Streetlevel: Skateboards, Flowers and Dry Goods
Like it or not, the border of Crown Heights and Prospect Heights is getting hipper by the day. Last month, it was news of Tracy Westmoreland’s new bar Manhattans at 748 Washington Avenue. Now, courtesy of a reader, comes word of a store called Skateboards, Flowers and Dry Goods at 533 Park Place between Grand…
Like it or not, the border of Crown Heights and Prospect Heights is getting hipper by the day. Last month, it was news of Tracy Westmoreland’s new bar Manhattans at 748 Washington Avenue. Now, courtesy of a reader, comes word of a store called Skateboards, Flowers and Dry Goods at 533 Park Place between Grand and Classon. And don’t forget about the restaurant Abigail which is a couple of blocks away on Classon and the bar Franklin Park which opened a year ago. Anyone been in the store yet? When did it open? GMAP
“At the same time, some of those products would be a bit controversial, no?”
How so?
“happen to frequent skate shops and garden stores. is there something particularly wrong with that?”
Nothing. I never said there was anything “wrong” with a skate shop/flowers/dry goods store. I said the store was of questionable value/necessity. Hair shops and liquor stores have proven their value and necessity, as evidenced by the fact that there are so many.
“take a walk down this block and tell me that having something, anything, functioning in that location isn’t better for the community, whatever (you think) that community is or should be.”
I do walk down the block from time to time. It’s not Park Avenue or even Bleecker Street, but it’s OK to me. And, the community has been there long before the store, so I guess it’s managed to get along. This store might succeed, might not. They took a risk and now it’s up to them to make it a success. That’s business. If the community and its residents find the store useful, I imagine it will work out. I just wouldn’t call this establishment especially valuable or necessary in terms of how I see the community. But that’s just my opinion.
I love Madame C.J. Walker for her entrepreneurial spirit too, but after 18 years of applying those damaging chemicals to my hair, I’m currently transitioning. The chemicals used in relaxers are the same chemicals used in Drain-O.
Glass Shop, on Classon and St John’s, is another great addition.
This new shop is a charming breath of fresh air on an otherwise mundane block. I stopped in there yesterday to check it out, and left with a beautiful McCoy planter. The budding housewares department is populated with lovely vintage pieces, very reasonably priced. I hope they do well, and will be stopping in for flowers as soon as that department goes live! Best of luck!
hey ENY, I’ve read Bundles’ bio of Madame Walker, god bless her for what she was able to create and for her entrepreneurial spirit. At the same time, some of those products would be a bit controversial, no?
oh, and i definitely will stop in next time i’m on my way to chavella’s, the awesome mexican restaurant that is just around the corner!!
and many white people (and, at least where i’m from, asian people and hispanic people and black people too) happen to frequent skate shops and garden stores. is there something particularly wrong with that? check your double-standards, ENY.
take a walk down this block and tell me that having something, anything, functioning in that location isn’t better for the community, whatever (you think) that community is or should be. like i said, good luck to the owner(s?) and congratulations to them for having the guts to take this risk.
This shop is Awesome. The owners have lived on the block for years and have opened a unique shop that serves a wide range of people in the hood.
The local skaters are very lucky to have such a cool shop around, and their parents can pickup some flowers and home/gardening goods as well.