Brooklyn Heights has never felt so fresh.

Just in time for the holidays, the bustling Brooklyn Heights intersection of Clark and Henry is about to smell a whole lot better, thanks to local soap makers Ross Caudill and his fiancé Joanna Maltese. Named after the famed intersection, Clark & Henry recently opened as an online shop with aspirations of retail success selling soap and household objects in Brooklyn Heights.

Their work is collaborative and the soap is a product of love. Both have a background in and passion for creation, Joanna is knowledgable in design and Ross is a multi-discipline artist. Yet at the onset of their soap-making project, neither really understood soap as a product. After months of research, reading, seminars, and experiments, they have honed the process of soap creation and are now packaging soap by hand in their Henry Street apartment.

Over email, Ross detailed the fascinating process:

A solution of sodium hydroxide is prepared separately. At the precise point when this is the same temperature as the oils they must be quickly mixed together to begin the chemical reaction which creates soap. After much blending, the exfoliants and essential oils are added. Finally the batch is cast into the molds. All of the components in the recipe are purposeful and curated for the attributes they bring to the final product. The fragrance is derived from the essential oils. The scrubbiness from the natural exfoliants has to be just right. The soap’s lather must be bubbly and creamy and cleansing, but also leave the skin feeling conditioned.

Joanna peels and prepares local cucumbers as Ross carefully tweaks the chemistry. Together they grind the exfoliant and prepare the casts. The result is a product and a business that avoids the potential pitfalls of artisnal pretense, yet remains charming and sincerely local.

Clark & Henry as an enterprise was in no small part inspired by the couple’s fondness of the neighborhood. Joanna smiles as she recalls returning to Brooklyn Heights after a brief stint in Park Slope, and how the couple’s product is created by hand with a ‘neighbors first’ attitude. “We wanted to make something to make our neighbors smile,” she told me over coffee at Vineapple.

Already considering creating a line of chairs, if the soap is successful the two would like to expand their product offering to include useful household items.

“We always feel a sense of accomplishment when we finish casting a batch of soap,” said Ross, explaining why they chose to start a business in Brooklyn Heights. Regardless of the success of Clark & Henry as a business, Ross and Joanna will continue to craft creative products in Brooklyn Heights for years to come.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/64254

When we think “spa day” we think Karl Junkersfeld. Okay we don’t, so it’s extra special that our man with a cam was courageous enough to visit the new Sephora in Downtown Brooklyn and file this video report.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/63598

According to Lois Weiss’s “Between the Bricks” column in the New York Post, cosmetics retailer Sephora will be the anchor tenant in the retail space being developed in the Brooklyn Municipal Building at the southeast corner of Court and Joralemon streets. Weiss quotes Albert Laboz of United American Land, the developer of the site, as saying, “It looks like we are turning this into a power center for women’s fashion tenants.” The only other tenant mentioned as having leased space at the location is YogaWorks, but Weiss reports that “discussions are also underway with other women’s fashion tenants.”

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/60450

Yoga pants monger Lululemon opened Friday (6/14) at 166 Smith Street. Folks on the Twitter seemed excited about the store as well as snacks (from purveyors such as Ted and Honey and Van Leeuwen) available at the celebration.

So, whaddya think? Here are a few tweets to ponder:

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8833

Sure Lululemon may have just lost its CEO, sending its stock plummeting as we speak but come this Friday (6/14) Cobble Hill will be blessed with one of its stores at the spanking new 166 Smith Street. Have no fear, those transparent yoga pants are so totally not available anymore.

Here’s the full rundown from their Facebook page:

FRIDAY:

Complimentary coffee, ice cream and pastries from Brooklyn-based Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream (first come, first served)

Candle light Yoga from 8:30-9:30PM with Mala Yoga instructor and past showroom ambassador Daniella Rosales- Friedman.

SATURDAY:

Complimentary juice and smoothies from Green Pirate Juice Truck (first come, first served)

Run Club from 9-10AM. 3-4 miler to Brooklyn Bridge Park with Brooklyn triathlete coach Mike Olzinski.

SUNDAY:

Complimentary Kombucha Brooklyn (first come, first served)

Sunday morning yoga from 9-10AM with store ambassador, Prana Power Yoga and Prema Yoga instructor Be Shakti. Featuring live music!

Celebration for Father’s Day! 1-3PM demo with Columbia Street CrossFit owner and coach Nate and complimentary pizza from South Brooklyn Pizza.

**We will also be giving away passes for lucky guests to “experience the neighborhood.”

Experience the neighborhood? Hmmm…

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8775

Among improvements to the grocery post-Sandy—which decimated the 52,000sf waterfront store with 5 feet of water—are wider aisles, no dead ends in produce, entire store is easier to navigate, bakery is three times larger, a new cafe with enhanced offerings, meat & seafood easier to shop and a self-serve meat aisle across from the butcher counter.

In addition, a new expanded bulk section now comprises 198 items, including granola, nuts & seeds, grains & beans, natural candy and more.

The store was packed all weekend, here’s the Tale of the Tweets from opening day onward:

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/55734

Downtown Brooklyn’s Shake Shake inarguably changed the face & fortunes of the once-sagging Fulton Mall, convincing many Heights residents to cross Court Street for the first time in years (decades?). Since its December 2011 opening, the burger joint has led to a renaissance, bringing the likes of Starbucks, Brooklyn Industries, H&M, Century 21, Gap, Seattle’s Best, TJ Maxx, Raymour & Flannigan… and on and on…

Union Square Hospitality Group has confirmed a second Shake Shack in Brooklyn this fall at 170 Flatbush Avenue, across from the 18,200-seat Barclays Center, which BHB first tipped in September.

Grub Street reports that the chain is expanding this year in London and Istanbul, and may be coming to the Upper West Side, in addition to Manhattan locations in Madison Square Park and Midtown.

In a press release, Shack Shack acclaims its “modern day roadside” burger stand known for all-natural burgers, flat-top dogs, frozen custard, beer, wine and more.” CEO Randy Garutti says, “Our second Brooklyn location will be directly across from the Barclays Center and plant us firmly within walking distance of several neighborhoods from Park Slope to Fort Greene. New York City is our hometown, and the Shack will be the place where New Yorkers can come together to celebrate the best of Brooklyn’s thriving culture, sports and entertainment.” (Photo: Brownstoner)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/55254

The beloved Leske’s Scandinavian Bakery in Bay Ridge will be opening a second location in Park Slope, at 588 5th Avenue, a space last occupied by Sweet Treasures Bakery. Leske’s has been a Brooklyn institution since 1961, and has 5,700+ Facebook followers, reports the South Slope News.

The bakery is renowned for traditional Scandinavian baking, Danish, B&W cookies and Brooklyn blackout cakes. According to its Facebook page, the South Slope location will open before Valentine’s Day. (Photo: South Slope News)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8177

Results are in from the Montague Street Business Improvement District‘s May 2012 Survey regarding local programs and services, asking the likes of: What business would you like to see on Montague Street? What do you shop for on Montague? What are the most important services? Nearly 450 folks responded to the online questionnaire, comprising Brooklyn Heights residents (79%), visitors (9%) and property owners (8%).

No overwhelming gasps to be had, but the results include:
* What do you shop for on Montague Street: dining and bars (84%), groceries (83%), apparel and accessories (62%). Among the top retail types desired: bookstores; Mexican, Middle Eastern, French & Greek restaurants; housewares; gift shops; and a fish & meat market.
* Specific retailers requested for Montague Street: Gap (hmm, guess respondents didn’t recognize there was a Montague Street Gap in the 1990s), Anthropologie, J.Crew.

How is the Montague Street BID doing? 76% strongly approve or approve; 23% had no opinion and a grumpy 1% gave it a thumbs down.
* Impact of clean streets program: 74% excellent or good, 16% not familiar with the program, 10% fair, <1% poor.
* Impact of Beautification & Streetscape Enhancements Program (landscaping, banners, tree maintenance, seasonal decorations): 84% excellent or good; 8% fair, 7% not familiar, <1% poor.
* Importance of BID Programs, ranked by “very important”: 95%, Clean Streets program, 80%, Beautification & Streetscape Enhancements; 71%, Retail Development; 27%, Marketing, Communications & Special Events programs.

The BID encompasses 78 to 200 Montague Street on the south side of the block, and 89 to 205 Montague Street on the north side of the block.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/53137

Donald Rattner, founder of MODULE R—which opened a year ago at 141 Atlantic Avenue—is profiled in the latest issue of Brooklyn’s The L Magazine. Writer Kristin Iversen offers, “How can we exert some control over our spaces in the absence of oneiric home renovation? Enter MODULE R, a high-concept, modern design store.”

The upscale boutique, dedicated to “modular, reconfigurable and customizable design,” was launched by architect Rattner, who was inspired to open the store after he was commissioned to design 30 identical modular prefabricated hotel cottages for an historic spa resort in West Virginia. He says, “This got me interested not only in modularity, but in any kind of creative product or system that accommodates reconfigurability, co-creativity and flexible design. When I discovered that no one in the design, retail or gallery sectors had thought to specialize in this body of work, I figured it was my duty to rectify the situation.”

L says that Rattner, who our Heather Quinlan profiled in 2010, feels the store benefits from “the architects, graphic designers and members of the creative class” who live in the area.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/52927

Sad news: One of the stalwarts of Montague Street has closed its doors after a robust 24 years. On November 30, St. Mark’s Comics at 148 Montague, which opened the satellite outlet in 1988, called it quits. A staffer told BHB today that it’s a familiar story along Brooklyn Heights’ primary retail corridor: a marked hike in rent. St. Mark’s Comics continues in its original location in Manhattan at 11 St. Marks Place. (Photo: Flickr/Pijus)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/52402

This was the scene in Hilles Hall, Plymouth Church yesterday (Saturday) afternoon, as people kept coming in and lining up for the buffet of open faced sandwiches (as always, I particularly liked the briny little shrimp with mayonnaise and lettuce, although the country style pate with sweet pickled beets was also excellent). Carlsberg lager was a perfect accompaniment, and afterward there were apple fritters and pastry. (More photos and text after the jump.)

During our lunch Irene (left) and Julie conducted a lively auction of Danish goods to raise money for the Danish Seamen’s Church.

Having eaten our fill, we walked over to the Danish Seamen’s Church at 102 Willow Street (just south of Clark) to see what was on sale. Julemanden, the Danish Santa, was on the front steps to greet us. Inside, many shoppers were looking at Christmas ornaments, toys, clogs, candy, cookies, and assorted delicacies. The line for food and beverage service in the back garden extended well into the church, so I resolved to return today (Sunday) for my glogg. The fair will be open today, at the Danish Seamen’s Church only, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/51964

Silhouette artist Deborah O’Connor will be at the Brooklyn Women’s Exchange, 55 Pierrepont Street (between Henry and Hicks) this Wednesday, November 14 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Thursday and Friday, November 15 and 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Her silhouette portraits of children or pets are priced at $35 each, with up to three duplicates available for $15 each. Framing is available in several options, from a simple mat for $10 to a black classic oval frame that can hold up to four silhouettes for $65.

To make an appointment, please call 718-624-3435.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/51808

Despite its prime location in Brooklyn Heights, it appears the former location of Starbucks at 112 Montague Street isn’t going to lease itself by way of osmosis. The coffee store relocated to 134 Montague Street toward the beginning of May, almost six months ago.

Over the past week, signage appeared on the locale’s window from realty broker Massey Knakal, offering the entirety of the two-story building for a 10-year lease, with “all uses considered.” The listing details 2,500sq on the ground floor and 2,000sf on both the second level and basement, adding: “Prime retail space in the much sought-after corridor of Montague Street… filled with a rich mix of national and local retailers; providing great food, shopping and community connections.” See flyer here. (CT)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/51454

The Chocolate Room in Cobble Hill and Park Slope will be donating 20% of its sales to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City to benefit the hurricane relief effort this Wednesday, November 7th. This includes locations in Park Slope (86 Fifth Ave between St. Marks Pl and Warren St) and Cobble Hill (269 Court St between Butler St and Douglass St) as well as its online store. The stores are open from noon to 11 p.m. on Wednesday. More info is here. Or you may contact owners Naomi Josepher and Jon Payson at 718-246-2600.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8010

Grocery stores in Brooklyn Heights were restocking perishable items as of Friday morning, as trucks began making their way back to the neighborhood at 7 a.m. Key Food management at 102 Montague Street told BHB early this morning that fresh fruits, milk, bread and meat are returning to the shelves, with night crews working overtime to stock. The biggest challenge, he said, remains trucks being able to find gas to deliver groceries to the neighborhood. For the time being, the store’s hours remain 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Atlantic Avenue’s Key Food was also fairly well stocked Thursday night, although those same perishable items remained AWOL. Ditto for Trader Joe’s, where the lines were—for once—almost non-existent. A stop by Garden of Eden at 180 Montague Friday morning reveals a similar situation. We haven’t made it to Gristedes yet. (CT)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/51018

The Brooklyn Heights Association is circulating a poll on behalf of the Atlantic Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), asking area residents about the kind of businesses Atlantic Avenue needs “to be an even better neighborhood shopping street. The BID aims to bring in new businesses that will further enhance the mix of retail and variety of stores available in the community.”

Based on your feedback, Atlantic Avenue’s BID “will seek out the best possible tenants to fill vacant storefronts on the Avenue.” The online survey is here. In addition, a new website has been launched with updates on the avenue’s growing business and retail scene. Also follow on Facebook and Twitter. (Photo: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49343

THe latest tenant to join Downtown Brooklyn’s gargantuan City Point mixed-use project along Fulton Street Mall is A/X Armani Exchange. Brownstoner reports that Acadia Realty Trust and developer Washington Square Partners brokered the deal for the designer clothing retailer. It will open in November at Fulton and Albee Square, followed by the previously announced Century 21 in 2015. (Photo: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49038

In a piece about Mom and Pop stores in our fine borough, the New York Times gives prominent placement to Brooklyn Heights’ own Holler and Squall:

NYT: GILLETTE AND ZAK WING vividly remember the day in 2009 when they were walking down Atlantic Avenue on the cusp of Brooklyn Heights, peering into an abandoned store front and casually fantasizing about opening an antiques business. A local real estate agent was walking by and noticed the couple. “He basically said, ‘You want it? It’s yours.’ ” Mrs. Wing said.

Three years and two babies later, they are now the proprietors of Holler & Squall, a meticulously edited furniture and oddities shop capitalizing on the neighborhood’s old-is-cutting-edge aesthetic (the store’s name is from a Jimmy Martin bluegrass song).

Mr. and Mrs. Wing are part of a new generation of mom and pops that has thrived in regentrified Brooklyn, doling out attainable indulgences (freshly baked vegan cookies, American-made chinos, really good cheese) to customers who prefer to know their proprietors by name. On the surface, these “co-preneurials” seem to be living a new American dream.

Photo of Gillette, Zak and Paul Wing in 2011 by Julie Kanfer.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/48439

It was more than a year ago that neighborhood institution Sahadi’s petitioned to expand the gourmet & Middle Eastern food market at 187 Atlantic Avenue. Good things come to those who wait: Sahadi’s will close from September 17-23, as it begins an extensive expansion that will tie in three storefronts. Read more on the Brooklyn Heights blog here.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7829

Reminder: This Sunday, September 9th, the Montague Street BID launches its annual Summer Space, with a fun-filled day of freebies. Brooklyn Heights’ main thoroughfare will be closed to traffic and re-imagined as a pedestrian oasis from noon to 5 p.m., as restaurants expand outdoor seating, retailers offer special promotions and services, and hundreds of tables and chairs line Montague Street.

The day includes opera by The Martha Cardona Theater; AfroBrazilian Samba Reggae by Batala New York City, an all women’s drumming band; Muzik by DJ Ricardo Campos; and dances by the Brooklyn Ballet’s Company and Youth Ensemble. Free outdoor yoga and Zumba classes will convene, as well as chess tables, craft-making demonstrations; and for the kids, a photo booth, scavenger hunt, hula-hoops and chalk drawing.

Summer Space will also take place on Sunday, September 23, featuring the Brooklyn Heights Association’s Third Annual Dog Show, from 1-3 p.m. (More here).

For the full rundown on Summer Space, take a look here.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/47180

The ever-entertaining end-of-summer Atlantic Antic—which brings madness, music and playful mayhem to a 10-block stretch of Atlantic Avenue, bordering Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill—will convene Sunday, September 30, noon to 6 p.m.

Sponsored by the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation, it offers 500+ retailers and pop-up shops pawning goodies, food, dancing, family fun and more, between Hicks Street & Fourth Avenue. Read all about it on the Brooklyn Heights Blog here.
(Photos: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7801

The ever-entertaining end-of-summer Atlantic Antic—which brings madness, music and playful mayhem to a 10-block stretch of Atlantic Avenue, bordering Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill—will convene Sunday, September 30, noon to 6 p.m. Sponsored by the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation (AALDC), it offers 500+ retailers and pop-up shops pawning goodies, food, dancing, family fun and more, between Hicks & Fourth Avenue.

The 38th-annual Atlantic Antic is “much more than your average street festival,” organizers say. “The longstanding and well-loved celebration of a myriad of cultures crosses several historic neighborhoods and brings together a wide array of sights and sounds. The Antic is an exhilarating experience for the whole family.” Imagine: belly dancers, falafel, family sing-alongs and Homer & Mrs. Fink in their Brooklyn Bugle booth, all in a single setting.

This year’s theme is “Have it All on Atlantic: From the Waterfront to the Arena.” AALDC President Christian Haag declares, “In a year where Atlantic Avenue has grown exponentially, I am happy to say the Atlantic Antic has, too. Come again or for the first time and see why this is New York City’s greatest street fair.” For more about the Atlantic Antic, including directions and parking information, see here. The event will be held rain or shine (Photos: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46989

When The New York Times pens a story on the revitalization of Downtown Brooklyn’s Fulton Mall, it heralds a watermark moment: sort of like, if the Times sniffs it as a reality, the revival has got to have credence. Its August 28 piece announced “National Retailers Discover a Brooklyn Mall.” Mind you—to toot our own horn—the Brooklyn Heights Blog has been heralding the Mall’s shift from low-budget chains to national retailers month by month, and more recently, week after week, for the past year.

The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership’s $300 million public improvements initiative to remake the once-flailing shopping mecca got the ball rolling at the beginning of the decade after 30 years of neglect, with newly paved streets and traffic patterns, wider sidewalks, new streetlights and bus terminals. Much credit also has to go to Shake Shack, whose opening in December 2011 was perhaps the landmark launch of a chain willing to take a chance on the promise of Fulton Mall.

And just look at it now. This year alone, the 17-block walkway has welcomed (or soon will): Gap Factory Outlet, Brooklyn Industries, Starbucks, Raymour & Flanigan, Victoria’s Secret, Express, Armani Exchange, Nordstrom Rack, H&M, TJ Maxx, Aeropostale, Seattle’s Best, Century 21 and the mammoth City Point’s 1.6 million square foot retail, commercial and residential project, due for completion in 2018. Add to that the development of Willoughby Square Park. Albee Square abutting City Point, new restaurants along Adams Street and the coming of the Downtown Tech Triangle… So are you paying attention Apple?

Meanwhile, the ink keeps on flowing about Downtown Brooklyn’s rejuvenation. Racked posted a piece, “National Chains Are Still Racing to Open on Fulton Street,” which discusses Raymour & Flanigan furniture store’s 28,000 sf lease for the second floor of 490 Fulton Street, scheduled to open in February and notes an undisclosed developer that’s close to signing a 45,000sf lease with a major apparel retailer.

In addition, The Real Deal wrote about “How Fulton Street is attracting national retailers,” pointing out that Century 21 is the first department store to open in the neighborhood in some 50 years. The Daily News noted the area’s revolution, “long home to neon-lit sneaker shops, hot dog stands and cell phone stores” to its reincarnation as “state-of-the-art Brooklyn, complete with skyscraping condo towers and flowery landscaping along Flatbush Ave. Extension.” Curbed remarked, “Fulton Street Mall Gets Popular,” while The New York Observer profiled Michael Weiss, CEO of Express, which opened a new outlet in August at 490 Fulton Street. Even AP alerted its press members about the in-the-works story. And let’s not forget one of the primary reasons for the area’s boom: a revolution in Downtown highrise housing.

BHB minions, we are indeed eyewitnesses to a truly historic urban revival—just steps away from our homes in Brooklyn Heights—which is destined to forever change the texture of the neighborhood… literally week by week. Hey, who needs Manhattan, anyway?

(Photos: Downtown Brooklyn Partnership/Century 21 rendering by Cook + Fox Architects via WSJ)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46864

The Brooklyn Heights Housing Works at 122 Montague Street will host its “Best Of Fall” sales event Saturday, September 8, from noon to 8 p.m., offering the thrift’s best selection of fashion, furniture, artwork, books and accessories. The annual affair takes place at 12 of the shop’s New York locations, from August 30 through September 25, and includes a window auction featuring designs from Bungalow 5, Dennis Miller Associates, M2L, Naula, High Falls Mercantile, Niedermaier and Ziering Interiors.

Clearance prices are be in effect at Housing Works in the days leading up to “Best of Fall,” while the shop will be closed Friday, September 7, in preparation for the event. Supporter members ($480+) are allowed entry at 11 a.m., and Advocate Members ($120+) at 11:30 a.m., with general admission at noon.

Housing Works’ mission is to raise funds for and awareness of AIDS; the highest number of reported cases in New York City are in Brooklyn. In 2005, its corporate headquarters relocated to Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Heights store opened in January 2007.

(Photo: BHB/Sarah Portlock)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46855

Following a June mandate to vacate its Downtown Brooklyn digs as the burgeoning mixed-use City Point project begins a new phase of development, urban foodie & retail oasis Dekalb Market was intending to scout out a new space for the holiday season. But it looks like we can fuhgeddaboudit. The Brooklyn Paper reports that the space—which opened last year at Flatbush and Willoughby Avenues—will not reopen this year after it shutters on September 30.

According to Adam Zucker, a spokesman for Urban Space, the firm that runs the shipping container bazaar, it is continuing to seek out the right site for the collective: “Look, we are a 60-container market and there are not that many available spaces that are the right fit in terms of size, location, and long-term status. Long story short is we need to find the right new location.”

That, however, has a number of the small business owners that populated Dekalb Market up in arms. They say they’re now stuck without a place to peddle their wares this fall and winter because Urban Space broke their leases to make room for development on the Downtown lot, then failed to find a new site for the market. The company previously promised to “move and reopen in the space of a few weeks” when it announced it would vacate the current market to make way for City Point development, which will include a Century 21 and potentially Brooklyn’s tallest building, Brooklyn Paper says.

Vendors are griping about plenty more. Read the full story in Brooklyn Paper here.
(Photo: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46623

One after another… The big boom continues in Downtown Brooklyn, with yet another national retailer signing on to set up digs on Fulton Mall’s 17-block stretch from Boerum Place to Flatbush Avenue. Furniture chain Raymour & Flanigan will occupy a robust 28,000 square feet on the second floor at 490 Fulton Street.

As BHB readers well know, Raymour & Flanigan joins upcoming Century 21, H&M, T.J. Maxx, which are now under construction in the neighborhood; alongside the recently opened Gap Factory Outlet, Áeropostale, Starbucks, Brooklyn Industries, Seattle’s Best and Express. And around the corner on Adams Street, Potbelly just joined the burgeoning “Restaurant Row,” which will soon encompass Panera Bread, Chipotle, Sugar and Plumm, and American BBQ and Beer.

Scott Milnamow, a senior VP of real estate development at Raymour & Flanigan, told the New York Times that this will be the largest furniture store in Downtown Brooklyn. “We looked at a number of different neighborhoods, but felt like other national retailers are going to Fulton Street, and we wanted to be a part of that tenant mix.” The store is scheduled to open in February.

The Times says that Armani Exchange, Victoria’s Secret and Nordstrom Rack have also been sniffing around Downtown Brooklyn. “I’ve been doing deals on this street for 20 years, and only recently are we starting to see a real shift toward national retailers,” noted Barry Fishbach, an EVP at RKF.

The Times offers an overall look at Downtown Brooklyn’s rejuvenation, in an article titled “National Retailers Discover a Brooklyn Mall” here. While NYT is coming late to the party in discovering what BHB readers have been reading for months regarding Fulton Mall’s rejuvenation, the story does offer interesting details about the anatomy of retailer deals.

(Photo: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46569

A shiny new Express store at 490 Fulton Street along Fulton Mall has opened in the rapidly gentrifying Downtown Brooklyn shopping destination. Michael Weiss, CEO of the men’s and women’s clothier and a Brooklyn native, was present for the festive “block party” opening last Wednesday. He tells the New York Observer that he began his career as a management trainee and associate buyer right along the corridor, at former Fulton Mall department store Abraham & Strauss, now the home of Macy’s.

Express occupies 10,000 square feet in a building that was originally also going to house a 40,000-square-foot Filene’s Basement/Syms hybrid, before the chain went bust. Still planned: dorms on the upper floors for Long Island University students.

Express joins the recent coming of Starbucks, Brooklyn Industries, Gap Factory Outlet on Fulton Mall, and future retailers H&M and Century 21, with new tenants being announced seemingly every month.

The Observer reports that Weiss grew up in Fort Greene. He recalls Fulton Mall in the late 1960s and early 1970s: “It was just the greatest place to be. So much activity. So much action. Brooklyn was it,” that is, before Brooklyn, along with the rest of the city, began its precipitous decline into bankruptcy and decay. “It was very different than it is today. It was very optimistic. Brooklyn was quite a place in those years. It was a place of expectation and aspiration. It was solidly middle class, everyone sort of felt like they had a shot if they worked hard,” he adds.

Weiss says he always believed Fulton Mall would gentrify: “I knew that street had to be rejuvenated at some point. The big question was when a company could afford to get into the place and make it work. You don’t want to be too early, and you don’t want to be late. I really think now is the time.”

The new Downtown Express store unveils a new interiors concept, designed by Japanese architect Masamichi Katayama of the firm Wonderwall: “We want to elevate the retail experience for national stores, really take it somewhere new,” Weiss tells the Observer. “The whole art, bohemian community, has added to the fashion profile, the creative fashion profile of the borough. They’re not high-fashion dressers, they’re creative dressers.”

(Photo: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46142

Streetwear sneaker brand and skate shoes retailer Supra has leased a shop at 288 Atlantic Avenue near Smith Street in Boerum Hill, according to real estate firm CPEX, which rented the space. Brownstoner reports that the store The Southern Cali-based company also has a store at 4 Prince Street in SoHo. The store flanks nearby Lululemon Athletica, Brooklyn Industries, Brooklyn Tattoo and Brooklyn Heights Bike Shoppe.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7758