Building of the Day: 148 Hoyt Street
Editor’s note: A more recent feature on this building can be found here. The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy. Address: 148 Hoyt Street, corner of…
Editor’s note: A more recent feature on this building can be found here.
The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.
Address: 148 Hoyt Street, corner of Bergen St.
Name: The Brooklyn Inn
Neighborhood: Boerum Hill
Year Built: 1851, with an extensive facelift in the 1880’s
Architectural Style: originally Greek Revival, with a later Queen Anne facade
Architects: Thomas Maynard, later alterations, unknown.
Landmarked: Yes
Why chosen: Here is a classic case of an older building being remodeled to resemble a newer style of building, only this one took place 130 years ago. Thomas Maynard, who also built the adjoining group of houses from 150-156 Hoyt, built this corner structure as a tavern with apartments above. All of the buildings were classic late Greek Revival structures, and this one looked very similar to them. In the 1880’s, when a more fanciful exterior was in vogue, the entire facade was changed to reflect this new design sensibility. The cornice became pressed metal, with larger brackets, extending the roof line. Pressed metal bandcourses unite the front and side of the building, and new oriel bays, also on the front and sides of the building give it that classic high Victorian look. A pyramid roof, totally non-functional, is added, as well as the distinctive styling on the storefront level, and heavy looking window hoods grace the Bergen St. side of the building. The work was really well done, and the result is an exceptionally beautiful retail space, and apartments. I like the simplicity and elegance of Boerum Hill’s streetscapes. This Victorian renovation adds a nice touch of whimsey and theatricality to it, and the Brooklyn Inn’s treatment of the space makes it one of the most attractive spaces around.
Photo: Googlemaps
MM, I took care of this building for about a decade 1990-2000, even sleeping overnight in the vacant bar one night on a metal lawnchair while we waited for new security bars to be installed on the windows. It wasn’t unusual to hear nightly gunshots back then. I had just moved to NY and was living in Fort Greene at the time.
As for the building’s history, I always understood that the place was one of many inns that serviced travelers who missed the last ferry to Manhattan before the Brooklyn Bridge was built. There is a boarded up passageway in the poolroom that at one time allowed one access to the hallway and the upstairs apartments. I have not been back in the place for some time, but back in the day there were two floor through apartments, one per floor, retaining much of the worn yet original detail. Carved marble fireplaces, super wide plank pine floors, plaster moldings and medallions, 4 panel doors and trim, various vestigial hardware for gas lighting and inter building communications, decorative cast iron radiators, a dumbwaiter shaft (boarded up) that originated in the bar’s kitchen, ect.
The apartments have enormous rooms with high ceilings at both ends where you see the bay windows in the photo.
The kitchen and bathrooms looked like they had been installed in the thirties. They are located in the center off the main staircase.
The apartment’s most charming feature… Their incredibly unlevel floors. Like it took most new tenants a few weeks to develop their sea legs kind of crookedness.
Of coarse the bar itself is the real gem. I remember the two guys who owned the building refused many offers by brokers representing commercial businesses other than bars who wanted to rent the space… Who wanted to gut the place out and open a bodega for example. The owners kept the place vacant for years waiting for the time when someone thought it was safe enough to open a drinking establishment in the early 90’s that wouldn’t end up catering to crack heads. As they say the rest is history.
Snowman2 I remember some highly regarded Manhattan chef used to rent the space and cook exclusive multi-course dinners for single couples. Would have been right before my time there.
I had dinner there a couple of times around 1989-1990. Good dinners. I think is was called the Boerum Hill Cafe then. Does anyone remember?
Some of the fondest memories of my entire 9 years in the nabe…right here in this bar. I heart you, Brooklyn Inn!
Always loved this building! CGar, let us know when you play pool down here again- MM and I will come play.
It was a social club at one point. I had dinner there sometime around 1990-1991.
Great bar. Love playing pool here.
Very interesting!
I love this place. Several years ago (10?), I came home late and the Urban Cowboys were here with their horses tied up outside and a cowboy in full regalia – chaps, spurs, hat – was watching the horses, pint in hand.
Fast forward to last year, and Chuck Bass buys this bar in Gossip Girl.
do u think LPC would approve of this renovation?