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July 23, 2009

StreetLevel: Breakfast Joint Opening in Garden Cafe Space

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A coffee shop and breakfast restaurant called Milk Bar is opening on August 3rd in the former Garden Cafe space on Vanderbilt and Prospect Place. The business has no relation to Manhattan's Momofuku Bakery & Milk Bar. The name is a reference to the Australian term for general stores; one of Milk Bar's owners is from Down Under. The proprietors have done an extensive renovation of the space (see pic on jump) that's been documented on their Facebook page.
Milk Bar [Facebook] GMAP

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Posted by Gabby at 2:20 PM | Comments (21)
Categories: Food and Drink, Prospect Heights, Streetlevel

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Comments

Very, very cool. And what a great looking space!

I'll say it again...Vanderbilt is where it's at. I'm so happy to live so close to all the terrific things there. It's actually a quicker walk for me up to Vanderbilt than it is to 5th...

I'm also quite impressed with how the strip is handling the recession in terms of storefronts being quickly leased with new tenants. Same goes for 5th. Shocking, actually.

Posted by: 11217 at July 23, 2009 2:23 PM

I have to agree. Vanderbilt is looking great. Physically, the median with the trees makes a huge improvement as well.

Posted by: 1842 at July 23, 2009 2:24 PM

I agree! Vanderbuilt is movin' on up. But a milk bar just screams "hipster" to me.

Posted by: SHolloway at July 23, 2009 2:26 PM

And I love the Aussie name, Milkbar. Basically that's Aussie for bodega, though milkbars are generally cleaner than your average NYC bodega (though there are exceptions). Good luck to them.

Posted by: 1842 at July 23, 2009 2:26 PM

why does this scream hipster?

it screams white people but not hipster

Posted by: Santa at July 23, 2009 2:28 PM

lol santa. totally

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 23, 2009 2:30 PM

1842, I agree. The planting of the median is a HUGE improvement.

And then there's The Vanderbilt by the same owner as Saul in CG coming soon too. That place should be quite special.

Posted by: 11217 at July 23, 2009 2:30 PM

LOL @ milkbar being australian for bodega hahahah. what's the australian term for check cashing place? someone should open up an overpriced baby's clothing boutique and name it that on that strip too.

vanderbuilt is cool tho but my rotten ex boyfriend moved right near there so i stay away from that away hardcore.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 23, 2009 2:32 PM

Are the owners related to the wonderful aussies who run Long Tan? 'Twould be good news if so.

I miss Camille and John from Garden Cafe. That was a very special place and a pioneer not just in Prospect Heights but all of Brooklyn. Going there in the late '80s was a once or twice a year treat for me as a struggling young thing. Hope they enjoy their retirement.

Btw, the creation of the Vanderbilt Ave median was largely thanks to the lobbying of the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council (check them out at phndc.org) who do lots of good things in the area.

Posted by: grand army at July 23, 2009 2:32 PM

Milk bar is not a term for general store in Australia. Its more like malt shop/diner, the kind of place where you could have a burger and a milk shake, with (as 1842 mentions) a sort of bodega functionality as well. ITs a pretty uniquely Aussie phenomenon.

Posted by: wasder at July 23, 2009 2:34 PM

"The business has no relation to Manhattan's Momofuku Bakery & Milk Bar"

:'(

Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 23, 2009 2:42 PM

It actually looks a little Momofukuish in there.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 23, 2009 2:43 PM

UGH!!! - this was my idea! - dammit
and 11217 - I thought 3rd Avenue was where it was at :)

in all seriousness I will TOTALLY check this place out

Posted by: gemini10 at July 23, 2009 2:46 PM

Totally different, Gem!

Vanderbilt has foot traffic!

3rd will be cool in a totally different way.

DH - Don't fall for all the Momofuku hype. While the Noodle bar and Ssam bar are great, the Bakery was completely overrated, in my opinion.

Posted by: 11217 at July 23, 2009 2:50 PM

Is it connected to the Glass Shop folks?

Posted by: Ridonkulous at July 23, 2009 2:54 PM

"DH - Don't fall for all the Momofuku hype. While the Noodle bar and Ssam bar are great, the Bakery was completely overrated, in my opinion. "

Totally 11217 - I can't even stand Ssam anymore as it's too much of a hassle.

I'm addicted to Momofuku Ko though. If you've never been it's a must visit. Been 5 times since it opened and it never dissapoints.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 23, 2009 2:58 PM

milk bar. how original

Posted by: travy at July 23, 2009 3:03 PM

I just wanna say "momofuku"

Posted by: GHB at July 23, 2009 3:20 PM

I hear Milk Bar and I think of A Clockwork Orange. yeeps.

Posted by: CG_ups at July 23, 2009 3:25 PM

"Milk bar is not a term for general store in Australia. Its more like malt shop/diner, the kind of place where you could have a burger and a milk shake, with (as 1842 mentions) a sort of bodega functionality as well. ITs a pretty uniquely Aussie phenomenon."

wasder, there were Woolworths stores all over the US doing this all through the 1950s and 60s, famous for having the diner/malt shop counter in the front and retail in the back.

Like the Woolworths name itself, seems like its a concept the Aussies just borrowed for their own use.

Posted by: jeffrey at July 23, 2009 6:58 PM

Hah, speaking of borrowing concepts, apparently the US Woolworth stores borrowed the lunch counter concept from their first UK Woolworths store in Liverpool that first introduced lunch counters to great success.

Who knew.

Posted by: jeffrey at July 23, 2009 7:12 PM

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