Eulogies for the Pre-Ikea Red Hook
The Times goes man-on-the-street in Red Hook and finds a wide range of opinions on how this week’s opening of Ikea will affect the neighborhood: -It will change for the worse, said a musician. -German Mendez, who runs a store called the Red Hook Bike Shop, called Ikea a blessing. All these people in the…
The Times goes man-on-the-street in Red Hook and finds a wide range of opinions on how this week’s opening of Ikea will affect the neighborhood:
-It will change for the worse, said a musician.
-German Mendez, who runs a store called the Red Hook Bike Shop, called Ikea a blessing. All these people in the new houses, they don’t like it, he said, as he inspected a customer’s tire. They gave us back the pier, he said, referring to Ikea.
-Now this is Mayberry, said a customer in Mendez’s shop, with a big blue box.
-If it was a Wal-Mart, I’d be protesting, said the owner of a Van Brunt Street wine bar. This could be a really good thing.
-I’m taking a picture before the funeral, said a video artist. In a week from now, the deserted streets won’t be deserted.
And yourself?
Awaiting a Big Blue Box and an Altered World [NY Times]
Big Retailers May Follow Ikea to Red Hook [NY Daily News]
Photo by alphabetjenn.
This will make red hook better for me. I don’t live in red hook, and never would. It’s an industrial area with lots of housing projects and no subway transport. Now I have a fairway and an IKEA, and I will go there to shop for furniture, instead of Hicksville or Elizabeth NJ. Anyone gentrifier who buys in a place that’s zoned for industry and big box stores like this should not be sad when someone builds what’s allowed by the zoning.
It’s not a quiet fishing village, it’s underutilized industrial watefront that the city and businesses should take better advantage of.
“quiet, beautiful, sleepy, wacky fishing village”
yeah thats red hook…exactly how the locals describe it
such a shame that the neighborhood is now clean(er) and safe(er)…that we can enjoy the waterfront promenades…such a shame
Are you comparing Red Hook to a Monet painting? I grew up in Red Hook and have seen some horrific things as I played sports in the fields 20 years ago. Since the parks have been redone, fairway opened, and other recent changes occurred the area is safer then I ever remembered. Is that a bad thing?
actually, there are windows. it’s an unusual step for a big box store.
Not saying it makes it better or worse.
whats that great old stone warehouse in the picture?
only way you get jobs in red hook is retail
jobs, jobs, jobs
only way you get jobs in red hook is retail
jobs, jobs, jobs
I’m curious, are people who are voting that this is for the betterment of Red Hook actually thinking this is in RED HOOK’s best interest? Or are they voting this option simply because they are excited about having an Ikea opening within their borough, and that this opening is in THEIR OWN best interest?
I’m asking this with only the most honest and best intentions. I’m not being facetious, as I think most of you know I was and am vehemently opposed to this and am the mourning the imminent loss of this quiet, beautiful, sleepy, wacky fishing village that felt a bit like Briggadune (sp). I’ve said I think it is akin to a giant garden gnome being plunked down in a Monet landscape. And I was corrected by someone suggesting it is instead a Smurf.
And please don’t lecture about jobs being provided. Of course that is desirable and very important. But right HERE? On the waterfront? In a huge blue, windowless box/warehouse? With current road configurations making anything short of horrendous onslaught of traffic and congestion and pollution all but impossible?
all the newbies who pretend to not like ikea are hypocrites. idiots