Newcomers Find Crown Heights Retail Lacking
North Crown Heights may be luring more affluent buyers with its gorgeous—and recently landmarked—rowhouses, but some of the newbie homeowners think the area’s shopping scene leaves a lot to be desired. According to an article in today’s Sun, as more buyers see the neighborhood as an affordable alternative to Prospect Heights, they’re also anxious to…
North Crown Heights may be luring more affluent buyers with its gorgeous—and recently landmarked—rowhouses, but some of the newbie homeowners think the area’s shopping scene leaves a lot to be desired. According to an article in today’s Sun, as more buyers see the neighborhood as an affordable alternative to Prospect Heights, they’re also anxious to see a retail renaissance on thoroughfares like Nostrand. A Wall Street worker who recently closed on an $870,000 Hampton Place home, for example, says he’s ready to see more restaurants in the ‘hood: “If there was something to patronize, I’d willingly spend money there. I’d like to see more amenities. People have money here. Somebody has to be the pioneer and open up something. It’s just a matter of time.” Think he’s right?
Retailers So Far Fail To Follow Homebuyers to North Crown Heights [Sun]
Photo by ultraclay!.
if all these hoods change to cater to white folk who think they have taste, where wil one get authetic jamaican food???
Thanks Brownstoner- finally you are covering Crown Heights and as you can see there is a lot of interest in the development of the neighborhood.
I fully agree with the previous posters. We are getting our groceries in Park Slope and cook at home or order food from the new restaurants in Prospect Heights.
The local business people in CH are quite stubborn folk and reluctant to change but this will change with the arrival of new residents and restaurants. I will never forget what Prospect Heights looked like back in 2000. There were literally no businesses on Vanderbilt Avenue.
CH is a great neighborhood and its not just all poverty. Wouldn’t you think that even the old residents would prefer to have more options, than buying their morning coffee and bakery goods at the local gas station. Moreover, some of the old businesses attract a certain clientele as a lot of bad people hang out and drink in front of the many run down liquor stores in the hood. As soon as the neighborhood will have taken the next stage of development, these establishments will not be able to renew their leases and be replaced with better stores.
In the meantime lets support the pioneers in the hood. Saje is indeed a great place to have a coffee and listen to live music. The new Indian restaurant on Franklin serves and delivers excellent food and Asian Jazz on Nostrand Avenue has very good Korean food.
I meant to say, if we don’t complain to the supermarkets, they won’t ever change. I did not mean that they won’t change no matter what we do. Believe it or not, they are better than they were even 3 years ago.
this is EXACTLY the reason why crown heights is not worth million dollar homes yet.
anyone who’s paying that much for this neighborhood is overpaying.
period.
I agree with 9:59 and 10:09.
Crown Heights’ street plan is also a factor. Unlike many neighborhoods where the major avenues are commercial, we really only have Nostrand and Kingston, with parts of Bedford, as commercial streets. Since Nostrand and Kingston are so far apart, Nostrand is really the only major viaduct for strong commercial endeavors – it’s in the middle. I know that Community Bd 8, CHNA and other interested parties are lobbying for better services, new businesses, and a BID, it’s up to the landlords, merchants and residents to all try to get together on this one.
I’m told much of Nostrand Ave is owned by a small number of landlords, and that rents are very expensive, which is one reason some of the empty or underutilized storefronts stay empty. I also think there is a wait and see attitude at work – interested parties are all waiting for someone to dive in with more upscale businesses, but no one wants to be the first.
If you walk up Nostrand from Atlantic to Eastern Parkway, there are some incredible commercial buildings here. Amazing terra cotta facades, a couple of bank buildings, and some great Deco buildings. We have the makings of a fine commercial hub. Many of these storefronts house viable commercial businesses that have served the community of Caribbean and other black people for the last 50 years, and they deserve to be there.
As spaces become available, I’d love to see more amenities. We desperately need a couple of coffee shops and casual restaurants – the kind of place where you could get a good omelette and toast on a weekend, or some soup and salad during the week. I think that businesses that can serve all of the community, not just more well heeled newcomers will thrive, if done right. It will happen, it’s just going to take time. In the meantime, those of us who live here need to make a concerted effort to support the local businesses that have survived and thrived over the years – places like Barbara’s Flowers, Garvey’s Hardware, Al’s Hardware, and newer establishments like Tavern on Nostrand. If we go to management of the supermarkets and tell them we’re not shopping there until they clean up better, instead of merely going elsewhere, so they stay status quo, we won’t get anywhere.
It’s hard making changes, and it takes time, effort and dedication to the community. Many people aren’t used to having to do this, or don’t have the time, or want to take the time, to be very proactive. But this is what must be done.
Those in the community who could always do better, just left and shopped elsewhere. That left those who couldn’t, and businesses, both good and bad, serve that market. Some people were too poor or beat down to complain, others stole what wasn’t nailed down and gave all of us a bad rep. Some complained, but got nowhere. Some store owners embraced the community, some have nothing but fear or contempt for it. Some stocked goods they showed with pride, others gave us any old crap they could. We have the power of the purse. All of us – old and new, richer, poorer, can help shape our commercial hub. But please note – it is going to take time.
The comments about current businesses failing to “keep up with the times” are spot on. It’s annoying to see a store that continues to stock malt liquor, Dipsey Doodles, Uncle Jessie’s peanuts, and the Daily News turn around and ask for sympathy when they inevitably fold.
I saw this happen to about a dozen businesses when I lived in Fort Greene. As a resident of Prospect Heights, I see it happening all over again. The post yesterday about Mooney’s provides a good example.
The only housing project in CHN is Albany Projects and that’s on the outskirts of CHN. Compared to other areas that’s not bad. Most gentrified areas have more than one project within a 10 block radius. I purchased in CHN in 06 and I believe that with time we will also reap the rewards of local businesses that cater to more than nails and hair. I think the nail salons on Nostrand are bit excessive.
10:38 small business loans are not difficult to obtain and have not really been impacted by the mortgage issues; additionally the failure of smaller merchants to adapt has nothing to do with the current climate – just look at all the previously gentrified areas that preceded North Crown Heights.
The simple fact is that virtually any retail business owner should welcome the addition of wealthier people and more development in their immediate vicinity even if that comes with higher rents.
10:35
im sure it changed, but it took time, didn’t it?
and also, i suspect many people moved from FG and Clinton Hill to CHeights…After a certain point they run out of options to disappear to