The Borough of Mom and Pop Shops
Don’t let the big-boxification of Red Hook, the Starbucks-like growth of Dunkin’ Donuts or the slew of chain shops in our neighborhoods fool you: Mom and Pop stores still reign supreme in Brooklyn, reports the Daily News. They find a pharmacy in Dyker Heights, a Bed-Stuy bookshop and a Cobble Hill hardware store surviving both…
Don’t let the big-boxification of Red Hook, the Starbucks-like growth of Dunkin’ Donuts or the slew of chain shops in our neighborhoods fool you: Mom and Pop stores still reign supreme in Brooklyn, reports the Daily News. They find a pharmacy in Dyker Heights, a Bed-Stuy bookshop and a Cobble Hill hardware store surviving both the mallification of Brooklyn and the rocky economy. These are places where the owners know their patrons’ names and real customer service exists (you know, there’s an actual informed human to assist you). One thing we’ve seen is that a major chain can rapidly force nearby commercial rents to increase, as recently happened with the Flatbush Target. Will these Mom and Pops survive as more big guys make their way to Brooklyn?
Brooklyn Loves Its Mom and Pop Shops [NY Daily News]
Photo by bitchcakesny.
I love crest, they’ll sell you an ounce of nails in a paper bag. And the old wacky guy behind the counter at the back knows everything.
One big box store does not make “big boxification.” Anyone who thinks that Ikea was the tipping point towards the “big-boxification” of Red Hook is greatly underestimating the resistance the next big-box will face trying to find their way in.
Speaking of mom and pop stores.
Pitchnik is pissing off alot of people on flatbush ave.
That is indeed Crest on Metropolitan. Great store, a true Mom and Pop.
Bowles is half-right: changing stock to reflect what people actually want to buy is a good thing, but sometimes those “old signs” are a positive–many people respond to them as “mom and pops” because of the classic signs and make a point to go in and support their local businesses.
And Tony’s is on Smith Street near Wycoff.
Isn’t that the hardware store on Metropolitan in the burg?
Hooray for Brownstone Books! That place is a treasure.
“I dread it when I can’t find what I need in the local hardware store and I have to go to Home Depot”
This doesn’t happen all that often. I’ve found that good hardware stores are generally much better stocked with the sort of esoteric items I need than HD or Lowes.
Maybe the financial crisis will make rents cheaper for mom-and-pops. Of course, if no one has any disposable income left, it won’t really matter, will it!