Closing Bell: Happy Fruit Men Everywhere
The Brooklyn Paper reports that all is well at the Brooklyn Heights fruit stand that opened almost a month ago in front of the St. George Hotel—residents were at first more concerned with the legality of the street vendor than the quality of his fruit. Turns out, the owner’s free to hawk his cherries there….
The Brooklyn Paper reports that all is well at the Brooklyn Heights fruit stand that opened almost a month ago in front of the St. George Hotel—residents were at first more concerned with the legality of the street vendor than the quality of his fruit. Turns out, the owner’s free to hawk his cherries there. Meanwhile, Khan, the Park Slope fruit vendor who set up shop about the same time, reports open arms and wallets from neighborhood residents.
Heights Vendor Wants to Make People Happy [Brooklyn Paper]
There is a fruit vendor outside my office (in Manhattan). I love this guy! His fruit is fresh, his stock is pretty well presented, his prices are good, and he’s always friendly.
As REMSEN said, I would love to shop at a market nearby, but since none exist…
How do we get one in our hood in Ditmas Park!
Is there a list as to where they will be opening?
I’m confused. Wasn’t there a push to get more of these venders into underserved neighborhoods? Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope?!
Anyone seen a new one in Bedford Stuyvesant, Crown Heights or Bushwick? They definitely wouldn’t be competing with local produce venders in many parts.
Simple supply and demand will dictate whether he succeeds. Since this area of the Heights is underserved at best, he probably will do ok. Would I prefer to have a rent paying brick & motar establishment with fresh fruit and vegs? Of course, but since none exist….
lets see whats wrong with this.
1)doesn’t pay rent, while competing business pays ten thousand dollars in rent, electricity, city taxes, needs to be up to health code etc, etc,etc.
2)blocks bus stop on corner of 9th street
3)blocks view of another rent paying business (brooklyn industries) from potential shoppers
4)unlikely to pay personal taxes
so basically this guy plops himself down one of the best corners in brooklyn with no overhead.
the other thing the brooklyn heights vendor not unlike the one in the north slope occupies a parking spot. now i know if i feed the meter i can get a ticket regardless if it shows time on the meter. so why don’t they get parking infractions. oh and they take up a spot from another rent paying business for another potential customer.
too bad for him when i was passing by i think he was getting arrested tonight…seriously. lets see if the cart is there tomorrow.
Bessie, I could be wrong, but don’t these vendors need some sort of license, a la hot dog, knish and gyro vendors? I know the licenses for food carts are typically quite high; my point being that there are more costs of doing business for these guys than meets the eye.
I’ve seen a number of these new fruit sellers around. I don’t have any problem with how they’re set up but I think it unfair that they are allowed so close to storefronts that also sell fruit. When another seller has to pay for utiliites, taxes, maintenance and the outdoor vendor gets to occupy the same turf with no overhead, well that just seems wrong.
The stand looks nicely presented, especially compared to some of the ones I’ve seen in Manhattan, and I think it’s a great addition to the neighborhood. I wish the owner well.
By the way, Mr. B, today’s ad for Movies with a View indicates a date of July 31, 2008.
Poor guy – just trying to make an honest living.