Blimpie, Dunkin' Donuts To Mar Lafayette
We hear that the boom in Fort Greene is attracting more than genteel brownstone residents. One concerned homeowner on South Elliott Place has tipped us off to a rumor that her historic block is about to get whacked by a nasty fast food one-two punch. Two shops on opposite corners of Lafayette and South Elliott…
We hear that the boom in Fort Greene is attracting more than genteel brownstone residents. One concerned homeowner on South Elliott Place has tipped us off to a rumor that her historic block is about to get whacked by a nasty fast food one-two punch. Two shops on opposite corners of Lafayette and South Elliott are in the process of changing hands. According to a workman on site, a Blimpie is going into the Triangular Floor space (top) and a 24-hour Dunkin’ Donuts is taking over the former bodega (bottom). We hope the workman was just having a little fun at a nosy neighbor’s expense. It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that we think that this stretch of Lafayette needs fast food restaurants like a hole in the head. We bet that the owners of the upscale restaurant Gia across the street agree.
I have to admit that I would be against a preponderance of these types of places in any neighborhood let alone one such as Fort Greene.
However, what strikes me here is the amount of self interest naysayers often have in these situations. The whole debate over Atlantic Yards (granted, Ratner’s plans are of course scandalous) is similar but on a much larger scale. In both cases, the ones no doubt complaining the loudest are those whose nice 2 million dollar homes are being affected.
Let’s have some impartiality for a change………
I don’t really see how Blimpies and Dunkin Donuts are consistent with non-gentrification, except by being ugly. These franchises certainly would have had no interest in the neighborhood fifteen, or even ten, years ago. They’re a byproduct of gentrification, and as such, gentrifiers such as ourselves ARE allowed to say that we don’t like them, and to try to combat them. It’s one thing to try and change things that already exist in the neighborhood you move into, like bodegas where people hang out outside and are a nuisance. That’s what you signed up for when you moved there. But not being able to raise your voice against an outside chain that destroys the character of the neighborhood? That’s absurd. Don’t be too genteel.
Blimpies sells panini sandwiches and Dunkin Donuts sells muffins. But I guess because they aren’t marked up 75% then they’re obviously a sign of the apocalypse.
regarding “I just believe that retail stores should be in context with the surrounding neighborhood.” Jeez, it’s a million dollar brownstone that would have been considered ‘out of context’ here just a few years ago. Why should a franchissee be any less able to take advantage of the real estate boom than a homeowner? As one of my friends in Vermont used to say about people complaining about development “everyone wants to be the last one in.”
La Bagel De Light is a great chain. I drive to the slope for their bagels. They have been woring their way down 7th avenue. Lafayette is a natural step for them.
At least Dunkin and Blimpie are unlikely to open
some backyard garden that ‘nice’ restaurants and ‘martini bars’ like to do – that affluent customers love- but are quite noisy to those on residential sidestreets whose apts. get all the echo noise of tipsy yuppies.
I agree ther should be no fast food in historic district period.
Problem is that corner of S Eliot and Lafaette is not in historic district
http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/pdfs/historic/ft_greene.pdf
Also, another building was sold directly next to the yellow bodega. Its going to be a “La Bagel Delight”.
pls excuse my bad grammar and spelling mistakes, I guess I got a little heated over the subject.