Bars on Fire Escape Windows

I have looked at properties with Awaye before. I don't know all their brokers but the guy I dealt with was not really on the up and up about the details of the property. There was also some issue with him and the landlord about whether they were really supposed to be listing the property at the price the broker advertised. There is a chance the listing price is inflated.

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at April 22, 2009 2:06 PM in response to House of the Day: 65 Prospect Park West

11217-

You've have said it before and, not to be rude, but it has annoyed me before. As a business owner I appreciate the sentiment that businesses should have the "foresight" to buy their buildings. But it obviously involves a lot more than foresight. It involves money which, when you own a business, is usually tied up in your, well, business. Not to mention landlord's resistance to selling to you, not being certain your business will succeed in the location it currently resides, needing your credit cards, lines of credit, and cash flow to maintain inventory and employees and being so busy with day to day operations that weeks, months, and, yes, years can pass without allowing you the time to get involved with such an endeavor. In a perfect world, and I believe I can speak for most small business owners, we'd all LOVE to own the buildings we are in and think about it everyday. Unfortunately it's not always possible and we live in constant fear that our leases will come up and our livelihoods will be compromised. Not to be nosey but I have to ask, 11217, have you ever owned your own business?

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at January 7, 2009 7:22 PM in response to Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up

I called two nights ago and there was no answer, no answering machine, and it was well within the hours it was open. Bummer. They had a more interesting menu than some of the other choices in the neighborhood.

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at December 18, 2008 2:21 PM in response to Streetlevel: Thai Tony's Takes Off

"Can the landlords afford their mortgages, taxes, building maintenance without charging such rents?"

The answer is as well as they could when they first rented the space a mere year or two ago. Landlords see other landlords commanding a higher rent and they want a piece of the pie. Simple as that.

W'burguy, I'm with you. They'll see what their greed gets them. It's another shedding that is happening right now and the landlords will regret their choice to be greedy. And we'll all regret that they made that choice because we'll be surrounded by cell phone stores, chain "coffee shops", and real estate agencies.

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at December 10, 2008 8:18 PM in response to Streetlevel: Miriam on Court Doesn't Make It

I wasn't stifling. Merely just expressing concern I rarely see expressed when it comes to open air markets, flea markets, etc. Personally I'm thrifty at heart but many people I know are local business owners and things like Brooklyn Flea and Gifted can be both good and bad. Overhead, especially in NYC, is a big concern. People have only so many dollars to spend at the holiday season which is the season that often makes or breaks small businesses. Of course, unlike you suggest, I wouldn't want to see something like Flea or Gifted disappear. They are wonderful for their neighborhood. But I do know how draining they can be on small businesses foot traffic on a Saturday or Sunday if everyone is at them. Small businesses are constantly trying to broaden and expand their business model but that takes money to do and without the expected expenditures in their establishments by residents in the community they can't do it.

Read comments thoroughly for timbre and intent before jumping to conclusions. You comment enough on this site to know that.

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at December 7, 2008 6:47 PM in response to Closing Bell: Outdoor Flea + Indoor Holiday Market

I feel bad for the local business owners who won't do as much business this season because of weekly events like Gifted. It's great to get merchandise straight from the source but it is a bit destructive to commerce in these hard times for business owners who have overhead to consider.

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at December 7, 2008 5:31 PM in response to Closing Bell: Outdoor Flea + Indoor Holiday Market

I live around the corner and was so excited when I saw the sign had changed. What a good idea! Talk about finding a niche and filling it every season. Haven't tried the soup yet. The hours are hard as I leave home in the morning and usually don't get home until after 9pm but if I were coming off that subway at 6pm without dinner ideas you better believe I'd be souping it up! I hope it's not super expensive. Super expensive soup can be kind of a downer.

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at October 23, 2008 2:27 PM in response to Streetlevel: Adjusting for the Cold Weather

Forcibly removing people from where they live under most circumstances can only be scummy in my opinion. No matter who they are.

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at October 15, 2008 5:06 PM in response to Nets' Move to BK Not a Slam Dunk

I just want to throw this out there:

Small and independent shops with original perspectives are part of what make living in Brooklyn great. And before you jump all over me I don't think that larger retailers shouldn't be a part of Brooklyn's great and diverse shopping landscape. On the contrary, I think people need options like Urban, Century, and Target so that all of their choices aren't on the higher end of the price spectrum. However, I have to take issue with a chain as dangerous to small retailers as Urban is taking on the image of a small retailer, in a small space, with a small line they are marketing as 'indie'. They are not small. They will not struggle. And if it doesn't work out it's a write off at worst. For other small boutiques on the street it puts in peril their very existence. I'm not saying don't shop there. I'm just saying give it a little thought before you do. Many of you moved here because Brooklyn had that grassroots vibe, right?

Johnife, thank you. I think it's important that people see how blatant the theft is.

Carol Gardens, it's only old news if you've heard it. Plenty of people don't understand and need to.

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at October 14, 2008 10:32 PM in response to Streetlevel: We the Free on Smith Street

What about 'Pie Shop'? Dub Pies is right across the street

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at October 8, 2008 1:21 PM in response to What Should the Name of WT's New Venue Be?

For darning socks? I don't know why it would be two-sided though.

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at August 27, 2008 3:11 PM in response to What the heck is this?

Not to encourage namecalling but I have to say that asshat is one of my new favorites. I'll try to work it into conversation as many times as I can today. Good stuff!

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at August 7, 2008 11:49 AM in response to Carroll Gardens Atrocity For Rent

Seems Gowanus would be perfect if he can get his hands on something before it all disappears. There are still quite a few pockets, especially between 2nd and 3rd Avenue, that could house an operation of that size. And a beer garden in Gowanus would be cherry!

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at August 6, 2008 9:42 AM in response to Where Should the Brooklyn Brewery Set Up Shop?

I just want to throw out there the possibility that whoever the young employees of Louie G.'s are could have made that sign themselves and posted it without the owner and/or manager's knowledge? It's not like it is a profesional sign. It looks like someone scribbled it because they got sick of having to go hunt for change. Ever try to get small bills if you don't have an account at the nearest bank? Not to mention a bulk of their business is in the evening after banks have closed.

Posted by: WTerraceGirl at July 28, 2008 9:40 PM in response to Closing Bell: Better Bring Small Bills to Louie's