It looks like lovely vintage boutique Blue Bass Vintage has closed (Classon at DeKalb). Their website is still operating, although the header and footer are filled with random ads.
The store opened back in 2006 and I had made a few key purchases here. Sad to see them go.
Sapolo (Spanish and Chinese food) on Myrtle closed down recently, but rumor has it that they're reopening. What gives?
Sunday morning I walked over to Choice to enjoy my favorite weekend indulgence- a chocolate croissant while walking the dog. While there, I wondered how Choice Atlantic was faring. I had almost forgotten about stumbling across it earlier this year with glee. So, I headed down to Atlantic, only to find it was closed! A quick blog search found notice of the closure on Eater and Brownstoner mentioned as being "temporary" back in late August - early September. Not so good for an outpost that just opened up earlier this year.
Despite things looking up for Atlantic Avenue in the last few years, it seems to have petered out. Frank White claimed to have just moved just down the street, but I can never seem to find it when I drive by. And remember that fresh fruit shop on Atlantic back in 2008? That came and went like lightening.
A tipster recently emailed me to ask what happened to Embora, the yoga-dance studio on Fulton near Washington. Sure enough, it is closed. The sign is still up, but the interior is empty. No explanation, no nothing. Embora moved to the neighborhood around the same time I did, coming up on six years. Their website is still up, but their phone number has been "temporarily disconnected."
A comment on Yelp from September 15 laments their closure. Wish they had something up on their site!
Anyone know any specifics?
A week or so ago, a reader notified me that Fish and Crustaceans on Fulton had been shut down. Sure enough, this is what I saw when I walked by:
Anyone have anything good or bad to say about the food?
CHB will miss you both!
Little House on Clinton, the tasty chicken-and-waffle joint on Clinton north of Myrtle, has been closed for months. It always looked busy during the after-lunch timeslot, and the service was friendly and welcoming. So what happened? Was this another casualty to the economy? Back to Mike's Coffee Shop for my chicken and waffle fix.
Little House originally reviewed on CHB here.
This just in the ol' inbox: Hi Clinton Hill Blog! I think that Epoca Restaurant may have closed? Am I losing my mind or (gulp) right? Let me know if you have any info.
I passed by on Sunday afternoon during prime brunch time, only to find the gate down. The website is also down, but I couldn't find anything online about the place closing down.
Anyone have info?
Terrible news! I received a tip that the Atlantic Avenue space that housed Frank White has a For Rent sign in the window. The tipster said that the place had been cleared out, except for the wallpaper.
I haven't had time to go look for myself or snap a pic, but I'm very saddened by this news. The space was gorgeous and unique, and I had no idea they were having troubles.
Anyone have anything further??
Two local businesses have recently shut their doors. Urban Spring, the tasty but pricy all-natural smoothie and snack joint on DeKalb near the park is no more (via The Local). Their smoothies were tasty and I really respected their environmental friendliness (cups made out of corn), but man was it expensive! I only ever went a handful of times, because I could just never really justify buying a small juice for $6. (A commenter suggests hitting up Karrot on Myrtle near Clinton for a still-not-cheap-but-more-affordable organic juice.)
Up on Myrtle, the well-loved Cafe Martino has shut its doors (via Brownstoner). I heard mostly lovely things about them over the years, but also that the owners were a bit disorganized. I'm sure they'll be missed.
Is it The Economy? Or just the regular business cycle in the big city? I'm fond of the phrase, "The only thing constant is change."
In more positive news, three new businesses are slated to open on Myrtle (via Myrtle Minutes):
Green In Bklyn (432 Myrtle) is a one-stop green home goods store opening on Earth Day, April 22nd. The store, according to its owner, Ellisa Olin will provide eco-friendly solutions for daily living. Products available will be everything from light bulbs to cleaning supplies to bed linens to recycled paper towels to baby diapers and baby bottles—all eco-friendly, of course. Ellisa has a long work history as a performing artist and caterer. Green living has long been an important part of her life and she is looking forward to sharing that passion with the neighborhood. Ellisa lives on the border of Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill and is excited that she can walk to work and “loves the opportunity to make a difference where I live.” Ellisa’s business plan for Green In Bklyn was a top winner in the 2008 Brooklyn Public Library’s Power Up Business Plan Competition. [Ed. I'm pretty excited about this, both for the plethora of offerings and the fact that Ellisa is a local. Also cool that another Power Up winner has chosen to open a business in the neighborhood. Last year's winner, Jessica Stockton Bagnulo, has been working on opening an indie book store in Fort Greene.) Health First Medical Supply (322 Myrtle Avenue) is the business endeavor of owners – fiancés, Emmanuel Alada and Denise Hudson. Having worked in the medical supply business for 7 years prior, Emmanuel began to learn and love the business and thought, why not bring such a business to his own neighborhood. Health First Medical provides home medical equipment: power and manual wheelchairs, hospital beds, bathroom safety equipment and diabetic products, amongst other offerings. Though they are awaiting additional inventory, they are officially open for business. Walk-ins are welcome. They can be reached at 718.596.6204.
Metro PCS (518 Myrtle Avenue) is a new cellular phone business, next door to Blockbuster and the post office. According to a Crain's NY article published two weeks ago, Dallas-based Metro PCS Communications Inc. was "the surprise winner in a 2006 auction of $3.6 billion worth of licenses covering the New York area." The company’s network covers 10 million customers in the New York metropolitan area, including the five boroughs and portions of Bergen, Hudson, Union and Essex counties in New Jersey. Though we have tried to reach out to the owners, including calls to the company’s Dallas-based headquarters, the only update comes from someone waiting inside the store for a delivery a week or two ago, “we thought we would be open by now; we are expecting to have our doors open possibly any day now.”
Just received a message that Tessan Boutique, at DeKalb and Clinton, will be closing. It's very sad news, as Aissatou is such a delightful shopkeeper and curator. However, running a business is not easy, and I respect her desire to destress.
Good Afternoon,
It was a difficult decision to make but it is official: Tessan Boutique's last day of business will be this coming Sunday, January 11, 2009. I would like to take this opportunity to thank customers, friends, family, neighbors, local businesses, bloggers and all who came and patronized Tessan Boutique. It was an amazing and rewarding experience. Please join us for Tessan Boutique's farewell party on Sunday, January 11, 2009 from 4pm to 6pm.
I was surprised to hear that the polarizing L'epicerie (either you loved it or you hated it) on Vanderbilt near DeKalb closed! A friend and neighbor who knows the owner of the space said he's curious to know what we'd like to see there. (He's thinking a restaurant-type place open from 8am-1am -- maybe a new Grand 275-type joint?) This is a rare opportunity to have a say, so leave your requests here! I'll have my friend direct the owner here for suggestions.
I only went in once to get a sandwich, years ago. I did hear that they started serving delicious dinners, but I never went in to try.
A few commenters beat me to mentioning the fro-yo on Fulton. Houseowax says it was pricey and overly sweet. After a frustrating day at work the other day, I took the express train home and walked from DeKalb. I came across two interesting things: 1. The delicious but bizarre restaurant New Orleans seems to have closed! Based on the service I had there last winter, I'm amazed it stayed open this long.
2. Looks like Fort Greene is about to be home to a chi-chi fro-yo shop. I hope it tastes just like Eks at half the price. (just past Lafayette)
Took this sad shot a week or so ago. BUT -- I have two reports from readers that the sign now says it will be home to Luigi's Pizza. An offshoot or relocation for the pizza place on DeKalb near Pratt? Or a different Luigi?
(formerly 275 Grand)
I have received word from TWO different sources that Grand 275 (located at 275 Grands, obvs) is closing. Fear not -- it doesn't seem to be an issue with poor business or rent increases, but more that the owners are ready to do something new (hopefully in the same space?).
Apparently these last few nights have been packed. The final night of operation will be Friday. Get your drink on, one last time, at this super comfortable, friendly spot.
Head Over Heels Cafe was long the bane of my existence. I'd call them and they were open, but when I'd go by (I tried at least five times), there was no sign of them -- no open storefront, no signage, nothing. Finally, it seems they've thrown in the towel:
(525 DeKalb Ave at Skillman)
I really do try to patronize as many local places as possible, and even when a new business is full of problems, I try to point out the positive.
But let this be a lesson! If you say you open at X am, then BE OPEN at X am. And certainly be open two hours AFTER X am.
June's storefront has already been given a coat of primer, and the wooden sign has been scratched at. Is something in the works already?
It IS a pretty deep retail space. Possibly book store material, no?
I took the above photo on one of the few days J+J Cafe (Fulton nr Waverly) was actually open. Yes, I was inside! And I bought a croissant and a coffee! The staff was nice, but the space was a bit shoddy.
Not that it matters now, as it closed down as soon as they put up their official sign...
I'd say until that skinny building is finished, there's little use opening anything in that space. It's almost completely invisible!
Back in December, hey mama told us that Gourmet Kitchen's days were numbered (Myrtle at Vanderbilt). Looks like the end is finally near:
Thirty years on Myrtle Ave, and just a few days left. The original rumor was that a high-end grocery store would be moving in. Any more gossip out there?
Looks like the "looks-from-the-outside-but-not-on-the-inside" florist/garden shop on Fulton near St. James Place has closed. It always looked so cute from the street, but the inside simply had a few plants and a selection of mylar balloons. I'll keep an eye on what might be happening. Maybe a good florist will open there? (please?????)
Clinton Hill Blog published from 2006 - 2010. Please enjoy these archives - a love letter to the neighborhood.
