The History/Mystery of the Hot Bird Sign
We’ve always been curious about the Hot Bird signs on Atlantic Avenue, those broad, bright yellow proclamations that “New York’s best bar-b-q” is a few blocks behind you, or just around the corner. Well, the New York Times dug into their history this weekend, revealing this much: the Hot Bird restaurants closed in the 90s,…
We’ve always been curious about the Hot Bird signs on Atlantic Avenue, those broad, bright yellow proclamations that “New York’s best bar-b-q” is a few blocks behind you, or just around the corner. Well, the New York Times dug into their history this weekend, revealing this much: the Hot Bird restaurants closed in the 90s, or went “the way of the dodo, according to Robert Perris, the district manager of Community Board 2. Though new businesses have opened in the former Hot Bird spots, most have chosen not to replace the signs—they are now part of the landscape, a mural representing an older Brooklyn.
On Teasing Walls, Traces of Roasters Past [NY Times]
Photo by krooooop
Hot Bird began around 1987-88. I’m not sure how long it lasted, but it was very popular for a while and had a very active marketing campaign. But even more memorable than the Hot Bird walls were the Hot Bird delivery cars with their chicken on top of the roof. These cars were seen all over.
I guess my mind is in the gutter but when I read, ” Hot Bird” all I can think of is Benny Hill. “Bird” is UK slang for a sexy woman.
Sex trumps food, yet again.
There was a Hot Bird on Montague. It was in one of the upstairs commercial spaces between Clinton and Henry. The chicken was awesome but I think the whole thing was felled by some major health code issues. If memory serves there was a salmonella issue. Also, they used to pay high school kids to dress up in a chicken suit and hand out menus.
I’m pretty sure there used to be a Hot Bird on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. Wherever it was, my mom used to order from there for dinner a lot, and it was good.
I used to stop there on the drive home from work. Their barbequed chickens were far better than the hard, meatless, tasteless ones most other places sell.
There’s a great one in CHN on Nostrand and Dean (I think) of a beautiful Black woman and the caption : You do not smile. It’s an old ad for a neighborhood dentist.
has anybody ever managed to find anyone who actually ate at Hot Bird? i’m surprised young woodward & bernsteins of the Times weren’t even able to find any actual patrons. or the owner? i love the signs, but i also love all the really old ad murals; can these be landmarked?
My friends and I used to order from Hot Bird all the time…they were great. As 7th or 8th graders at the time, we found the name kinda funny for some reason…can’t quite remember the reason at present…but this post has brought back great memories.
I love that sign.