Streetlevel: Organic Boom on Cortelyou
The changing demographics in Victorian Flatbush are having a big impact on the neighborhood’s food market scene. On the heels of a new organic market opening on the cornering Cortelyou and Stratford a couple of weeks ago (and the Green Market opening this past weekend) comes the news, via a neighborhood tipster, that the Food…
The changing demographics in Victorian Flatbush are having a big impact on the neighborhood’s food market scene. On the heels of a new organic market opening on the cornering Cortelyou and Stratford a couple of weeks ago (and the Green Market opening this past weekend) comes the news, via a neighborhood tipster, that the Food Co-op will be buying out the Associated on Cortelyou and Marlborough. According to our source, Associated owner Leon Boyer is selling because of all the “damned yuppies.” What’s the impact of this on the folks in the area who can’t afford organic fare? Do they still have other options?
Photo by Kate Leonova for Property Shark
AM Thai opened a 2nd location on Smith?? Honestly, I don’t know how they will survive there. It’s alright, but I don’t find them *that* good. There are already 100 Thai places in that area, it’s insane. I don’t think sushi is at all esoteric. Japanese restaurants serve more than just raw fish. But hey, I’d be happy with a good Vietnamese too. I’d love for Gai Lam (or however it’s spelled) in Sunset Park to open a Gai Lam III here. Their prices are dirt cheap: drinks, huge bowl of pho and split appetizer cost me and a friend a total of $12 each with tip. Sigh. But unlikely they will…
Cha’s at Newkirk Plaza appears to be being replaced by another fruit/veg store.
I think Sushi is still too esoteric to be considered “middle ground”, whereas asian cuisines that aren’t heavy on raw fish have a bigger fan base.
I have repeatedly begged AM Thai to open a place on Cortelyou, but apparently they prefer happening Smith Street.
Not sure why you’d think a sushi place wouldn’t fly but a thai, vietnamese or (good) chinese would… In any case, Kensington has 2 Thai places… a 3rd opening up soon on Beverley and E. 2nd near Church Ave F. I have to order my sushi from a place all the way on Ave. R and E 16th. I can’t believe it, but they do deliver.
Actually, I think a higher end nail salon is very possible on Cortelyou Road. Sushi? Wouldn’t hold your breath, but a decent Thai, Vietnamese or Chinese could fly.
Children’s Place, a gym, and a nail salon? Sorry, but I don’t think any of those will be coming to Cortelyou. Yes, I can see why there would be opposition to those. But they’d be fine on CIA, if you ask me!
I think many people do bring their kids to Picket Fence and The Farm and eat while they also drink. By the way, anyone know why the original Picket Fence owners sold? I hope the new owners do well!
And yes, that Dominguez flower shop is great! I haven’t been in there but I saw someone in another store with a huge beautiful bouquet and asked if they were expensive. They weren’t.. they have extremely good prices for their asian lily stems!
I’d personally like to see a good accessories/gift shop, a sushi restaurant, and.. yes.. a green grocery.
Anyone have the ear of the Flatbush Development Corp? Good to email this thread over to them anyway.
the Keyfood on Foster is putrid, as is every large chain food store in the area. have had bad experiences in each one. all smell awfull and have crap selection. have to go to Fairway like everyone else that doesn’t want foul poultry or flat soda. gourmet shop would be nice too.
and the thought of buying fish anywhere near Newkirk plaza scares the heck out of me.
I feel a few middle of the road chain stores could serve the Cortelyou Road transition well…. Although everytime I mention it I am met with lots of opposition. I have always felt something like a Children’s Place (face it, everyone’s kids need socks and underwear) would cross over socio-economic boundries and meet a variety of neighborhood residents’ needs.
But what do we mean when we say Cortelyou Road needs more stores “that people actually use?” Yes, a middle of the road supermarket would be great. Yes, a greengrocer would be wonderful. A Yoga studio? Lots of people love the idea, but I couldn’t care less. Give me a gym – a real gym – and I don’t care if it’s an inexpensive chain. A bank? Sure. A bar? Not a bad choice, but hard to survive when so many of the residents are parents of young children. Who wants to pay a babysitter to have a drink? Now, if the bar served food, you could bring the little tykes with you for a burger while you sample the local tap.
We have a new flower show, Dominguez, on the corner of Cortelyou and 16th. They have a decent selection of flowers and plants (both cut and rooted).
But again, what are the basics? I would say they vary considerably from person to person, particularly when there is a lot of economic diversity. I think more than anything Cortelyou Road needs change… I, for one, would like a nail salon with massage chairs and foot baths. But hardly a neccessity for most.