PACC is Wack
The future of the Bodegas space on the corner of Clinton and Fulton is of great concern to everyone we know in the neighborhood. Since the restaurant closed at the beginning of the year (in a domino effect caused by money problems and nasty landlords at Liquors), the rumors have been flying. The space is…
The future of the Bodegas space on the corner of Clinton and Fulton is of great concern to everyone we know in the neighborhood. Since the restaurant closed at the beginning of the year (in a domino effect caused by money problems and nasty landlords at Liquors), the rumors have been flying. The space is of particular importance because of its location at the gateway to Clinton Hill on a commercial stretch of road that has been crying out for improvement for years. So it was disbelief that we heard recently that the Pratt Area Community Council (which owns the building) took time out from destroying the aesthetics of the historic neighborhood to turn down an offer from a successful local business owner who wanted to open a wine bar in the space. And for what? PACC told this business owner that it had done a survey that showed residents wanted an Applebees! Yeah, right. This weekend, Clinton Hill Blog reported a rumor that PACC had recently shown the space to North Fork Bank. At least the nabe does need a bank (more than an Applebees), but, geez, turning down someone with a proven track record who wants to put an upscale establishment in this crappy stretch of Fulton? If the organization takes the credit of low-income renters and buyers, surely it can rent to a local business.
Store Rumors [Clinton Hill Blog]
Future of Bodegas & Liquors Thrown Into Question [Brownstoner]
Corner of Clinton and Fulton Up for Grabs [Brooklyn Record]
This is not just about applebees. Most chain restaurants serve, by far, less healthy food than local restaurants at the same price point. Also, you’re fooling yourself if you imagine that Applebees or any other chain is cheaper than Boca Soul or Kush or others along Fulton. I made the awful mistake of dining at applebees last summer after I was marooned by the Q train on an oppressively hot day. I ordered conservatively, but still ended up spending $35 a person, that did not include the extra trip to the pharmacy as a result of the food.
No one is saying that African Americans shouldn’t be able to eat in chain restaurants. However, there are better ways to approach this. If necessary, open one neighborhood like Bedstuy or Bushwick up to chain restaurants. That way, African Americans and others who enjoy that sort of thing will know exactly where they can find it. In the meantime, keep the chains out of the other neighborhoods so that those of us who do not like the chains don’t have to see, hear or smell them. Fair enough?
Forget about blue bloods and snobs and being embarrassed and everybody’s hangups about “being seen”. Give me a break. This isn’t about that. It is about developing the area with good services and supporting local businesses that are decent. First of all, there is some good food over there on Fulton. The Country House Diner makes a good hamburger and Western Omlette. Never ate at Boca Soul. This is actually a serious issue; will we get chains over there which will squash out local entrepreneurs and good local restaurants or will this be chain land? How about a good local Italian restaurant, right THERE!!!! How about a Sylvia’s for Good sake. But no stinkin’ Applebees! Crap food is crap food.
Clinton Hill has always been an AA nabe. Give the people what they want.
Here is the long and short of it. African-Americans like to dine at chain restaurants (e.g.Red Lobster, Outback Steak, Applebee’s, TGIF) because they serve affordable food and tend to be far more welcoming toward people of color perhaps due in part to the wait staff’s ethnicity. Since Clinton Hill is still a black majority community, doesn’t make sense that there is one restaurant to serve the needs of African-Americans? Let’s face it, ain’t many black people eating at Ici.
4 yr old and 8 yr old not really welcome in the “wine” bars. Applebee’s is not primo cuisine, but is certainly kid friendly — something missing in the boutique restaurants (which deserve support by adult diners).
a good supermarket in the ft greene/clinton hill is sorely needed.
A wine bar? Such a niche market. Why can’t boozers just drink at home?
I don’t patronize Applebee’s. But this does sound a bit snobbish Brownstoner and a few anons.
You want more to appeal to your demographic and not something that appeal to a broader one.
Hear you that you wish street had more to offer but Applebee’s in not BurgerKing.
Is it that you’d all be embarrassed if your friends saw one in your neighborhood?