The Future of the Fulton Mall
With the street repaving complete and many of the other pieces of the $15 million Fulton Mall streetscape improvement plan finished or in process, the New York Times takes a moment to ponder the future of the five-block retail stretch in Downtown Brooklyn. Once a hub for department stores like Abraham & Straus, the Fulton…
With the street repaving complete and many of the other pieces of the $15 million Fulton Mall streetscape improvement plan finished or in process, the New York Times takes a moment to ponder the future of the five-block retail stretch in Downtown Brooklyn. Once a hub for department stores like Abraham & Straus, the Fulton Mall transformed into a destination for working-class shoppers in the latter half of the 20th century. Now a combination of a tough economy and an effort by the city to broaden the area’s retail appeal is resulting in some of the long-time mom-and-pop stores being replaced by mid-tier chains like Aeropostale and, soon, H&M. You’re going to see a whole new Fulton Street in the next 12 months, said Isaac S. Chera, whose family has been a major property owner on the mall for decades. How new and how upscale? Is Hermès coming to the Fulton Mall? Probably not, said Downtown Brooklyn Partnership head Joe Chan. The sweet spot is affordable, accessible retailers that can cater to the entire borough and that will bring added cachet to Downtown Brooklyn.
An Eclectic Shopping Hub Wonders What’s Next [NY Times]
I agree with mcKenzie – its a bit of a pit, though I find some charm there as well. Macy’s is my go-to location for basics, and its simply convenient and cheep vs. the crappy offerings from american apparel stores. I’m not crazy about the small electronics shops, and the gamespot store is the messiest, dirtiest disaster – compare it to the other location just a few blocks away on court street and you’ll see what I mean. The area is more likely a mess due to low profits rather than the “racism” others suggest – if any chain was raking in major profits at these locations they would keep the stores looking better – its more likely a reflection of the strip falling out of sync with the needs of the people, of whatever race or creed or financial standing. We just don’t need 5 cell phone stores, no one needs them lining the block. Same with DVD outlets. It has potential if some big retailers showed up, but I wonder – that Barney’s CoOp looks like a mistake given the low traffic I’ve seen in the shop. We need slow, positive growth – not an influx of ritzy shops.
using terms like “working class” and “middle class” is meaningless. It obscures the real issue, which is that Fulton Mall is a pit. I don’t care if you make lots of money or not so much, a pit is a pit. Bad service is bad service, sleazy stores are sleazy stores.
Macy’s keeps saying they are going to paint their facade, fix up the garage and the like. Waiting……
The only way to make these merchants treat their clients better is to force them to – by not patronizing their stores and restaurants. I totally agree with Snappy’s assessment of Macy’s and yet its patrons treat that atmosphere as normal. Each time I find myself there I am amazed that no-one is complaining about the atmosphere, lack of sales help, etc. As long as customers keep coming, what incentive do they have to change? Perhaps habitual patrons of these establishements don’t mind the conditions.
That Macy’s is nothing but a swapmeet. Clothes on the floor, can’t find a salesperson to save your life…don’t know why people continue to shop there.
Totally agree, Ringo. You would never find a Macy’s like the one in Fulton mall in Suburbia. Same for Target and Pathmark.
can’t they outsource the OT posting?
I sometimes think the only problem with Fulton Mall is that it appeals to the “working class” if that’s how the Times wants to put it. Sure, it’s a tough economy, but as the article points out, it’s one of the most crowded shopping areas in the CITY and rents are soaring (highest rent psf in brooklyn, right?). There are almost no empty storefronts and there are lots and lots of mom and pops on the main drag and the side streets. Where is the problem? Walk down to Montague and I’ll show you a problem…
The only complaint about Fulton Mall is the racism shown by the chains. Macys has awful service and puts no money in that store. None. All the fast food joints are filthy. They are pulling down cash, but it’s okay to treat the “working class” like crap. That is a story IMO
“9:47 and no OT!!!!”
This is preposterous! I guess I should email Emily. Again.
Maybe when their were five departments stores there is was middle and upper, but really most of its history the area has been working and middle class shoppers only thing that changed was ethnicity IMO
Way more is happening that the articles note – the real phone stores have come – ATT, Sprint, Bank of America, Shake Shake coming, major retail for Citypoint Gap Outlet missed the Aero site, they may be back Chera, Laboz, Jemal families making it happen
The street is changing slowly for the better, better for the shoppers how about asking what the shoppers want?
plenty of boutique clothing on smith, fulton fort greene, court and dumbo, Slope, Lewis Avenue, this is a ‘Mall’ by the way, i love it as i shop for hip hop t-shirts for my nephews 10 to 15 bucks each love it