Earth's Basket Stocking Up
Remember Earth’s Basket, the grocery store coming to Greenwood Heights at 4th Avenue and 17th Street? Well, the paper’s down, the shelves are in, and now the store is getting stocked. It seems really nice inside, and the products coming in looked fairly typical of an organic grocery store. (Lots of Kashi, Honest Tea, etc.)…
Remember Earth’s Basket, the grocery store coming to Greenwood Heights at 4th Avenue and 17th Street? Well, the paper’s down, the shelves are in, and now the store is getting stocked. It seems really nice inside, and the products coming in looked fairly typical of an organic grocery store. (Lots of Kashi, Honest Tea, etc.) A tipster tells us they should be open in a week or so.
Grocery Store for Greenwood Heights [Brownstoner] GMAP
I went in and talked to them a couple weeks ago, seems family-run, they said they grew up in the neighborhood and they’re taking suggestions for products to stock (hope that still applies, but I haven’t tried asking for anything yet).
I was in this morning- they are open.
They have fruit and veggies. They have cheeses. They are not done stocking yet and will get a license to sell beer soon. Good mix of ‘normal’ grocery fare and some higher end stuff like good cereal and peanut butter. Free dog treats. I think that it’s a good addition to the hood. Said they will be open until midnight, which is also a plus.
ISNH – I appreciate your optimism. I wish I still had it because I was so excited about this place coming. Not anymore. I’ve looked in as closely as possible, and I’m not seeing anything fresh — just a bunch of the same ol’ sub par packaged goods, house cleansers and standard fare. Why doesn’t anyone with open eyes, imagination and good business sense want to come into this neighborhood? I don’t get it. The buyers are here but they seem to go everywhere else in Brooklyn but South Slope. It’s SCREAMING for fish, cheese, produce. The only produce stand is that one on 5th Avenue @ 18th and half the time I walk out empty handed because of the rotten vegetables.That place has a monopoly and it is so awful. The venues in this neighborhood STINK, literally. We don’t need something like Union Market and its prices, but there’s a cavernous gap between that and Hamza’s and all the other garbage filled delis in this neighborhood.
I bought paper towels at Hamza once- they smelled like roach spray, and they were loosies- like they had bought a big bag of them at price club and opened the bag for resale. Bought beer at Hamza once too- also loosies- buck a beer, and totally in the skunk stage.
the two delis nearest the subway station now are not great- and they are incredibly expensive- esp. for beer.
Eagle is closed by the time I get home from work, and they are overpriced. Associated is not great, and also usually closed. If ‘tha basket’ is open after 9, has bread, beer, lettuce, etc… it’ll save me the walk to the place on 6th ave and 14th street, and I’ll be grateful.
Now all we need is for trader joes to take over the old Aaron’s space.
Bsquared, I think we should hold off until we see the full interior of this place. You are right, it may indeed be another ‘glorified deli,’ but it may instead be a real alternative to the nasty, outdated, expired dates wiped off of items (you know who you are!), etc. stores in the neighborhood.
Hamza is on 5th Ave and 19th Street, northeast corner. It’s got a distinct odor of patchouli and construction worker armpit. Left armpit to be exact. 🙂 I stopped going there for my occasional lotto ticket because dude behind the counter liked to lecture me about having “too much money.” I tried to explain that when you are broke, there is no such thing. He didn’t get it.
Baba’s Deli on 5th just north of Prospect Ave is ok in a pinch. And when you buy a lotto ticket, they wish you good luck instead of trying to make you feel guilty about trying to hit it big!
I’ve peeked in regularly and it looks just like another deli, maybe a 1/2 notch above the usual misery on 5th Avenue. The bar is so low for interesting, quality provisions in this neighborhood this place starts looking good, Wonder Bread, Pop Tarts and all. At least we might not get hit over the head with the mold smells like when you walk into the other supermarkets in this neighborhood.
Has anyone seen any fresh produce? Or is it most likely going to be the same ol’ same ol’ deli counter stocked with the predictable tuna salad, sliced ham, etc.
Sorry, for the negativity, but I am super disappointed. I wish these owners had a real clue about how to add quality to this neighborhood. Who needs another glorified deli? There are plenty of them already, albeit pretty lousy ones. I was hoping for something more and something that offered a wide selection of quality fresh produce.
Please have some fresh fish. I’ve been living in the ‘hood for a few months now and can’t figure out where to buy some fish without hiking down to C-Town on 9th Street. Are there any places around South Slope/Greenwood/whatever that sell fish that I’ve missed?
Wait – Where’s Hamza?
I find the bodegas by us on 5th avenue from 18th -22nd to be poorly stocked and just blech!
no Faux-Degas up in this part of the woods I see – however I wish there was at least one so I can buy my expensive organic stuff in – hahaha
Snaps – I tried looking too on the 17th street side but I couldn’t see much!