Blue Marble Flagship Store To Close
The rising rents of Atlantic Avenue have claimed another victim: Blue Marble Ice Cream, whose flagship store opened at 420 Atlantic Avenue back in 2007, will be moving out in the coming weeks, a result of the landlord’s efforts to raise the rent. “We’re very sad to leave the neighborhood, especially since this was shop…
The rising rents of Atlantic Avenue have claimed another victim: Blue Marble Ice Cream, whose flagship store opened at 420 Atlantic Avenue back in 2007, will be moving out in the coming weeks, a result of the landlord’s efforts to raise the rent. “We’re very sad to leave the neighborhood, especially since this was shop our ‘first-born,'” said founder Alexis Miesen in an email, “but we were left with no alternative.” Ice cream fanatics need not totally despair though: Blue Marble’s other stores on Court and Underhill are going strong—and you can always get a scoop at The Flea on Saturdays! You can see the $3,500-a-month listing for the new space here, though, from what we hear, 900 square feet might be overstating the case a bit.
Isn’t the landlord a small business too?
I don’t begrudge Blue Marble charging $8/pint and I don’t begrudge the landlord for asking $3500 for that space. I only objected to Blue Marble begrudging the landlord for seeking what seems to me is market rate rent.
I also don’t understand the tone that often creeps in here when a small business is successful. (Not aimed at anyone in particular) Businesses are started to be successful. Not barely scraping by, or pulling in just enough to keep it going. People who open businesses want to have money spilling out of the registers, they want to become well-off and support themselves, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. We always say small businesses are the mainstay of American success, the best and biggest employers overall, etc, etc, but when a small biz is successful, like Blue Mountain appears to be, we then begrudge them their success, as in “they should be able to afford the raised rent, they are charging megabucks for their ice cream.” They developed a product that is doing quite well, they have a good business model, are helping Rwanda, for pete’s sake, and are making money. Good on them. If their landlord on Atlantic can’t see the advantage to keeping them, that’s his loss. They will do fine.
Blue Marble: Come to Red Hook! Get a space big enough to do retail and produce the ice-cream for your other outlets at a fraction of the rent.
Wow! – The landlord is a bit ruthless but agreed with Dibs – they should have signed a longer lease
and I also agree with Biff – I tried it once and I thought ok, it’s good but not KNOCK ME OFF MY FEET GOOD!
LOVE Haagen Daaz too!
bxgrl – no one said they were greedy – they are charging what the market will bear (or not) – and that is what a LL does – “greed” isnt really part of the equation either way. – which was the point
Blue Marble may be pricey but how is that greedy? His prices are a function of his costs. Anything artisanal or handmade is going to be more expensive. $4.00 a scoop is not greedy, it’s realistic for a small business with high expenses.
Ok, THIS I did not know…
Blue Marble opened a shop in Rwanda!
http://gothamist.com/2010/05/28/blue_marble_to_open_rwandas_first_i.php
11217 – I would say based on the # of stores that close in exceedingly short times (less than 1yr) = lack of capital; with ridiculous hours (open at 10:30AM close at 6PM) and with lousy products/service – I would say you’d be better off with a merchant consulting buisness – and this case here – totally renovating a store under a 3yr lease is exhibit A in the demonstrating the need
11217: let’s meet (soon) at Blue Marble on Atlantic to discuss new venture. 🙂