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November 6, 2009

Fulton Sports Bar Signage Revealed

There's been a lot of speculation (in a neighborhoody, chit-chatty sort of way) about the sports bar that's going to be opening soon on Fulton Street between Vanderbilt and Clinton Avenues in Clinton Hill, so we were interested to receive the photo at right yesterday of the new signage being installed. Just to make sure they we're only going to 11, we rode by this morning to regard the handiwork ourselves and, sure enough, the name's "Chance 11"—anyone have any ideas what that might be a reference to? The sign might be a little flashy for our taste but at this point we're 100% rooting for any business that can generate foot traffic and stimulate the local economy in this part of town. On a related note, this block as a whole has really come a long way in the last few years, hasn't it?
Streetlevel: Sports Bar for Fulton [Brownstoner] GMAP

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Good news to have new business coming in, but mirrored old-english signage..ugh...either way best of luck to them, I'll drop by.

Posted by: BSD at November 6, 2009 10:19 AM

Will they offer Shandies???

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 6, 2009 10:23 AM

i saw it as CHANCE II, thinking a riff on second chance but then who knows. agreed that the signage is a little busy, hard to tell whether they are going with 11 or II from the pic.

Posted by: CG_ups at November 6, 2009 10:24 AM

I think we should take a vote on what the patrons will call this bar.
Mr. B's entry of Chance 11 is duly noted. My vote:
Ye Olde Second Chance

Posted by: Maly at November 6, 2009 10:31 AM

Chance You Can Believe In

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 6, 2009 10:43 AM

Went to a bar last night after dinner. They were replaying the Atletico-Chelsea match, in the 76th minute when I arrived. Last time I had been there it had been at the 42nd minute mark.

I said to the barkeep, "Is there some sort of big tournament going on?" He said, "Uh..yeah, the Champions League? Only the World Cup is bigger?"

Chealsea was losing 2-1 I think when I left. As I returned my empty glass I said, "Chelsea's not gonna win this match?" "This isn't live." "I know that, but I don't know the end result." We both laughed.

Posted by: Billions and Billions at November 6, 2009 10:49 AM

i think this is just one in a long line of terrible rennovations in the neighborhood.

i have to say there's been a general decline in taste level when it comes to new establishments opening up. i realize this makes me sound a bit snooty, but it seems as though one after the other, each place is gaudy and cheap.

EN Restaurant anyone? Ew.

Posted by: bklynbpr at November 6, 2009 10:52 AM

i live extremely close to this place but most likely wont go. Not a sports bar fan.

Posted by: Santa at November 6, 2009 11:02 AM

Anybody have any idea what "dram shop" insurance costs nowadays????

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 6, 2009 11:08 AM

Google snooping shows chance11.com quoted as thus "Chance 11 strives to be the premier sports bar, lounge and restaurant in the downtown Brooklyn area. Our goal is to be a step ahead of the competition. We provide state-of-the-art audio along with product quality, great food and great service. We combine menu selection, atmosphere, ambiance, and service to create a sense of comfort in order to reach our goal of overall value in a dining/entertainment experience."
So, still no idea what Chance 11 refers to. Still hoping they have Setanta for the rugby as I don't want to be making the trip to Sheep Station but form the blurb I doubt they will.

Posted by: ebinny at November 6, 2009 11:11 AM

that's a mighty lofty statement for a business that has yet to open.

Posted by: bklynbpr at November 6, 2009 11:18 AM

Douchey McDouche will love that horrid all-caps font.

Posted by: zinka at November 6, 2009 11:23 AM

I think Chance 11 refers to the fact the bar will have a chance to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy within 3 months.

Posted by: diego at November 6, 2009 11:41 AM

Blackletter fonts should never be used in all caps except for gang tattoos. That's a well know typographic rule.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at November 6, 2009 12:07 PM

Let's give this place a Chance (pun intended) -- I'm a font-judger like the next guy, but when I lived in "BoCoCa" I hated Angry Wade's more than the devil ... I hated the stucco exterior, the douchey crowd, everything. I once had someone ask me for directions to Angry Wade's and I pleaded with them to go somewhere else instead.

Then one afternoon I wanted to watch a Met game. It was 95 degrees out and I didn't have cable. I knew the game would be on in Angry Wade's. I did the unspeakable. I walked in -- the air conditioning felt amazing. There was free popcorn. They had Brooklyn Lager on tap. The game was on in HD. The bartender, who was either from Long Island or New Jersey, was friendly, if slutty looking. I spent a couple of hours there and left happy.

If this place has a good burger, or shows soccer matches, or sweeps the cigarette butts in front of the building, or adds anything remotely of use to the neighborhood, I welcome it.

This stretch between Vanderbilt and Clinton is booked solid now. Other stretches of Fulton further east beginning to follow. Hear ye.

Posted by: Lothar of the Clinton Hill People at November 6, 2009 1:02 PM

Chance11?

excuse me whilst I barf all over your shoes.

Posted by: ftgreenepark at November 6, 2009 1:16 PM

"The bartender, who was either from Long Island or New Jersey, was friendly, if slutty looking." Shouldn't that be, "and slutty looking." LotCHP makes it sound like a bad thing.

Posted by: altervoce at November 6, 2009 1:22 PM

"Then one afternoon I wanted to watch a Met game."

I'll bet they lost. Scrubs.

Posted by: East New York at November 6, 2009 1:29 PM

I like Diego's comment. I didn't notice the new "sign". I live near there and that block in particular means a lot to me. I watched the renovation on this building from the most incredible wreck to a building that looks intact anyway, but I am a little disappointed to read this here. Already it feels like a dive bar. There was one dive bar on this block (now a t-shirt / clothing store) which lasted a couple of months. Well, at least they cleaned up the building. That's a first step to something. That block now has Imperial Cleaner (Rolando, the new owner) which is great, a new take out place for fish and other food (opened last month), Olivino's wine bar (very nice! owner of Olivino's Wine store Katrina has created a cute little nabe place, very comfortable for neighborhood people on the way home from work,) Yafa the Yemeni bodega makes good sandwiches and very good cheap coffee, (I hate the Thai place, and the Chinese place on that block). Country Diner is owned by a couple of Palestinian brothers who are nice guys but can't get much of a crowd, except for Sunday after church. There are 2 clothing stores which don't seem to get much biz along with 2 Real Estate offices. That's the block. Now we have a Sports Bar. OK.

Posted by: donatella at November 6, 2009 1:59 PM

donatella.

a "dive bar" would be fucking awesome. a "dive bar" plays good music and has cheap beer.

please do not confuse this with a...

"douche bar" aka "sports bar". a "sports bar" has a bunch of tv sets, jaeger, and corporate douche bags.

don't get me wrong i love sports...but i get my sports on in a living room.

Posted by: ftgreenepark at November 6, 2009 2:04 PM

I walked by last night and cringed at the garish font (I think I might have said "Oy!" out loud to myself) but I am all for giving the place a chance, because the nabe really does need more beer-oriented hangouts.

Hey, at least it's not Comic Sans.

Donatella: Eagle City on fulton btw Washington/St James has great, cheap Chinese food, even though it's just a hole in the wall. Don't try the Mexican food... fusion is all well and good, but nobody really wants a veggie quesadilla with water chestnuts, broccoli and baby corn.

Posted by: bucketseats at November 6, 2009 2:10 PM

Ftgreenepark, thanks for the distinction. I agree, using your defination, we could use a dive bar. But what I was thinking of was guns -- I guess I am afraid of a scary bar. I could even deal with a "douche bar" as long as the "corporate douche bags" don't bother me. And bucketseats, thanks. I guess I have become extremely lazy, just walking from my house to this block to the subway and haven't ventured further "east" to Washington on Fulton. That's good to know. I'll check it out.

Posted by: donatella at November 6, 2009 2:19 PM

tough crowd! just because they have an ugly sign, people are wishing death on the biz? the area isn't really frat boy central, so i doubt the BRO-tastic vibe is going to be happening. most sports bars outside of murray hill and tutrle bay aren't too bad. cheap beer, good bar eats. it's not such a bad thing. i'm just glad that the wine-bar-on-every corner trend finally seems to have died, though unfortunate that it had to be because of the current economic environment.

Posted by: CG_ups at November 6, 2009 2:46 PM

First off, I truly hope that this place is a successful (regardless of the aesthetics of the sign...). It would be a great addition to Fulton Street, regardless of whether it is a place that everyone would want to frequent.

That said, I think from a marketing perspective (and a business plan perspective) they need to be more clear about what the venue is supposed to be - a sports bar with food, or a lounge, or a restaurant, but not all three. Hopefully it's just semantics in the way they are describing what the venue will be, but in my opinion, each of those types of venues a different from one another, and what makes one successful might make another unsuccessful. People generally do not seek out lounges for a "premier" dining experience, or to watch sports. People don't seek out sports bars for a cool lounge experience or fine dining. People seeking a restaurants for a fine dining experience are not looking for sports on TV or loud lounge music.

None of that is to say that a sports bar or lounge shouldn't, or can't, have good food or drinks, or that certain elements from one venue can't successfully be incorporated into another type of venue. However, I personally feel that you should focus on what you want to provide and the types of customers you want to market to, and do it very well. If you try to be everything to everyone you might end up attracting as much business as if you were a bit more focused on the service you want to provide.

Anyway, this is just speculation based on the website description. I hope they do well.

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 2:49 PM

I meant to say "you might not end up attracting as much business...".

Apologies for all the typos, I wrote that too quickly ...

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 2:53 PM

I checked out the website again, and to add to the rather odd marketing, the background picture is of buildings on Park Avenue in Manhattan, but the Helmsley building near 44th Street.

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 2:57 PM

CG_ups, you can cash my free drinks offer here when it opens.

until something better comes along, operating storefront vastly superior than vacant one

Posted by: more4less at November 6, 2009 3:09 PM

I need some sleep, I meant to write "by the Helmsley building..."

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 3:10 PM

holla! i'll cash in my free drinks there. it's a date ;)

Posted by: CG_ups at November 6, 2009 3:22 PM

ugh. ever type something so gay, hit post then say D'OH!

Posted by: CG_ups at November 6, 2009 3:22 PM

CG_ups, since you don't show up to the OT anymore, email me (gmail; "crownofbk") when this place opens. I (along with a few others) are super nearby.

Posted by: more4less at November 6, 2009 3:27 PM

sounds like a deal. will do.

Posted by: CG_ups at November 6, 2009 3:32 PM

Agree with more 4 less. No matter what this turns out to be, it is way better than the shell/wreck it was before. I am a cheerleader for this block.

Posted by: donatella at November 6, 2009 3:48 PM

Agreed donatella. I just want new places to thrive. A track record of success encourages more development of other empty storefronts.

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2009 3:52 PM

Corporate douchebags on Fulton Avenue will be something to see.

Posted by: jawbreaker at November 6, 2009 4:20 PM

Sorry, Street.

Posted by: jawbreaker at November 6, 2009 4:20 PM

@billions & billions: if only they WOULD show Champions league matches! I can only hope. I would bet there are enough footy fans to give them business for the weekend games, despite the early starts. Look at Nevada Smiths. Do a breakfast/lunch menu, advertise the games, and they'll have an entirely separate stream of customers from the regular US sports fans that will come later in the day for the NFL/NBA/MLB/NHL.

Posted by: Guvna at November 6, 2009 4:52 PM

what's coming on the next block over towards waverly? 922(ish) Fulton...

Posted by: dokas at November 6, 2009 7:17 PM

I can't see Chelsea Fans going there - Clinton Hill is not "fashionable" enough

Posted by: Crownlfc at November 7, 2009 8:40 PM

Hmm, Sports bar + Fulton street = gun shots.

Posted by: FGCHill at November 8, 2009 1:08 AM

their website proudly proclaims their coming douchiness...

Posted by: eh at November 9, 2009 9:00 AM

« Affordable Housing on Tap DOB's Stalled Site List Passes 500 Mark; BK Still on Top »

November 6, 2009

Fulton Sports Bar Signage Revealed

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