Foodies as the New Gentrifiers
The Brooklyn Paper has an article this morning about the gentrifying effect of upscale food establishments. The artists might get to a new neighborhood first, say the article, but in recent years, a new cafe or thin crust pizza restaurant is the sure sign that a neighborhood has hit its tipping point. “Food is the…
The Brooklyn Paper has an article this morning about the gentrifying effect of upscale food establishments. The artists might get to a new neighborhood first, say the article, but in recent years, a new cafe or thin crust pizza restaurant is the sure sign that a neighborhood has hit its tipping point. “Food is the new art in the urban cultural experience,” said Sharon Zukin, author of Naked City: The Death and Life of Authentic Urban Culture. “You used to have artists moving in and opening galleries, now there are foodies moving in and opening up cafes.” The examples are legion: K-Dog in Prospect Lefferts Garden, The Farm on Adderly in Ditmas Park, Northeast Kingdom followed by Roberta’s in Bushwick, Saraghina in Bed Stuy. Even Kensington made it only the foodie map recently with the opening of Brancaccio’s Food Shop. Of course, not all pioneering restaurateurs are met with success: Abigail’s proved too pricey for Crown Heights and Bread Stuy’s recents problems have been well publicized. Another other good examples you can think of? Surely the L Cafe in North Williamsburg and Diner in South Williamsburg deserved mention. Others?
Foodies Now Leading the Gentrification of Brooklyn [Brooklyn Paper]
quote:
“It will definitely bring renters and homeowners who have been put offf by the lack of amenities other than places to buy Lotto, beer and cigs!!!!”
translation: white people ammenities. and i give a big BOOOO to those.
*rob*
it’s Northeast Kingdom in Bushwick – not “Northern Kingdom”
Didn’t realize it was “authentic Brooklyn” to like crappy bars/restaurants.
Or even worse, “gourmonds.”
yeah i cant for the life of me imagine why someone would call themself a foodie. it really is as annoying as people who call themselves artists. we are all artists. having to self identify in such a way, whether it’s artist, foodie, etc, is seriously warped.
*rob*
rob, I think when I moved to Bed Stuy, there were two restaurants that could be classified at best as mediocre in different ways.
Now there are two that are quite good and at least two more in the works plus a decent grocery store in the works. It will definitely bring renters and homeowners who have been put offf by the lack of amenities other than places to buy Lotto, beer and cigs!!!!
dibs – It’s better than when “those” people called themselves ‘gourmets’.
when was the last time, in recent history, that a neighborhood was gentrified by “artists?” dont even get me started about the creative class and their waaaaah attitudes that need to be met on demand.
but yeah, it is interesting that food establishments seem to be the largest factor in a neighborhood’s desireability. tho, i would say, for a vast majority of real people, it’s not the case.
*rob*
Oznot’s, of course! Michael Allen Desserts. Black Betty — when they opened, I remember their menu being kind of fancy.
When people call themselves “foodies,” it’s as irksome as when someone says “I’m high maintenance.”