The Tea Lounge Bids Adieu
Signs have been posted for weeks that the 7th Avenue location of Tea Lounge is closing due to a hefty rent increase, but latte sippers got a shock yesterday morning when a new sign went up: Thursday, July 24 was the cafe’s last day of business—not even a ceramic mug was left on the shelves….
Signs have been posted for weeks that the 7th Avenue location of Tea Lounge is closing due to a hefty rent increase, but latte sippers got a shock yesterday morning when a new sign went up: Thursday, July 24 was the cafe’s last day of business—not even a ceramic mug was left on the shelves. A rumor circulated that a Vietnamese sandwich shop might be taking root there, though Tea Lounge workers intimated the deal fell through. Anybody know what’ll go in the space next?
Two Down in Park Slope [Brownstoner]
Background photo by kansasliberal
Biff…been to Peaches a few times. Food is pretty good. Service is very friendly and only a little spotty given that its really their first full week and it was literally packed last night.
We are trying to get some brownstoner posters there next Wednesday. Anyone wanting to come email me and i’ll organize all of us… bklynsocialclub@yahoo.com
MM and a few others have alreadty responded
Hey bxgrl. Where’s your friend moving to?
I believe the estimated rent posted above was for 7th Ave, not Smith St., although it’s probably comparable.
Not just in Brooklyn- this is the same story in Manhattan where thousands of small businesses are driven out (and jobs lost), especially in the big condo boom. Im helping my friend move her historic garment center business that’s been around for over 100 years because their building was sold and is going to be torn down for- you guessed it- condos. And talk about waste- the building is beautiful with wonderful neo-gothic detail and could be gut-reno’ed but they’re going to tear it down and put up an ugly POS instead that won’t be built with near the quality construction this building has.
FYI- her rent was around 12,000, so the Smith St. rent quoted above is a real shocker.
Dave, did you make it to Peaches the other night? How was it?
Thanks 11217 et.al. I appreciate the recommendations. I’ll definitely try Nicky’s. It sounds like there’s one close to me.
Can any of you econ gurus help me out with a theory I’ve heard?
Supposedly, vacant stores actually -help- landlords during tough economic times. Whats the reason behind this?
There are storefronts all over Brooklyn that have been vacant for not just months but -years-. I’ve heard most landlords just won’t budge on high rents. I understand tenacity and stubbornness but is there more behind it?
Imagine how many people out there who have the desire to open a small business and can’t afford it because of the rents.
ALL of these storefronts sitting empty all over this borough, all these people with great ideas for little shops and the one thing standing in the way are these greedy landlords.
It’s frustrating.
So many jobs could be created in this city, so many more diverse businesses flourishing. All it would take is for some of these guys to quit it with their inflated rents to make up for their tiny d*cks.
If there was huge demand at these prices, I could understand it. That would make sense in a free market. But to walk up 7th Avenue and see the same storefronts sitting there with for rent signs for years on end is just depressing.
11217…the same thing is true in Bed Stuy. There are four vacant storefronts on Lewis Ave a block up from Peaches. They are all in decrepit shape ranging from burned out to just plain awful. All are in need of floors, ceilings, walls, new electric service, etc. They remain vacant because renovations to bring them up to habitable condition are $75-120,000. No business is going to take on that capital risk given the current potential for sales in the area.
And, the rent expectations are too high ($2,400 per month +/-). These rents would be cheap in any other part of Brooklyn but Bed Stuy doesn’t have the foot traffic all day like other parts do.
The Nicky’s in Boerum Hill is just as good as the original. Their Banh Mi w/chicken is very tasty.