Fulton Attracting 'Manhattan-Type' Customers?
The Observer has a Q&A with Al Laboz—chairman of the Fulton Street Mall Association and one of the strip’s big property owners—in which Laboz talks about new businesses like H&M coming to the corridor. He has this to say about the demographics stores are looking to cater to: “Now that downtown Brooklyn is experiencing a…
The Observer has a Q&A with Al Laboz—chairman of the Fulton Street Mall Association and one of the strip’s big property owners—in which Laboz talks about new businesses like H&M coming to the corridor. He has this to say about the demographics stores are looking to cater to: “Now that downtown Brooklyn is experiencing a renaissance, with 5,000 new apartments being developed in a four-block radius, we’re getting a new type of highly educated … I’ll call them the Manhattan type of customer. And the challenge that we have on Fulton Street right now is really to keep our core local customer while also embracing the new customer that’s starting to come into Fulton Street.” Laboz also says “major, large-scale retailers” are eying 505 Fulton. Meanwhile, a reader sent in the photo above yesterday, which shows that work’s kicked off at the future home of the Shake Shack on the Fulton Mall—not a Laboz property, but certainly an example of one of the commercial corridor’s newcomers.
Albert Laboz Has a Mall in Brooklyn He’d Like to Sell You [NYO]
actually uniqlo is a great place for socks cuz they come in every single color that exists and i think they are three pair for 10 bux? maybe 4 for 10 bux actually… (someone gave me a gift card once and i bought 50 dollars worth of socks there hahah). normally i just buy socks from value stores on 5th, but the socks at uniqlo are great and not expensive. everything else they sell is way overpriced tho
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I’m sick of having to shop for some groceries in Manhattan because the prices are too damn high at the joints in my hood.
translations — waaaaaah waaaah i want a whole foods to open down the block from me NOW!
*rob*
I equate “Manhattan-type” more with money than ethnicity. But, I mean, bank account money… not stacks of cash.
I didn’t even think “white” until I read the comments above.
BXgl: I don’t drink coffee, but if I did, you can guarantee that I would not support a place that served an $8 cup. And I buy all my socks at either sporting goods stores, the Gap and (gasp!Manhattany!) Uniqlo.
It seems that those defending the current state of the mall assume that detractors are looking to turn it into a new Atlantic Avenue. Stereotype much? Oh, of course, it’s Bronstoner and we’re talking about “class” so of course everyone’s talking in “code”.
Personally, I would like to see a decent home goods store (that doesn’t smell like they got their inventory straight from the shipping container in China) and decent (read: clean, not overpriced) well-stocked grocery store. I’m sick of having to shop for some groceries in Manhattan because the prices are too damn high at the joints in my hood.
He does, etson. still doesn’t make him less of a jerk for his comments, but yes, he has the right to rent to whomever.
I’m not objecting to higher end stores- the so-called core consumers Laboz is talking about also appreciate better shopping opportunities, although not the prices. It’s his phrasing and assumptions of who those core customers are that is offensive.
I totally don’t get the statement “crumbling state of commerce.” Just because something does not appeal to you, that does not mean that it is crumbling.
My unscientific observation is that the vacancy rates on Fulton are much lower than 5th or 7th avenues in Park Slope, with a number of shops under construction. That would indicate a retail situation far from crumbling.
I expect that the street will continue to evolve, and the area demographic changes mean that more expensive places will move in.
My guess is that with the amount of space available on neighboring streets like Livingston, most of the existing businesses will co-exist with the new one for a number of years.
P.S. I have only been in the neighborhood for a year, but I don’t find the Macy’s on Fulton to be any worse than ones found in suburban malls.
Oh Etson, you are so reasonable 😉
Your right DeLepp
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Forgive those of us who don’t want to pay 8 bucks for a cup of coffee or think that $50.00 for a pair of socks is a waste of money.
THANK YOU! sorry not everyone wants every shopping corridor to turn into rodeo f’ing drive!
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I’m mystified that the precious little boutiques on 5th Avenue move enough merchandise to stay in business, but I can accept that they do.
those are what as known as “vanity boutiques” usually funded by rich husbands and/or trust funds and parental support .for a lot of them, it’s irrelevant if they make any money or not. they are just buying time and dillydallying in a storefront until they get knocked up. sorry, but you KNOW it’s true.. im not making fun of them really, a lot of the people who run those boutiques are really nice, but yeah, that’s essentially the business model of those kinds of stores.
*rob*
Hate that Macy’s, but admit I haven’t gone in in quite some time. Got tired of stepping over clothes all over the floor and the invisible/grouchy sales people.