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Checking in on Coney Businesses After Sandy
The Daily News attended the grand reopening of Grimaldi’s Pizza in Coney Island yesterday, a celebration held because Hurricane Sandy devastated the pizzeria. Amusing the Zillion checked out the renovated space at 1215 Surf Avenue a few days ago, where the owners have put the “Dreamland Bell” on display near the entrance, pictured above. It’s the bell that survived the Dreamland Fire of 1911 and is serving as a testament to the Hurricane Sandy recovery. It will be at the restaurant for a few weeks. The Daily News also shared a few other updates on surrounding businesses: The Aquarium is still set to open on May 25, Nathans will open Memorial Day weekend, the Parachute Jump will be relit on June 24, Peggy O’Neil’s bar is open but barely hanging in there, and El Dorado Auto Skooter is struggling with a lack of revenue. Amusing the Zillion reports that two shooting galleries have replaced establishments wiped out by Sandy. The Wonder Wheel and Luna Park, of course, are already up and running, meaning it’s time to plan another visit to Coney Island…
Coney Island Attractions Slowly Rebound [NYDN]
Grimaldi’s Rings in Coney Island Comeback With Dreamland Bell [ATZ]
Photo by Tricia Vita for Amusing the Zillion
05/17/2013 2:00 PM
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Ideya Soho Is Moving to Prospect Heights
Ideya Latin Bistro, formerly located in SoHo, is opening a new location at the old Carlton Park space, on the corner of Park Place and Flatbush Avenue. Dubbed Ideya Brooklyn, it will open by mid-June, the owner estimates. She says you can expect the same menu as in SoHo with some tweaks — the original chef will be cooking at the new spot. There will be an emphasis on Caribbean food such as jerk, salt cod, and curry dishes. The restaurant is also known for its mojitos, which will be served from the restaurant bar. Ideya just received approval from the community board and is working on cosmetic changes at the new space. Nice addition for the summertime! GMAP
05/16/2013 2:00 PM
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Happenings on Fulton Street
Lots of stuff happening on a small stretch of Fulton Street! Pictured above, a new fish store called Just Fish just put up a sign; it’s located in the old MetroPCS space at 914 Fulton, between St. James Place and Washington Avenue. Expect an opening soon. Energy Fuel, a restaurant and juice bar, also hung a sign, at 924 Fulton Street, also between Washington and St. James Place. And finally, the deli on the corner of Washington Avenue and Fulton Street completed a total gut renovation and is now remaking the exterior storefront. Check out more photos after the jump. Thanks to the Fulton Area Business Alliance for the tips. (more…)
05/15/2013 2:00 PM
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Open and Shut
North Brooklyn
A gas station at 445 Troutman Street in Bushwick will become an eating/drinking establishment. Wyckoff Heights reports that the space, pictured above, will be transformed into a “country-style” restaurant by the new musician owners. Photo by Wyckoff Heights. A shop called BKLYN Curated is open at 88 Franklin Street in Greenpoint. Bushwick Daily checks out Falansai, a French–Vietnamese restaurant that is now open on the corner of Porter Avenue and Harrison Place.
Crown Heights
Brooklyn Based tests grilled cheese sandwiches at Glady’s, the new grilled cheese specialty restaurant on Franklin Avenue. And a Brooklynian commenter reports that Lula Bagels is opening on the corner of Nostrand and Lincoln. Lula will serve bagels, coffee, pastries, fresh bread, and paninis starting in June.
Elsewhere
Long-in-the-works Italian restaurant Mezini should open in Park Slope in about a week. A cafe called Tip of the Tongue is opening in Prospect Lefferts Gardens next week; it’ll serve take-out food and coffee. 773 Lounge on Coney Island Avenue in Ditmas Park is opening a kitchen next week. And Prospect Heights Patch reports that the southern restaurant Elberta’s is expanding into the space next door.
05/15/2013 11:30 AM
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Lots of Openings at New Bed Stuy Gallery
A new gallery and community space called The Bishop opened at 916 Bedford Avenue in March. The gallery, run by two Pratt graduates, has already hosted two shows and is prepping for two more. Opening on Saturday, May 18 is Six Sides of the Cube, an art collection that “explores international similarities and differences through the universality of the cube.” Curating for a Cure, a charity art auction to benefit the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, will debut Thursday, May 23. In addition to exhibits, the Bishop plans to host educational workshops and special events. The space is also available for event rentals. GMAP
Photo by Scott Levin
05/14/2013 2:00 PM
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Design Studio Opening in Greenpoint Soon
A combination store, showroom, gallery, and design lab known as Jellio is opening in Greenpoint on May 20. (Right, a whimsical image they designed.) It’s a collection of fun, wacky home furnishings that includes an ice cream bench, a Rubick’s Cube table, and gummy bear light fixtures. The owners will run the store out of a giant fabrication shop at 239 Java Street so visitors can see the items in production. They’ll be opening Jellio with a debut show called “Toy Chest,” a design tribute to iconic items the owners had as kids. Stay tuned for a sneak peak of the new space, and check out some more of the products at the Jellio Facebook page. GMAP
05/13/2013 2:00 PM
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Inside a New Brooklyn Rum Distillery
Here’s a cool video looking inside a one-woman distillery in Bushwick. The Noble Experiment, founded by born-and-raised Brooklynite Bridget Firtle, puts out 5,000 cases a year of small-batch spirits a year. Her first product, Owney’s, is a 100 percent molasses-based white rum. The recipe is based on the first spirit distilled in the United States. You can take $10 tours of the distillery on Saturdays. Pick up tickets here.
05/10/2013 2:00 PM
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Lululemon Opening This Summer at 166 Smith Street
Boerum Hill is getting a Lululemon outlet this summer. The upscale athletic store will open on the ground floor of 166 Smith Street, the former Smith Street Bunker that is undergoing a condo conversion. Back when the above rendering surfaced, Lululemon never confirmed its impending retail presence. But a tipster recently noticed Lululemon signage going up at the commercial space, and this article from Well + Good confirms it. They report that this will be Lululemon’s first “full-service” store with in-store classes and weekly run clubs. It should open by June. In the meantime, Lululemon will close its Park Slope location at 472 Bergen Street. According to Well + Good, the Park Slope outlet will hold a goodbye putluck dinner on Sunday, May 18th.
Lululemon’s New Brooklyn Store is Slated to Open in June [Well + Good]
How the Smith Street Bunker Will be Transformed [Brownstoner]
Work Begins at Former MTA Property 166 Smith Street [Brownstoner]
MTA Sells Smith Street Eyesore [Brownstoner]
Three Brooklyn Winners on AMNY’s Most-Fugly List [Brownstoner] GMAP
05/09/2013 2:00 PM
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Open and Shut
Coney Island
The Coney Island Mermaid Parade may be cancelled this summer because the organizers have so much debt due to Hurricane Sandy. Just this week a Kickstarter campaign popped up with a goal of $100,000 to fund this year’s parade. More than $20,000 has been raised in a few days. Photo by Luna Park Coney Island. And more sad news from Coney: A fire broke out at Nathan’s Famous, still under construction since Sandy. Luckily the fire was under control within 20 minutes, although there’s no word how badly it damaged the building.
Park Slope
Beer Table closed its locale on Seventh Avenue between 14th and 15th; it’s reopening in a new, unannounced location. The owner of the old space already has another business lined up that will likely be food related. The 4th Avenue cafe/bar Supercollider is finally open, and the grand opening party was last Saturday. And Chinese takeout joint Far East Restaurant will open in the old Sun Bo Bo space at 471A 5th Avenue on May 9.
North Brooklyn
Bar and seafood restaurant The Bounty is open at 131 Greenpoint Avenue. Right now they’re serving a limited menu but plan to open the full kitchen soon. Grub Street checks out Bushwick’s newest bar/restaurant Sweet Science at 135 Graham Avenue. The menu features burgers, fried chicken, and some fun bar snacks. And the restaurant Desnuda opened in Williamsburg at 221 South 1st Street. It’s serving ceviches, tea-smoked oysters, and creative cocktails.
Elsewhere
Eater floats a rumor that the chefs behind Battersby are eyeing the old Vinzee’s Magic Fountain space on Smith Street to open a Carroll Gardens restaurant. Popular Crown Heights vegan spot Imhotep’s has closed on Nostrand Avenue. And a yogurt joint is moving into 800 Franklin Avenue near Eastern Parkway. Just north over in Bed Stuy, two brothers are opening a bar called Dynaco at 1112 Bedford Avenue. Finally, Rihanna’s hair stylist is opening a hair salon at 66 Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene.
05/08/2013 11:30 AM
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The Pines Opens Outdoor Space
Summer’s almost here! Last week Gowanus restaurant The Pines debuted its backyard space with its own chef’s menu and seating for 30 people, plus standing room for about 50 to 60 more. The restaurant will also use the space for private parties and special events. The Pines (from the same owners at Littleneck) serves New American food at 284 3rd Avenue, between President and Carroll streets. GMAP
05/07/2013 2:00 PM
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Clothing and Skate Shop Opening on Surf Avenue
The Long Island-based clothing company and skate shop Wampum is opening this summer off the Coney Island boardwalk. Wampum picked up a space at 1232 Surf Avenue, right across from Nathan’s Hot Dogs, and will feature a variety of Wampum products, including shirts made in New York and hats made in California. You can check out the collection, which features distinctive prints, here. The store will open Memorial Day weekend and close Labor Day weekend. This will be the third location; the two other stores are in Bridgehampton and SoHo.
Photo via Facebook
05/06/2013 2:00 PM
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Restaurant, Bakery Back on Track for 250 Smith Street?
Work has resumed and permits have been renewed at a trio of long-shuttered storefronts at 250-254 Smith Street, Pardon Me For Asking reported. Just weeks ago, the buildings received X’s from the Fire Department warning of structural damage inside, said Carroll Gardens Patch. All three buildings were emptied for construction about seven years ago, which was then halted by the DOB for lack of permits. The stores have been empty ever since, according to PMFA. In April of 2011, permits were issued for the owner to convert the first floor and cellar at No. 250 into a bakery and restaurant, as we reported at the time.
New Permits (and Hope?) for 250 and 252 Smith Street? [PMFA]
Bakery Planned for 250 Smith Street? [Brownstoner] GMAP
Photo by Nicholas Strini for PropertyShark
05/03/2013 2:00 PM
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The Brooklyn Inn Is Back in Business
Brooklynites can breath a sigh of relief: The Brooklyn Inn has reopened after closing for repairs in mid-April, and the owners didn’t change the beautiful historic interior one bit. They temporarily removed part of the tin ceiling to make repairs to the sub-ceiling, the bartender told us. The interior includes wood floors and big mirrors above a 19th century wood bar. In fact, they’re even re-creating some of tin ceiling tiles to match the originals. A tipster writes in: “I was told by the bartender last night that an impression of the tile pattern has been taken so that additional matching tiles can be made.” There’s still some plywood up on the ceiling where the new tiles will go in. You can see a few more photos after the jump.
Brooklyn Inn Closed for Renovations [Brownstoner] (more…)
05/02/2013 11:30 AM
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Open and Shut
North Brooklyn
LES institution Max Fish is moving to Williamsburg. According to Eater, “The bar will close in late August and look to reopen in Brooklyn soon thereafter.” The owner, who ran through his three-year extended lease after previous issues with the landlord, is looking for a space on Metropolitan Avenue. Photo by russbengtson. A Korean restaurant called Little Dokebi will open in June on the corner of Driggs and Monitor. Also in Greenpoint, the American bar/restaurant Alameda is now open on Greenpoint Avenue.
Park Slope
Let’s Yo!, a yogurt chain, is coming to the retail space at the Barclays on Flatbush Avenue just east of Fifth. Starbucks is open in the old Five Guys space on Park Place and Flatbush Avenue. Forty Weight Cafe closed in the South Slope, but are looking for new locations in the same area. Hotly anticipated bar/cafe Supercollider had to delay its grand opening by one week. And a sushi joint put up signage at 847 Union Street — no official opening date yet.
Elsewhere
Get your summer drink on: the Gowanus Yacht Club has officially reopened for the season. Mini chain Bare Burger opened in Cobble Hill, on Court Street, last week. Eater pins down the Red Hook location of Frank Falcinelli and Frank Castronovo’s latest restaurant: 372 Columbia Street. Also in Red Hook, restaurateur Erin Norris is trying to fund a sausage and beer garden after plans were derailed due to Hurricane Sandy.
05/01/2013 11:30 AM
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Williamsburg Montessori Coming to Kent Avenue
The owners of Schaefer Landing haven’t been able to give away the retail space at 450 Kent Avenue since the big mixed-income housing development opened in South Williamsburg back in 2007. Finally, though, it looks like a tenant has been found in the form of the newly created Williamsburg Montessori school. The progressive school will serve ages three months to six years beginning this fall. GMAP
04/30/2013 2:00 PM
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Downtown Farmers Market Debuts This Weekend
Albee Square is getting a farmers market! Run by Bensidoun, a French company that runs markets in Paris, Chicago and New York, it’ll debut this Saturday and then run weekly on Thursdays from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm. The market will feature around 15 vendors selling food, produce, and handmade goods. Here are the vendors lined up so far, according to the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership:
Highlights include Dutchess County’s Migliorelli Farm, selling locally grown produce; Tierra Farm, selling dried fruits and nuts; Fort Greene’s Le Petit Bakery, selling breads and baked goods; and Robibero Family Vineyards, selling Hudson Valley wine. Other vendors signed up for the first season include Amelia’s Florist, Original Delancey Street Peanut Company, Meredith’s Bread, Anthis Greek Food, Yona’s Gourmet Delights, High Mountain Foods, Vesco Food, Café Mavi Express, and Provence en Boite.
At the end of November, the market will take on a holiday theme. For opening day this Saturday, chef Tanya Tracy will hold a demonstration on making gourmet dips and spreads and two Brooklyn artists will be performing throughout the day.
Albee Square Farmers Market Starts Saturday [DBP]
Photo by Kelly Hafermann Photography
04/29/2013 2:00 PM
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Construction Under Way on T.J.Maxx at 505 Fulton Street
Although rumors go back to 2011, it’s been official news since early 2012 that T.J.Maxx was going to be setting up shop on the two lower floors of 505 Fulton Street, the 300,000-square-foot mixed-use building in Downtown Brooklyn. Owned by United American Land, the developer with multiple holdings on the Fulton Mall as well as the Municipal Building, the historic building will have more than 200,000 square feet of luxury residential space on the upper floors. When we passed by on Tuesday afternoon, it was apparent that work on the T.J.Maxx space was going full-bore, with windows out and portions of the lower facade temporarily removed for repair. The landmarked Romanesque Revival structure is also known as the Offerman Building. For some history on the building, click here. For a closeup of the current construction work, see below.
A T.J.Maxx Will Open on the Fulton Mall [Brownstoner]
505 Fulton Street Looking for Upscale Tenants [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 505 Fulton Street [Brownstoner] GMAP
505 Fulton’s Transformation to Residential Begins [Brownstoner]
(more…)
04/25/2013 2:38 PM
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Southern Restaurant About to Open in Old Dakar Space
We were grabbing some takeout from Choice last night and noticed lights and activity in the long-shuttered storefront at 285 Grand Avenue formerly inhabited by Dakar restaurant. Upon our approach, camera in hand, a very friendly proprietor popped her head out to let us know that they weren’t officially open yet, despite the number of happy-looking diners inside. “The name is Marietta,” a sign in the window informed us, “and we’re a fun-loving American restaurant with Southern influences.” Indeed, a profile already up on Menupages reveals treats like Tennessee Brown Jam Smoked Pork Shoulder and Extra Fancy Memphis Fried Chicken. Great news for Grand Avenue! GMAP
04/25/2013 11:00 AM
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Open and Shut
Hurricane Sandy
Popular Red Hook watering hole Sunny’s has been rebuilding since Sandy hit in October and is aiming for a June opening. They are holding a May Day benefit at the Bell House to help raise runds for the last of the work. You can buy tickets to the event, which takes place May 1, here. Photo by michele y. Last week, the liquor store Dry Dock quietly reopened at its original storefront on the corner of Van Brunt and Van Dyke; it had temporarily relocated up the street after Sandy. And in Coney Island, NY1 checks up on a Neptune Avenue body shop that needed a month and a half to reopen after the storm.
North Brooklyn
Williamsburg’s first med spa opened at 47 North 4th Street this week. Brooklyn Based posted the spa’s entire press release in all its glory: “After all, even hipsters want Botox,” it says, as well as, “So for the Brooklynite who may be regretting that full sleeve and in need of laser tattoo removal, or simply seeking a bit of pampering after a hard week doing the hustle and grind, N4 offers everything from organic seaweed leaf wraps to an Infinity Sun Tan, for a full spa and med spa experience.” Zagat checks out Isle of Skye, a new Williamsburg bar serving over 200 bottles of Scotch. The Scottish pub is located at 488 Driggs Avenue, with the owners already eyeing an expansion to Park Slope. And the plywood is down at Motorino Brooklyn, opening later this year at 191 Broadway.
Park Slope
Signage is up on the Flatbush Avenue Starbucks and the old Fornino space will likely go to a chain restaurant. Are chains taking over the Slope? Not entirely: The Brooklyn antiques/gifts shop Sterling Place will open its third location on Seventh Avenue between Garfield and Carroll. And South Slope bar Supercollider, under construction at 609 4th Avenue, will open up this Friday for biz. It’ll be a cafe/bar hybrid, although the bar won’t have its grand opening until May 4.
Elsewhere
Cake Man Raven is considering Bed Stuy for his new Brooklyn location, after he shuttered the bakery in Fort Greene in November 2012. Upscale home goods store Dunham Home opened up shop in Cobble Hill, at 213 Court Street. A food truck lot opened up in Dumbo this week — you can follow @dumbolot on Twitter to keep track of participating trucks. Finally, Grub Street got an early peek at Glady’s on Franklin Avenue, Crown Heights‘ newest grilled cheese restaurant.
04/24/2013 11:30 AM
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Inside Carroll Gardens Cafe Teaffee
About three weeks ago, two brothers opened up a cafe and tea room called, appropriately enough, Teaffee. The spot at 517 Court Street, on the corner of West 9th Street, serves over 80 varieties of loose-leaf teas in addition to unsweetened iced teas and Dallas Brothers coffee. Also available is merchandise for both tea and coffee drinkers. Teafee is experimenting with tea varieties and coffee types and is very responsive to any requests from patrons. The brothers got the idea for this hybrid cafe after a trip to Portland; they picked the lower end of Carroll Gardens to settle in because of the growth in the neighborhood and in anticipation of the Smith and 9th Street subway station reopening. (It’s happening this Friday!) Click through for lots of pictures of the interior… GMAP (more…)
04/23/2013 2:00 PM
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mmm
May 16, 2013 | 09:04 AM