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May 21, 2009
StreetLevel: Flight 001 Leaving the Slope
The luggage chain-let Flight 001 is packing it in on 5th Avenue. The store, which opened its Slope location in Fall '07, closed down last Sunday. One of the people clearing out the location yesterday said they were shutting down because the recession has not been kind to them and they have another location nearby, on Smith Street, that is not closing.
StreetLevel: Flight 001 Coming to 5th Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP
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Comments
Yeah. Couldn't see that coming.
Posted by: SnarkSlope at May 21, 2009 2:08 PM
I agree. A very cute store, but ridiculously expensive.
Posted by: brooklynfamily at May 21, 2009 2:12 PM
I purchased several gifts there. They always had a sale going. prices not bad when you figured that in.
Posted by: tiptoe at May 21, 2009 2:30 PM
I guess the idea just never took off.
Posted by: Biff Champion at May 21, 2009 2:33 PM
I've gone drinking several times with the staff there, they were/are mad cool. Wish them well.
Posted by: infinitejester at May 21, 2009 2:35 PM
Nice store, but it was doomed from the start. If they had only concentrated on luggage for rich babies, those park slope parents would have made them millionaires.
Posted by: 60designers at May 21, 2009 2:43 PM
Likely a bellwether for other 5th Avenue retailers of questionable value. Makes me wonder (again) how the Washington Avenue skateboard/dry goods/flower shop touted recently on this blog expects to make it.
Posted by: East New York at May 21, 2009 2:48 PM
Yeah same story at the store with the Pink awning - petticoat or something like that - they have another Manhattan location so they are closing the Brooklyn location.
too many boutiques - this is a residential neighborhood - how about a duane reade
Posted by: fsrg at May 21, 2009 2:56 PM
"Washington Avenue skateboard/dry goods/flower shop touted recently on this blog expects to make it."
Because you buy skateboard supplies/apparel, flowers and dry goods more frequently then you buy luggage.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at May 21, 2009 2:57 PM
"If they had only concentrated on luggage for rich babies, those park slope parents would have made them millionaires."
What makes you think there are rich babies in the north slope?
The rich babies are in 321 or Manhattan.
Posted by: northsloperenter at May 21, 2009 3:02 PM
"Because you buy skateboard supplies/apparel, flowers and dry goods more frequently then you buy luggage."
Uh huh.....
1. Define "you."
2. Just because "you" (allegedly) buy these things more often than luggage, doesn't mean "you" will be going to Washington Ave., or to that store specifically, to buy these things. This is a big city.
I could certainly be wrong, but I don't think I am. In any event, as it always does, the marketplace will have the final say. We can compare notes a few months down the road, DH.
Posted by: East New York at May 21, 2009 3:04 PM
the term affluent crotch fruit has a much nicer ring to it than rich babies.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at May 21, 2009 3:05 PM
Actually sounds like something a rich male prostitute would boast of rob.
Posted by: northsloperenter at May 21, 2009 3:10 PM
sorry - didn't mean to use "you" - something more general would have been more appropriate
no - i wouldn't frequent this place as i am not coordinated enough to skateboard, but how often can one person use a luggage store? Unless they have invented disposeable, one use suitcases it seems like they wouldn't get very much repeat business (for the money making, big ticket items)
I think the skate shop will do well, as the "skater culture" isn't just an obnoxious hipster thing. It transcends race - and i'm sure alot of skaters from bed stuy, clinton hill, prospect heights and crown heights would rather travel (via skateboard undoubtedly) to get their gear from that place rather then Manhattan.
And it has some other stuff for non skaters (who doesn't love flowers and dry goods?).
There's a stupid store in my neighborhood that's a comic book store/bakery and it somehow seems to stay open :-\
Posted by: dirty_hipster at May 21, 2009 3:29 PM
i am not a comic book person, but there's a huge following for comic books. that place is well known. would imagine that people who come there are not necessarily local.
Posted by: wine lover at May 21, 2009 3:34 PM
whoops- that barely makes sense. apparently i'm having problems with pronouns today.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at May 21, 2009 3:34 PM
Perhaps wine lover, that would explain why it stays in business while other places on that stretch of metro have problems. there was an interesting little handmade jewelry boutique that closed 6 months ago (and relocated closer to bedford, or manhattan i believe)
Posted by: dirty_hipster at May 21, 2009 3:38 PM
"It transcends race - and i'm sure alot of skaters from bed stuy, clinton hill, prospect heights and crown heights would rather travel (via skateboard undoubtedly) to get their gear from that place rather then Manhattan."
I want to make this clear - my viewpoint has NOTHING to do with race, only economics. No question the skateboard culture is multi-racial. I'm simply not convinced there are enough skateboarders who will shop at that store frequently AND drop the kind of $$ it will take to make it a success. But as I said, the marketplace will be the ultimate judge.
Posted by: East New York at May 21, 2009 3:49 PM
gotcha - i guess we'll see!! ;)
Posted by: dirty_hipster at May 21, 2009 3:55 PM
ridiculous store anyway...
Posted by: 7182713 at May 21, 2009 3:56 PM
Agree that it's not suprising this place closed. Luggage is in frequently purchased at the best of times and the prices were ridiculous. Wonder what will take the space next ?
Posted by: 10thStreetReno at May 21, 2009 4:44 PM
babeland or whatever they call it is next. such a top-tick store.
Posted by: jingle mail at May 21, 2009 5:09 PM
hey dirty hipster, "to get their gear from that place rather then Manhattan." it's that place rather thAn Manhattan.
Posted by: merchantress at May 21, 2009 5:52 PM
I have a feeling travel is down right now and if people *are* traveling, they're probably not buying new luggage.
Gabby, you should have done better with that thread title! How about: "Flight 001 Scheduled Departure" at the very least?
The next occupant of this space will be a sign "Retail Space Available"...just like many neighborhood in NYC fancy and not. I can't get over how many stores have pulled out of Soho for example. Even Lululemon on Broadway has closed...with the "closed for water damage" excuse that a number of other stores have used in the area.
Some very fancy places have closed...
Not to focus on Fort Greene too-too much...can't help it, but it doesn't seem like many things are doing that badly in our neck of the woods. Epoca on Fulton closed a while back.
Rudy (of Epoca) couldn't make a go of it I guess...and he didn't have to invest a ton of money since he profited from the lost shirts from the cute couple who had previously completely renovated the space into a Veillis which they made a go of for, maybe, 3 or 4 years. Rudy changed the interior a little in order to change the look but it wasn't a huge change. So his initial start-up costs were probably not bad.
Don't know why he closed.
Other than that, it seems new restaurants continue to open in Fort Greene little by little. There isn't a net loss of restaurants from what I can tell.
And the boutiques haven't closed either, have they?
Posted by: BrooklynGreene at May 21, 2009 5:56 PM
jingle, babeland WONT close. beleive me on this one ;)
it is a much NEEDED amenity in park slope
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at May 21, 2009 7:04 PM
BGreene, i work in soho, so does dipster. lots of stores closing but some big ones opening up like HOLLISTER? wwtf! broadway and houston for a glorified surfer wear shop? lame and weird at the same time
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at May 21, 2009 7:08 PM
> "jingle, babeland WONT close."
FWIW, Pink Pussycat appears to have closed.
Posted by: SnarkSlope at May 21, 2009 7:10 PM
Yeah, but who would bother shopping at pink pussycat when there is a Babeland nearby?
Posted by: CMM at May 21, 2009 7:17 PM
1.) i like premium luube
and duh 2 the horny housewives of park slope?
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at May 21, 2009 7:46 PM
I think the Flight store is pretty cool... I go in the one on Smith St from time to time (if I'm ever traveling). The thing is- it's not just about luggage; they have all sorts of weird small items which are good for storage and time-killing, and travel-related crap. Actually, the suitcases comprise a small part of the store. But, I have always wondered how they can sell enough to stay afloat.
Posted by: broadwayron at May 22, 2009 9:45 AM
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