Future of Bodegas & Liquors Thrown Into Question
We’ve gotten a number of emails from folks wondering about the fate of Bodegas in Clinton Hill and Liquors in Fort Greene, both of which have been shuttered for the past couple of weeks. We hear, but cannot confirm, that the owners have run into some financial troubles and that both will be closing. We…
We’ve gotten a number of emails from folks wondering about the fate of Bodegas in Clinton Hill and Liquors in Fort Greene, both of which have been shuttered for the past couple of weeks. We hear, but cannot confirm, that the owners have run into some financial troubles and that both will be closing. We hope for their sakes and for those in the neighborhood that this isn’t true. Also, what does this mean for Lewis & Ruby’s?
My Bed Stuy recommendation go to
Bread Stuy, Lewis Ave – always the best for coffee, service and great cakes, Big up to Lloyd and Hilary.
Doctor’s Cave, Marcy Ave – only open in the day I think its 11am to 3pm. Cooked food is wonderful all hand cooked with love and Tim & Jean are great characters.
Food4Thought, Tompkins Ave – friendly and great smoothies.
These places offer great service and get my support and local dollars.
I agree, Vini e Olii is not for everyday. I just meant that a good small business, even if more expensive, will do well in the neighborhood. Thinking mediocre food/service (not that Bodegas was that bad or was “mediocre”) will be good enough will most likely result in a business failure imo. I’m just responding to Frankie Flatbush above. My answer is that the good quality small businesses are doing well. The “so so” small businesses not so well. Go for quality (doesn’t have to be super expensive, but don’t be afraid of making it a little more high end) and it will do well I think (and hope).
Bodegas was constantly being promoted by PACC, which has been trying to do a BID on Fulton for quite some time. What always drove me crazy was how tacky Bodegas looked from the outside–dirty awnings and windows, and an unpleasant view of their kitchen.
I hope the next business there will be a bit more inspiring!
For a great coffee shop you should check out Outpost on Fulton between Irving Place and Downing Street. They’ve got great coffee, free wi-fi and recently added beer and wine to their list of libations. It’s really cute inside and the owners are really nice.
Bodegas is good location, but in my opinion, the food was hit or miss. Some things were ok, some were not very good at all. There are plenty of people in the vicinity that will support any quality establishment – look at Locanda e Olii (even a bit out of the way from main streets in Clinton Hill) and its been doing a quality job and been doing very well for several years now.
Frankie Flatbush, while you make an interesting point I don’t think you can always throw every situation in that category. I sincerely believe that Lewis & Rubys is in a great location, I don’t think that the “small business in up and coming neighborhood” thing is necessarily the case in this situation. the food just wasn’t good. there’s a bookstore and a coffee shop next to that restaurant and those aren’t closed… there are also other small shops on Lewis within that same area. I agree that considering the things you mentioned this makes it harder for small businesses but you cannot just offer poor quality because your business is in a “up and coming” neighborhood and you don’t have much competition. as far as bodegas, I’d never been there (kept putting it off) but that’s not a bad location either.
Lesterhead,
Please feel free to email us notes on the meetings and we’ll post ’em.
Lesterhead, what is the Society for Clinton Hill? Are meetings open to all residents of the hood?
I hope something great goes in the Bodegas/Liquors spots too…(hadn’t checked out Lewis & Ruby’s). As posted last week, can someone please open a good coffee shop/cafe around here? With good quality coffee, I mean.
As for Vini e Olli, it is wonderful, but the prices make it a place to splurge for special occasions IMO. Then again, if you own a $2MM house, maybe it’s an everyday kind of place for you.
I think the closing of these restaurants is indicative of the failure of new small businesses to receive the financial and operational support they need to operate in an “up and coming” neighborhood (if we can apply this term here). It’s sad that the only time small independent businesses can sustain themselves is after tons of new condos move in and the neighborhood is sufficiently gentrified. By this time, major chains have also noticed the neighborhoods and you have 3 Starbuck’s, a Dunkin Donuts, and a Whole Foods up in a few months, thereby crushing all hopes of any small business being able to sustain themselves. I no longer envision the transition seen on the northside of Williamsburg where small businesses have given way to places like Starbucks over a period of years. It’s sad that the first place we’re going to see open will most likely be big chain stores that can absorb a loss and we will patronize them as we are very short on options.