CG'ers Don't Want No Stinkin' Bars
Rumors are swirling that Al’s Grocery, a longtime fixture a the corner of 3rd Street and Hoyt, is about to be replaced by a jazz bar. “Ours is a quiet residential block with a lot of young families recently moved in and far removed from the commercial bustle of Smith Street,” writes one concerned neighbor….
Rumors are swirling that Al’s Grocery, a longtime fixture a the corner of 3rd Street and Hoyt, is about to be replaced by a jazz bar. “Ours is a quiet residential block with a lot of young families recently moved in and far removed from the commercial bustle of Smith Street,” writes one concerned neighbor. “We’re not looking forward drunks sitting on our stoops or pissing in our already-truncated front yards.” Word is that the beer and wine license is a non-issue because it transfers with the lease. Anyone have more deets? GMAP
There exists a similar situation- The Brooklyn Inn on Bergen and Hoyt. Is there anybody out there who lives in that vicinity who can tell us what it’s like to have a bar on your (largely) residential block?
You’re right about for now only rumor – especially when combined with beer/wine license transferring with lease when we know there is no wine license for groceries.
Still many establishments get wavers to open pretending to be one thing and quickly morph to something else.
And to those thinking how wonderful it would be and that complainers should move away —
Would you be so complacent if nail salons, wig shops and fast food franchises were opening up all over your block?
From what I can glean, we are dealing with RUMORS here. I agree that a jazz bar is different from the Gowanus Yacht Club, but what if it isn’t going to be a jazz bar? We don’t even know if it’s going to be a bar in the first place. Let’s establish some facts here before we get our collective underwear up in a bunch.
I just really can’t see how this is about “basic human needs”. Surely many other essentials top that list? If your #1 priority is quiet you can always commute from Long Island or Connecticut or New Jersey. This just isn’t the suburbs and it never will be. Where residences exist beside commercial spaces–we don’t have the same level of choice (that’s the choice we make to live here) If it were a business that genuinely attracted a dangerous element or whose owners had no regard for the neighborhood that would be one thing. But that is hardly ever the case here in Carroll Gardens. These proprietors by and large love it here too.
I don’t think anyone is surprised at the congestion and noise, but that makes it all the more important to have quiet blocks and residential areas. There’s nothing wrong with that. A jazz club could be really great in the neighborhood. They tend to be quieter- people go there for the music.
Some of us have to live in the CIty. SOme of us love it too. But why should be be told we have to give up basic human needs because someone wants a bar? SOmehow there has to be a way of doing both.
Exactly. Some people don’t make any distinctions. These places increase the enjoyment of life for the vast majority of residents. We should consider ourselves lucky that small businesses with vision and taste choose to open here.
I would love to have a quality jazz bar in Brooklyn. The DeKalb analogy is a poor one, as jazz is smooth music, whereas hiphop and club music are naturally louder.
It boggles my mind that someone chooses to live in the largest city in the nation and then appears genuinely surprised that there is noise and congestion. Sell your townhouse/condo/coop and relocate to Wayne county if you want quiet.
12:11—it’s not “anything and everything”–it’s a jazz bar!!!!!
I live on 3rd & Hoyt. It is often fairly deserted at night save the occasional punk squatter from the nearby abandoned building on the Gowanus. Personally, I would feel much safer walking my dog at night if there was a commercial presence–particularly an upscale jazz joint.
And Anon 9:12 am is right–there are a few local complainers with too much time on their hands who are bent on preventing any semblance of progress. This is a thriving, desirable neighborhood due in part to the success of many of the small businesses (especially bars & restaurants) that have sprung up over the last few years–the vast majority of which are not rowdy frat joints but nice, respectful places. Some people just aren’t happy unless they are complaining about something. Get a life. And it’s not the newcomers or the oldtimers–I’ve seen the loudmouths at the CB meetings. Seem to be people who came in the first wave of gentrification and now think they own the neighborhood. They bought their houses for a song and now they are worth a fortune–because of these revitalizing changes!!! I agree–sell and move upstate.