Change in Carroll Gardens Squeezing Little Guy
In an article lamenting the fact that the owner of a local Carroll Gardens pharmacy recently had to sell out to Eckerds because of the economics of gentrification, The Daily News notes a couple of specific changes on the retail landscape of the increasingly popular nabe: The pharmacy in question is slated to become a…
In an article lamenting the fact that the owner of a local Carroll Gardens pharmacy recently had to sell out to Eckerds because of the economics of gentrification, The Daily News notes a couple of specific changes on the retail landscape of the increasingly popular nabe:
“They’re making it very difficult for the small businesses to stay in business,” says the displaced pharmacist. “Everything changes. I guess they call that progress.”
Becoming a Link in a Chain [NY Daily News]
As a relatively new person to the area, I LOVE the mom and pop stores and feel like crying when the chains come in. But it seems like a lot of the places that have changed recently were NOT forced out. Leonardo’s is a case in point. College Bakery as well. Sometimes people are tired of running those businesses and decide to make some money after busting their tushes for decades. The places that are well-run and a good value (like Mazzola, Nino’s, Vinny’s, Caputos, etc) do fine. That said, there was that Postal Place on Court that recently closed where the guy was always yelling and once I went in there and he didn’t have any stamps because “I didn’t have time to get any”. And there are the places that I loved because they had been there forever but you really had to search for something to buy–like Frank’s Department Store. I like the pink stretch slippers i found, though.
I’ve often thought about making constructive critques to small biz owner/operators but dont want to come off like a know it all.
I agree, the Rosemary room is like a ghost town.
I’m always puzzled when restaurants that seem to be doing well or at least have good food and service go out of business. ie: blue star and many others whose names escape me write now.
Please tell me that it isn’t World Pizza that is being replaced by Dunkin Donuts!!!
Has anyone ever tried mentioning their concerns/critiques to the mom and pop stores that they like? For example, I would love to frequent Naidre’s–I like the atmosphere and it’s close–but for a place that takes pride in its coffee, they are mediocre at best. And it’s not the coffee…it’s the people making it. One day, my latte is perfect. The next, it’s warm milk with a dash of bitter. I’ve often thought of leaving a note, but wondered if it would be taken seriously or not. Another example is The Rosemary Room on Smith Street. I’ve never seen anyone in it. And I think it is because their menu is all over the place (not to mention that they offered Jello for $5 as a dessert!) I’d really like to see these (and all) small businesses in the area flourish. Has anyone had an experiences with speaking to shop owner’s that they’d like to share? Or do you think these critiques would fall on deaf ears?
Want to talk about a chain that doesn’t try – Go to RiteAid on Smith.
Hardly any window displays, crumbly lino floors, filthy sidewalks, and half of their illuminated RiteAid letters on sign are burned out.
The notion that the national chain stores “take money out of the city” and send it somewhere else is a stupid and useless argument. Yes – they are bad for the small shop owner, but the national chains often pay more in rent, hire more workers (good for city residents), charge less (good for city shoppers), and distribute the profits to shareholders (many of whom live in the city).
I like the local shops too and will usually go there before a national chain, but apparently not enough people agree with me otherwise these mom and pop shops would not be going out of business.
But these upper middle class nabes (like Cobble Hill) should actually be a haven for small mom and pops –
These “designer clad” newcombers have disposable income are constantly looking to be different (i.e. anti-chains) and the retail spaces generally dont fit the “corporate” mold.
I agree that many of the “exisiting” small shops havent been prepared for this new market, but it isnt ad campaigns and marketing that these small shops need it is a renewed energy to alter their product mix and service to match what is actually a dream demographic (higher rents or not).
I think this is why you often see the “newer”, kids stores, botiques, restaurants, hair salons etc.. do well but the older generation pharmacies, harware stores, and groceries fail.
OK, so I stand corrected. And I’ve lived in CG all my life as well. My grandfather marched in the St. Rosalie feasts at Sacred Heart/St. Stephen’s. Who was your grandfather?
If you take another look at what I posted, you’d realize that I wasnt “scorning” the little guy for their “small town mentality”. I was noting how they are ill equipped to compete with multi billion dollar companies.
Newer small biz owners are more agressive in promoting themselves but thats partly because if they don’t they’ll never meet their expenses (rent).
As for your remark “long before all of you got here” I was born and raised here and my family has lived in this area for about 100 years. My great grandfather owned and operated a small store in the neighborhood until it and his home was torn down to build the BQE.