Columbia Street Faces Fading Prospects
Long-held plans to transform Columbia Street into Brooklyn’s next hot retail destination appear to be faltering, according to an article in today’s Times. Shopkeepers on the waterfront strip say continued construction projects, a remote location, and an absence of the hard-to-pin-down alchemy that has transformed drags like Smith Street into shopping destinations have conspired to…
Long-held plans to transform Columbia Street into Brooklyn’s next hot retail destination appear to be faltering, according to an article in today’s Times. Shopkeepers on the waterfront strip say continued construction projects, a remote location, and an absence of the hard-to-pin-down alchemy that has transformed drags like Smith Street into shopping destinations have conspired to keep Columbia Street from living up to its potential. Smith Street has everything, said Freddy Saint-Aignan, who opened up Sugar Lounge on Columbia Street a couple years ago. With all the construction, there is no place for parking. We have no access, no subway, no buses. At night we have no lights. At some point, one hopes, the construction on Columbia Street will end—think it’s possible it’ll yet become Brooklyn’s next Smith Street when that happens?
Two Years Later, a Street Still Waits for Its Promised Gentrification [NY Times]
Columbia Street photo by mr.seymour.
Is no surprise.
But the business owners there can’t cry too much, they surely got their leases at a fraction of the price of smith st or court st.
I’m actually enjoying this slow reversion to sanity. The newspapers appear to be calling a recession and so on, and business talk heads on TV have panic in their eyes, but it seems to me just a return to sagacity.
I believe Alma is open until 11 and Pit Stop until midnight on Friday. Boullabaise on Union is also open until midnight. Where were you trying to go?
Maybe Columbia Street is dead, because on any given Friday, you may think, “huh, perhaps I’ll wander over there after work.” Then, by the time you arrive, after a long B61 ride, all the kitchens have closed. While it might only be 9:15 or 9:30, even the greasy Chinese places are closing down. You know, its really not that far, but if restaurants and bars close down early, how can they expect to attract customers…after a trip like that, one bad experience is the end of those customers and all 10 of their best friends.
Oh yeah, it supposedly got its name because Barry’s family had a pajama company called General Nightwear.
General Nightmare sells furniture: particularly mid century modern. They also refinish and upholster. It used to be owned by an eccentric guy named Barry who had a eensy weensy dog named Tiny. He passed away and his partners took over. They are cheaper than similar stores in Manhattan so people make the trip to pick up Danish Modern chairs and such.
I vote for a lightrail/trolley down Union St. in P.Slope all the way down to Columbia, and then South on Columbia, and down to Fairway. Trolleys have the caché that buses do not.
By the way, what is General Nightmare? Ikea? Home Depot? Please explain, por favor…
Does this surprise anyone? Its a ten minute walk from Smith Street and the F (worst train ever) and a 20 mintute walk from Borough Hall. The B61 sucks. There are only 5 ways to cross the trench from Atlantic to the Battery Tunnel. And I love this hood – I lived on President between Hicks and Columbia for 3 years until this May and still visit restaurants like Alma and Petite Crevette. You still have great cultural diversity and an artists vibe. But until they improve public transportation, like Red Hook proper to the south, and construct the greenway/park this neighborhood is never, if ever, going to explode like Smith Street. And thats not necessarily a bad thing IMHO.
It is a LONG walk from the subway. And most people won’t bother taking the bus from Jay Street. The only business that people make a special trip for is the Alma roof in nice weather. So most of the business has to come from people in Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens/Red Hook. This won’t change anytime soon. Either you have a specialized business (like General Nightmare–which draws decorators and people with cars), or else you serve the neighbors (like Pit Stop). Otherwise, Columbia Street is home base and you have to have other sources of income. The Main Street Ephemera guy goes to antiques shows as well (or DID); Margaret Palca has wholesale so the cafe is not the main moneymaker.
maybe when the park is finished. don’t hold your breath.