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]
lp nailed it – someone here will question your motives no matter what point you’re making. I do wish we could have less anonymous posting though. Am I the only person who wishes he knew who he was talking to and hearing from? It would be great to weed out some of the trolls and flamers.
OK, now we know we’re not getting an Applebees. Whether we do or not doesn’t change that Fulton Street could do with more retail development. I think the strip could support several businesses that would cater to both (insert preferred euphemisms for white and black, better and worse off, lifers and newcomers, etc.).
Maybe a wine bar isn’t exactly what the neighborhood needs (Brownstoner, sometimes I think you might as well paint a target on your forehead but hey, it is your blog) but everyone would profit from decent, reasonably priced fresh and healthy food. I’d love to see someone take on Met food in the grocery business and how about an all day diner with reasonably priced and tasty food? Choice up on Grand is a breath of fresh air; how about something complimentary? It bugs me when people try to make out asking for fresh and healthy food is a race issue. How about a fresh fish store? A baker? A butcher? A greengrocer? Everyone who lives in southern Clinton Hill would profit from these businesses.
PACC, how about holding some kind of local forum on what the neighborhood needs?
It\’s cool CHP. We knew 7:19 was the troll. No worries.
chp, it was noted, and the convo, as it were, moved on. Chill, babe. We know when it’s you.
I trust I don’t even need to alert everyone to the fact that I did not make the post at 7:19PM. Our troll is back.
At this stage of the discussion, I’m sure absolutely no one cares that my handle was highjacked by some idiot who suggested that chain restaurants should stay in Bed Stuy and Bushwick.
Needless to say, I didn’t make that remark, and whatever I would actually say on the subject has been said by others. Let’s just say that chain restaurants are by definition, national,or at least regional. There are a lot of other people besides minorities eating there, or they wouldn’t be in business. They provide decent, mid priced food to folks who want to eat in a sit down restaurant with real china and silverware, a jump up from other fast food. These places coin money, and have the ability to go where no one else would take a chance, such as Bed Stuy. I’m sure these decisions are based on a cost analysis, and not very much do-gooder altruism. While many here stick their noses in the air, many more enjoy the food they serve, and are happy to have them in the neighborhood. I’ve eaten at many fine “name” restaurants, and I’ve eaten at Applebees.It’s good to be able to have a choice in one’s neighborhood, and if one kind of place draws the other to a neighborhood, then it’s a win-win for everyone.
Why don’t you people give it a rest. If you think that issues of race have no place in this discussion, you’re kidding yourselves. The fact is that, for much of the world, Applebees is a very, very popular place to eat. The fact that some of you would look down your noses at such an establishment doesn’t alter the fact that it is wanted.
And enough with the accusations of ‘race baiting’. Race is involved in this. Don’t deceive yourselves.
LP, excellent point. hey why not drop in a chinese take out? we all know that crud appeals to both rich brownstoner whites AND poor blacks alike…happy happy.
Anon at 5.08 – ignorant bigoted jerks come in all colors – just read the comments on this blog. If you listen to them, you are a racist if you are white and don’t want Applebees because that means you don’t want affordable restaurants for black people; if you want Applebees and argue that it is good for lower income families you are a racist because that is “code” for saying all blacks are the same and only like Applebees and only frequent chain restaurants, not independent restaurants; if you want an independent or higher end place you are racist and/or a white or buppie elitist who doesn’t care about poor people or blacks as a group. Don’t give into the bs on this site. There are jerks all around with an ax to grind that will find fault with whatever you say if they want to.
What happens on this blog is that there are some people who insist on injecting a race baiting element into the simplist of things, like the issue of providing good retail services for a neighborhood. It’s a shame and it is malicious and intended to upset people for fun, not to accomplish anything, — i.e. like assuming some racial dimension to the possibility of a fast food restaurant moving into the neighborhood. Also, the comments about putting fast food restaurants in Bed Sty are troll comments meant to inflame and injure people for fun. It is a shame, but yet brownstoner still exists and does a great job providing a forum for the exchange of information, including the dispelling of rumors. I also now know what PACC is. I still hope we never see an Appelbee’s over there for reasons that have nothing to do with race and everything to do with FOOD.
Peace.