Streetlevel: Lots of Doings on Vanderbilt
We’ve haven’t been on our game in terms of reporting on Vanderbilt Avenue’s retail/food scene, and there’s a lot of catching up to do. First off, there were two new additions to the avenue over the last six months or so: This summer, the nostalgia-tinged ice-cream/coffee joint Old Brooklyn Parlor opened, and a couple months…
We’ve haven’t been on our game in terms of reporting on Vanderbilt Avenue’s retail/food scene, and there’s a lot of catching up to do. First off, there were two new additions to the avenue over the last six months or so: This summer, the nostalgia-tinged ice-cream/coffee joint Old Brooklyn Parlor opened, and a couple months later cocktail bar Barrette joined the party. In terms of coming attractions, there are fliers posted to a storefront between St. Marks and Prospect promising the impending arrival of an organic juice/coffee joint. More exciting, however, is word that the owners of Beast are going to open a new business directly across the street from their original location. The space, which used to be filled by the store HouseBroken, is currently being renovated. Any other Vanderbilt action we’ve missed?
The sky is falling!!! And it’s all AY’s fault!!! Give it a rest will ya’? The louder you people get the more baseless and reactionary your claims become. This IS a city after all. Things change in a city. They always do. They have to.
I’m sure chain stores (AAAGH) might occupy some spots on the avenue, but it’s just silly to assume that they’re going to absorb every last local business. I mean, unless AY can also transplant all of the current residents of the area with Olive Garden-loving people from Paramis I just don’t see a wholesale takeover of this unique area of Brooklyn by generic chains.
never said immune. i understand how capitalism works and, clearly, so do the new businesses that are opening on vanderbilt. of course, if y’all decide not to patronize new local businesses now just because 4 years from now there might be a TGIFridays on the corner, then your doomsday scenario just might come true.
as an aside, if vanderbilt falls prey to AY, so will north 5th Ave. i love 5th ave, but i’m just saying.
5:09 – 444 is right. cities evolve. everyone against AY has the stink of madison square garden, shea , and yankee stadium imbetted in their heads. they obviously havnt left nyc in some time to see how other cities have used new stadiums and mass development to their advantage.phoenix, houston, philly. also- walk around wrigley field. in recent years the hood has turned from eh to incredible. relax hipsters
You clearly didn’t go to any of the Atlantic Yards meetings, 4:44/5:05.
If you think Vanderbilt will be immune from Atlantic Yards area development, you are sadly mistaken.
4:44 here again… ^^how cities can and do evolve when there are active and involved local neighborhoods.
4:44 here. not naive, just have an understanding of how cities can and do evolve when there is. suggest you stop the fearmongering and look around you.
don’t be so naive, 4:44.
it is a known fact that vandy will become a commercial strip for the 16 new highrises that will be built as a part of AY…a hop skip and a jump from there.
that isn’t factoring in the spillover arena commerce space that will certainly be overtaken on vanderbilt.
come on now.
4:35 and 4:38, the sport merch and chain stores will be, if anywhere, in between the most common mass transit portals and the arena. that’s not vbilt – it’s flatbush and atlantic. which is where crappy retail and chain stores are now. i’ll agree that a starbucks is probably inevitable, but not much more than that.
Once AY is built, Vandy will have one of each fastfood chain and a Walmart.
Enjoy the Beast while you can.