Fulton Mall Appears To Be Bucking Retail Downturn
Biking through the Fulton Mall this week we were struck by how unaffected it appeared to be by the recession and broader downturn in the retail environment. We obviously don’t have any numbers on sales trends at any of the stores, but we were impressed by the fact that there was only one small store…
Biking through the Fulton Mall this week we were struck by how unaffected it appeared to be by the recession and broader downturn in the retail environment. We obviously don’t have any numbers on sales trends at any of the stores, but we were impressed by the fact that there was only one small store that was empty and only one other For Rent sign on the entire seven-block stretch. This is in marked contrast to the scene on Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues and, well, almost everywhere.
benson, I think sam means in the sense of down-to-earth, not not pretentious. I never found Fulton St to be anything but lively and a great place to find bargains.I wouldn’t call it upscale for sure, but threadbare it’s not.
I’m sure it was much more elegant at one time (I love seeing the Schrafft’s on the side of the – I think its the drugstore now? It must have been beautiful. But nothing is as elegant as it once was, and women don’t put on white gloves just to go out anymore. I think sam’s description was spot on, really, and don’t forget he was replying to a really obnoxious remark. So if I were going to take anyone to task for hyperbole it would be heck of a brownie.
What amazes me is how the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership can call this area “underused.” It’s one of the liveliest shopping districts in the city. The very fact that it’s weathering this economy proves its relevance.
Bloomberg and Doctoroff are systematically attempting to wipe out anything that serves lower income classes. Did anyone see the screening of FUREE’s documentary on this subject the other night in Fort Greene? I missed it.
Sam;
One more point regarding a factual issue. You are incorrect when you state that Fulton St.has been a down-home marketplace for over 100 years. In fact, at one time Fulton St. was an elegant shopping street. I have home movies of my mom taking me there, decked out in white gloves and all, and she was just part of the scene there.
Sam;
OK, I’ll be the curmudgeon on this one. I fail to see what is “authentic” about the Fulton Mall. If folks want to shop there, that is fine. However, to me, it’s no different than a few other threadbare shopping streets in NYC. I think folks on Brownstoner like to praise “mom and “pop” places, and I can understand it to a degree. Note, however, that there exists in NYC some “cheap” merchants who, in my opinion, could not care a wit about their community, and Fulton St. has a fair share of them. I’ll just point out one such type of merchant: VIM, which seems to be all over the place in this city. They are neither a mom-and-pop place, nor a national store. They are VIM, a cheap NYC chain. What is so authentic about that?
Biff, The gizzard comment was awfully good. pithy in that cryptic sort of way. I could no more outdo that than one of The What’s megalomaniacal tirades. His whole problem is that he doesn’t wish to see Black Brooklyn turn White. Brownstoner is of course world headquarters for the White “reconquest”. And our friend Dave is the personification of that phenomenon. It never changes. It’s always the same thing. That’s why I have stopped reading his posts. Altho to be fair, I seldom read posts much longer than this one from anyone.
I am slightly attention deficient that way.
Bye now.
sam, I smell a QOTD (or is that scent a gizzard?)
I finally agree with you Sam!!!!!!
marry me, sam! Great post!
In a bad eczema a gizzard can never have too many wildebeests or cement.