In The Roberta's Zone
[nggallery id=”53927″ template=galleryview] We’ve eaten at Roberta’s, the popular pizza place on Moore Street in Bushwick, several times, but it’s always been at night so we’ve failed to notice the number of businesses that have sprung up around the corner. When we stopped by on Saturday afternoon, however, we were blown away by how vibrant…
[nggallery id=”53927″ template=galleryview]
We’ve eaten at Roberta’s, the popular pizza place on Moore Street in Bushwick, several times, but it’s always been at night so we’ve failed to notice the number of businesses that have sprung up around the corner. When we stopped by on Saturday afternoon, however, we were blown away by how vibrant the scene was–and how populous the former remote factory district felt. Granted, we also felt all 41 of our years as we walked around taking photos but what’re you gonna do. Above, we’ve included photos of Roberta’s itself, which planted its flag in early 2008, as well as a handful of retail shops that have sprung up around the corner on Bogart Street: Big Tree Bottles (wine), Olive Valley (Middle Eastern restaurant), the Archive Cafe, and Brooklyn’s Natural food store.
“would buying a little house in Bushwick now be a sound investment due to all the foodies setting up prime spots now???”
Yes, but not in the loft area. The loft area is not that nice. The area around the L train from Jefferson to Myrtle is much nicer, especially on the Ridgewood side of Wyckoff.
Bushwick has a food coop now.
As for Roberta’s, we went there a bunch of times when it first opened and absolutely hated it. We left starving and it was overpriced. Saraghina is SO much better. Has Roberta’s actually become heaven on earth or is the hype just that?
Jonathan- I recommend going to the Bushwick Open Studios over the summer. The whole loft area explodes and you’ll see that it’s not exclusive to people in their 20’s. There are people of all ages who have been living and making art there for years.
Yeah, I wouldn’t exactly call the McKibben lofts “nice.” The area’s all ghetto-ish, hot in the summer, no trees, lots of dog poop, etc. (typically things young people don’t care about) But it is a lot of fun.
I was surprised to see many boomers like mahself there one night, but many were in the company of their 20 something kids. You know who was picking up the check!
Gemini, I’m in Mr. B territory of old, but yeah, they are. But I turn into the cranky old lady muttering for kids to get off her lawn in Williamsburg/Greenpoint, and by association Bushwick, so I think it’s best we part ways.
DH – I try to avoid WillyB/Greenpoint and Bushwick for obvious reasons – haaaa!
Heather – I am old too so there’s my reason for not buying over there – but some of the houses are realllllly cute
“would buying a little house in Bushwick now be a sound investment due to all the foodies setting up prime spots now???”
My husband, in his dry, Northern way, says I have a great gift for hindsight. And with that gift, I say, “yes.”
No, seriously, I would still buy over there, except I am old, there are no trees, and the public schools aren’t great and the commute to Clinton Hill is too far.
“how about getting a graffiti clean up crew to clean up the front of your establishment? Is that too much to ask of these people? ”
haha – have you ever been to north brooklyn?
I’ve never been nor will I ever go
reason being is if the owner is soooo concerned about being a friggin top foodie – how about getting a graffiti clean up crew to clean up the front of your establishment? Is that too much to ask of these people?
That being said – would buying a little house in Bushwick now be a sound investment due to all the foodies setting up prime spots now???
Hey, Blayze, did your class talk about how the McKibben Lofts were, in fact, zoned for manufacturing and not living (I don’t know if the zoning has been changed yet)? The LLs would rather pay the monthly fines on renting lofts to kiddies.
I haven’t been there in years, but when I was last there, the roofs were covered in beer bottles and other hispter detritus, and the buildings had an awful bed bug problem.
How I remember them: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/07/nyregion/07lofts.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion%26pagewanted=all