Streetlevel: Elly's Going Korean
Elly’s, the smalltown grocery store that’s been a fixture on the corner of Clermont and Dekalb Avenues for more than four decades, is about to get a makeover and some fresh blood. According to the personal blog of Observer scribe Doree Shafrir, the couple that has run the place for, like, forever says they’re handing…
Elly’s, the smalltown grocery store that’s been a fixture on the corner of Clermont and Dekalb Avenues for more than four decades, is about to get a makeover and some fresh blood. According to the personal blog of Observer scribe Doree Shafrir, the couple that has run the place for, like, forever says they’re handing over the reins to “some Korean people.” The store will close next week for renovations. Good news or not?
My Prayers, Answered [The Doree Chronicles] GMAP
I miss Fort Greene. I liked Elly even though some of the snarky “real” NYers up top wouldn’t consider me a NYer. Whatever. I like Ralph too (Lafayette and S. Portland). The neighborhood has changed drastically even in the past two years. It’s far less friendly than it was when I moved there and even before then, when I used to visit friends there. I live in Boston now. It sux. Oh well, at least I had a moment of semi-happy times. Many never even get that.
Winston and Elly were the very best part of Fort Greene. The last few persons to post here summed up how I felt about them. Once I scolded Winston for not taking time off now and then, and he looked shocked: “Yes, but the people need us.”
That’s the way they thought.
They will be missed by anyone who was here before it was Yuppie Villa.
I do not appreciate the negative comments posted on here. Clearly you with the negative comment are clearly new to the neighborhood and do not know the old owners. Elly the owner passed away about three years ago and as someone stated on here, her husband who worked along side her for the past four decades made the difficult decision to keep the business open.
Before Elly’s passing, the store was open 7 days a week from 7AM to 11PM. However, It was that schedule and loyalty that they gave to their customers that basically enslaved them in a sense, and made it nearly impossible to take time to go to doctors making them neglect their health and well being; or even have time for what we “the customers” get to do on a regular basis like: visit family, go out to dinner or a show, or take little vacations.
I understand a customers needs, but as convenient as it may be for “you” it is only understandble that since Elly passed away, a realization took place for him. And with the encouragement of concerned friends, costumers and family he came to understand that it is okay to need time off to relax and attend to ones health without feeling guilty about not being open for the customers.
I also happen to know for a fact that had you put in a simple request for a particular product, they would have put in an order, because at Elly’s the owners have always catered to the needs of their customers and adapted exceptionally well with the changes of the neighborhood and requests along the way.
It is a sad thing that some customers are too selfish and snobbish to have appreciated their dedication throughout the years. I can say that I am sorry to see them go, however am glad that they are finally going to get their opportunity to enjoy all that most people get to enjoy regularly that they rarely if ever have gotten to enjoy doing.
All the best and thanks for the memories.
01/23 4:12
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for taking the time to write that post! It sums up my families experiences with Elly and Winston, bringing tears to my eyes as I remember living in the apartment just above he store for many years. We rented that apartment in Ft. Greene at below market rate with no realtor. I walked in told her another tenant referred us to her- and in the most un-business like fashion- she told me to come back after 1:00. She had a hair appt.
I did. She rented us the apt. asking my toddler “Do you want to come live with Elly?” “Yes, my kid said with out hesitation and Elly decreed that the bedroom with the window was to be her room! And guess- what it was! Every birthday she slipped me 50 for the kid; when we came down, she sent ice-cream or a pop for the kid; she gave the last needed words of encouragement as I considered not going through with the purchasing of the home we now own in BedStuy; She told me that all would be fine when we spoke to her about the tight timing & money for the closing and when our lease was up. “We we will deal with it week by week, but go get your house baby. Don’t let nothing an no one get in your way!” That was five years ago – not a long time.
For the residents of the new Ft. Greene – Every community needs people like Elly & Winston in order to keep its humanity. And yes it comes at a cost – mostly things that we CAN live without. The new owners may: stock better, have fresher produce, stock the gourmet items that keep us from lugging them home from the city, and have predictable and user friendly business hrs. However, I question whether they will ever bring to Ft. Greene what Elly and Winston provided: the love of your neighbors, compassion, and true committment to the people of Ft. Greene, behaving in a way that preserved the humanity of a community.
ELLY’s open it’s door back in 1966, Her husband Winston joined her shortly after coming back home from the war. In 1972 times were ruff and safety was a concern for them.They took down all the front and built a solid wall with just two small windows. Walls covered with small stones, and a beach mural was painted over the stones. I remember they open every day 7:00 am till 11:00 p.m.. seven days a week. they spent every holiday in the store.Christmas-New years-Easter-Birthdays-family reunions,you name it, they were there in health or sickness, They were both devoted to their costumers. Imagine Elly behind the counter and Winston working the floor, for so many years.Bearly seeing the light of day,devoting their life to the community of Fort Green. sometimes they would stand by the door to get a peak outside and some fresh air. Were they happy ? YES ! They love each other so, so much, and they were together, doing what made them happy, being part of a community they loved. After so many years working behind that solid wall. Winston decided it was time for a change . It was time to give this community something back, a change for the better. In 2002 they began the renovation of the store. everything was taken down. The front was restored to it’s original Antique looks. They had a reopening store celebration ( food-cake-wine- refreshments ,ext.you name it they had it ) it was one of the coldest day of the year, But that didn’t stop the community of Fort Green .They knew how much Elly’s market meant to them and how much it meant for Elly and Winston, everyone came. It was like a family reunion. Elly’s and winston dream had finely come true. Their dream market for the community a better place better produce/better merchandice. On July 21 2004, Elly and Winston were awarded with (THE BUILDING BROOKLYN AWARDS ) (RETAIL AWARD) for renovating the store to it’s original archetype. IT WAS A DREAM COME TURE. Not only for them, but for all who in some way or another were part of their lifes, family-friend-neighbors-costumer or just a tourest passing buy. this was a renovation that would start the transformation of this community…
After a long Sunday day at work,Winston and Elly closed that evening and went home. Elly wasn’t feeling well. winston,ask her if she would like to see a doctor, ELLY being the devoted worker insisted she would feel better in the morning, Unfortunaty that was not the case. After spending several weeks in the hopital, the beautiful,Sweet ELLy, that greeted everyone with a ( HELLO BABY/GOODBY BABY ) the blond lady standing behind the counter that everyone had come to love, lefted us to never come back.It was October 5, 2004. Oh yes Her death was felt by all those who knew her. But no one. I mean NO ONE felt her death more then her loving husband Winston. They were together for over 45 years, and 38 of those years were spent working as a teem together in good and or bad times. Winston was heart broken, It was like his life had come to an end.
After several weeks with the store closed. Winston decided to open, he knew that even thus he was in pain, He had a responsability with the community. He tried so hard. but the pain of loosing his darling wife was too much. Family members come to help Winston. They tried very hard. But it would never be the same.
In the few last years most of the community came to like the new lady behind the counter ( Mirian ) she like Elly, greeted people with a Hi sweetheart / or Have a good day sweetheart. That was nice .She also help encourage people to stop smoking. She also change some rules , like putting up signs, yes, but that was only for the better being of the costumers and the produce. Like the one she put up asking costumer to please not squeez the avocados they are ready, that made some costumers angry,other would smile, and think it was funny, but let me tell you one thing those were the best avocados in Fort Green. And sure she insisted on the store being closed at least one day (Mondays) But she only did this for Winston. She knew it was time for Winston to take it a bit of time to rest. And sure there were days that out of the blues the store would be close sometimes a few hours other times days, but hasn’t it occurd to some of you that if it was close there was a very good reason.( like health/ Doctor app ) Errans to run. As it not ocurred to some of you that maybe that why Winston decided it was time for someone else to run the store becouse they were just tier of not having the energy to keep up with the store. you see Winston believes that no one runs a business, like it’s owner.
SO please remember that Elly was not just any market, It was our Coner community market,where you went and not only shop, but share family stories, or niegberhood stories, where you could come in with a sad face and they would notice ( especialy Mirian) and she would say (what wrong ? And belive me you would leave feeling better. where you could come in with a cold one day, and a few days later come in again and the lady behind the counter would say. Hi, are you feeling better today ? or how are the kids./or wife or husband ? I want to thank them for all the years they devoted to our community. And I want to ask you all if you just happen to see them walking down the street. just take a minute and greet them. Say hi and a thank you to them. I know it wasn’t easy for Winston to let go of the store that was a big part of his life. AND thank Mirian for helping Winston I don’t think he could had made it without Mirian. After Ellys death. Hopefuly the new owners will run a better market. so please welcome them.
Elly was loved by all. It was people like her that kept Fort Greene a wonderful place to live. Snarky newbies are right. That was the 20th Century. Fort Green has changed so much…
“It was a very interesting time.”
aahh..it was the best of times
What does “going Korean” mean? If the new owner happens to be a Jew, could we say the the Elly is “going Jewish”…”going Black”…”going White” etc…not very subtle at all Mr.B.
Hey, I remember the music too. Fort Greene park was like Washington Square Park in the early 80’s. I remember coming home from my first job as a bike messenger. The benches along dekalb ave outside the park would be filled with friends and local residents hanging out. A small crowd did not represent apparent danger. I don’t remember the police showing up to stop the music from playing. My neighbor, who lived like a hermit and all the kids were afraid of him, would recite poetry while the drummers played in the background. It was a very interesting time.