sign like this. the sign for the bar side of flatbush farm (Barn) is basically invisible, yet that place does just fine. on that part of flatbush, foot traffic depends on what you can see in the window, not on what you see above your head. that signage is designed for suburban strip malls, to be visible from 200 feet away while driving 40 mph.

Posted by: i disagree at March 30, 2009 11:58 AM

What infinitejester said.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at March 30, 2009 12:00 PM

http://www.yourlogomakesmebarf.com/

Posted by: SnarkSlope at March 30, 2009 12:04 PM

Dave,

If I lived on a commercial street, I might feel differently. But I don't...I opted to live on a side street for a variety of reasons.

It's basically on the corner of Flatbush Avenue...not the most beautiful of streetscapes to start with.

Posted by: 11217 at March 30, 2009 12:08 PM

And... it's probably *is* designed to be seen by folks driving 65 mph down Flatbush Ave.

Posted by: tybur6 at March 30, 2009 12:12 PM

And I'm not saying it's gorgeous or anything, and I certainly could and would have chosen something classier, but you have to give them credit for creating something a little more, shall we say...whimsical...?

Posted by: 11217 at March 30, 2009 12:12 PM

I live less than three blocks away, so I am a good customer of Garry's. Given how much goodwill I have, I'm glad to see that they have found a better and slightly closer location. Usually I'm critical of illegal signage, but not when it's associated with decent wine for $8.99 a bottle.

See you all at the opening- hopefully it's tonight.

Posted by: phrooch at March 30, 2009 12:22 PM

i love how the word "garry's" curves and slants upwards! the sign company must use a powerful design program like microsoft wordpad or pagemaker 95.

Posted by: z at March 30, 2009 12:33 PM

It's a great sign. Sorry it doesn't fit with your mallification of Brooklyn. Yeah, it's tacky - but I've seen much much worse.

Posted by: Nanook at March 30, 2009 12:51 PM

have they put in the bullet proof glass yet>

Posted by: lifer at March 30, 2009 1:02 PM

there is nothing intrinsically ugly about that corner. it's ugly BECAUSE of crap like this. seriously, each of the buildings at this intersection proper are fine-looking. it's disrepair and low standards that make it look bad. (and the cars, but that's another story.)

tybur6 - your argument makes no sense. how are cars driving 65 mph down flatbush going to become customers of this place? if they designed it for drivers, they're stupid, as well as having no taste.

nanook - it's THIS sign that makes the store looks like it belongs in a tacky strip mall. good for you for your diminished expectations, but not all of us have given up.

Posted by: i disagree at March 30, 2009 1:06 PM

I disagree - Sorry but all of BK is not going to look like Smith Street or 5th Ave. Get over it or just move to Manhattan.

Posted by: Nanook at March 30, 2009 1:11 PM

i walk by this place everyday. Its pretty fuckin ugly but so is pretty much every store sign on flatbush. Isnt that called "character" or "funky". The guys who own this place (Russian, Ukrainian?) are hilarious. I was in there the other day and someone asked when they were moving and he just shrugged and said "sunday,monday? we move whenever."

Posted by: Santa at March 30, 2009 1:17 PM

Smith St. or 5th ave? or manhattan, for that matter? as if those are the models of beauty. it's a shame to spend good money on something that looks like crap when it's so easy to spend it on something that doesn't. sorry your upbringing in ohio evidently prevents you from understanding this. witness the new shops opening up on vanderbilt avenue and you'll see what i mean. some are garish, and not to my taste, but nothing this ridiculous.

Posted by: i disagree at March 30, 2009 1:19 PM

I disagree - 1. I'm not from Ohio - born and raised in southern Europe. 2. You really should get back work and stop criticising signage in Park Slope; Get a life.

Posted by: Nanook at March 30, 2009 1:23 PM

why?

Posted by: i disagree at March 30, 2009 1:25 PM

Normally, I'm more of an elitist and a snob than most people. So I'm trying real hard to hate this sign... but I can't.

Posted by: heck_of_a_job_brownie at March 30, 2009 1:25 PM

Snarky, love that site!
This one made me sneeze.
http://www.yourlogomakesmebarf.com/2009/03/the-three-elements-of-barf/

Garry's paid good money to put that sign up. Leave him alone.

Posted by: the chicken at March 30, 2009 1:38 PM

Nanook, you have managed to use two of the most annoying and lazy arguments known to man. The old "if you don't like it move to _____ " and the even more annoying and less thoughtful (if that were possible) "get a life" one liner.

Applause for you.

And I disagree, I agree completely.

Posted by: Nokilissa at March 30, 2009 1:39 PM

This is what adds to the diversity of Brooklyn streetscapes. Everything doesn't need to be so uniform and picture perfect.

Bring back funkytown!

Speaking of...have you SEEN the new flaming fire signs all the way up the building where Rachels Taqueria is on 5th Avenue?

Now that would be slightly annoying to live above that...

But I still appreciate all the diversity in signage.

Posted by: 11217 at March 30, 2009 1:43 PM

"The guys who own this place (Russian, Ukrainian?)"

That explains it all! (and i'm half ukranian)

Posted by: goldie at March 30, 2009 1:46 PM

Another vote for awesome!

Posted by: cwilco at March 30, 2009 2:01 PM

Haha! Ugly, and I LOVE it!

Posted by: sluggita at March 30, 2009 2:02 PM

God, what an eyesore. How can you not roll your eyes when you see this?

Posted by: tiptoe at March 30, 2009 2:23 PM

> "the new flaming fire signs all the way up the building
> where Rachels Taqueria is"

Oh yes, I've seen those. I wouldn't want those bad boys outside my window, but it is a fun addition to the streetscape.

Posted by: SnarkSlope at March 30, 2009 2:23 PM

Garry, please alter the sign so that the barrel rotates, lights up, and has steam (fake smoke) coming out the top. Please.

Posted by: goldie at March 30, 2009 2:46 PM

I do like how he matched the red to the "Barn" sign next door, as well as the bench outside...

V. nice touch.

Posted by: 11217 at March 30, 2009 2:53 PM

On a positive note, that 3-D barrel provides some much needed roosting space for pigeons.

Posted by: SnarkSlope at March 30, 2009 3:07 PM


Mr. Brownstoner, you really are something of a snob. It's perfectly OK. This a liquor store, not a fine art gallery, and we're not talking about Sutton Place here, we're talking about Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. Is this at all any worse than the GIANT yellow Pintchik sign painted on the side of an entire building less than a block away? Oh brother.

Posted by: East New York at March 30, 2009 3:08 PM

If you don't like the sign go inside buy some booze, consume the booze and look again.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at March 30, 2009 3:13 PM

>"That sign is straight-up AWESOME!"

Agree. Though, in all honesty, not sure I'd want to have to look at it all day.

Posted by: Nomi at March 30, 2009 4:19 PM

I like this sign precisely because it's sure to piss off hundreds of uptight, whiny yuppies who have nothing better to do than obsess over a frickin' sign!!!

Posted by: Big Jugs at March 30, 2009 6:54 PM

It's an homage to the old days, when signs hung outside of businesses representing what they were. A tooth for a dentist, a mug of beer for a bar, etc.

Okay, I don't know if that is what it was, but I like that sign, and I find it much more refreshing than another classic wine shoppe.

Posted by: Heather at March 30, 2009 8:31 PM

Could we have a moratorium on the word "awesome?"

Seriously.

That would be ummm, Great!

Posted by: slopper at March 30, 2009 8:47 PM

i walked past this on the way home tonight. it's even worse than expected -- the "wine and liquors" letters are lit up with incredibly bright, flashing, changing rainbow lights, sort of like you'd see in times square. except some of the letters already don't work, so it only says "wine and li".

Posted by: z at March 30, 2009 9:28 PM

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