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Most of your have read about the new home of the Brooklyn Flea, 1000 Dean Street.
What you may not be aware of is the associated food court and beer garden to be located nearby, at 899 - 917 Bergen St. It will be named "Smorgasborg"
It will seat up to 250 people..... beer, wine and hard liquor lic was supported by CB8.
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Smorgasbergen
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Those who like commercial activity, are going to love Western CH in 2015.
Say goodbye to the local junk yards, auto repair places and bus depots: Serious investment is arriving.
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Thank god I don't live on that block anymore.
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These folks are not playing around:
The five occupants of the new food hall, scheduled to open toward the end of the year, will be drawn from the network of smart, business-savvy food vendors that Brooklyn Flea has nurtured. Becoming a member of Demby and Butler’s club isn’t easy. “There’s an intense curation process you go through before you’re invited to be a vendor,” says Danny Lyu, who launched his Mexican sandwich stand Cemitas at Smorgasburg, the sprawling food markets Brooklyn Flea operates in the Williamsburg and Dumbo neighborhoods from April to November. “They want to know who you are, what your idea is, and then you have to cook for them before they’ll ever let you in.”Butler is especially tough. “We’re not looking for the pitch, ‘I make great cookies,’?” he says. “We want, ‘I found a market for these cookies, and this is what my logo looks like, and this is what my brand is.’?”
Source: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-02-21/goldman-sachs-backs-brooklyn-fleas-new-food-market
Echo: http://m.ny.eater.com/archives/2013/02/brooklyn_flea_1.php
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OpossumQueen said:
I thought this belonged here. Link to article.From the link:
Turns out those plans to join up with Whole Foods Bowery were just the beginning: The Times says Eric Demby and Brownstoner founder Jonathan Butler, the guys behind Smorgasburg, are ready to take the Artisanal Brooklyn movement corporate.In addition to extending their Whole Foods partnership to upcoming stores in Gowanus and Williamsburg, the duo also plans on opening a beer hall in Crown Heights and — thanks to a $25 million investment from Goldman Sachs coupled with "$1.5 million in support" from Marty Markowitz's office — open an incubator kitchen in an old Studebaker Service Station at 1000 Dean Street. For that last bit, Demby and Butler will also partner with BFC Partners, the megadeveloper that is currently working on the massive City Point project on the land that partly housed the DeKalb Market. (Butler broke down the plans on Brownstoner last April.)
Sounds like today's small-batch food producers really might be tomorrow's millionaires.
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A nine-thousand square foot beer hall, coffee house and outdoor garden with several varied food outlets as well as a private room is being developed, soon to be the largest and most comfortable gathering place in the neighborhood, serving tenants with meeting, eating and drinking space.
http://www.aptsandlofts.com/rentals/1000-dean-street-unit-varies-brooklyn-ny-11238
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44,000 square feet and one bathroom.
I still say its "Smorgasbergen"
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I like "Smorgasbergen", but am confident that no matter what people call it, this place is going to be popular.
In the future, folks from Bed Stuy will be crossing Atlantic to get to spend a day shopping and eating here.
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I can't be the only one who is wondering if they will figure out how to put an open air dining and drinking area on the garage that is to become the food and beer court.
Cha Ching $.
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A frequent contributor to the Brooklynian photo pool (top left of page) took some photos of the soon-to-be-foodcourt during the summer of 2010, and then uploaded them on Jan 20, 2013.
I can't embed them, because all rights are reserved, but you can see them by clicking here, then scrolling to Jan 20, 2013 "Open Fire hydrant guy"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephanemissier/It is safe to say this scene will not look like this again.....
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nearby properties are changing fast:
(Dead link re: a warehouse on the block for sale) -
I understand that 3rd Ward (which has an existing location in Williamsburg) will run fanciest dining portion of this site.
They will describe their vision for the alcohol/bar portion of this place at the upcoming CB8 Subcommittee mtg.
They have requested a full liq lic.
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 7:00 PM at CNR-Center Light Health Care Center, which is located at 727 Classon Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (between Park and Prospect Places).
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Lots of renovation being done to the structure of the former garage. The roof is now missing in several places.
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The office spaces are on track for an Oct 2013 opening, and the pre-opening press is now running at full steam:
http://gothamist.com/2013/07/28/photos_brooklyn_flea_founder_is_ope.php#photo-1
^lots of photos^
However, the beer hall and food court is not expect to open until 2014. Perhaps April 2014....
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Readers, this development is one of several big developments happening in the area, here is a list:
http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/37490/the-big-6-developments-in-western-ch-in-2013-the-big-11-developments-in-2014#Item_29 -
From yesterday's NY Times:
BERG’N A new beer hall and food court run by Smorgasburg and Brooklyn Flea will open in March in a 9,000-square-foot space seating 300. The vendors will be Asiadog, Mighty Quinn’s, Pizza Moto and Ramen Burger: 899 Bergen Street (Franklin Avenue), Crown Heights, Brooklyn; bergn.com.
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As far as I'm concerned, it shall always be called Smorgasbergen
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Smorgasbergen 4ever
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Smorgasbergen! Brilliant!
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Snazzy rendering:
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Press that includes the beer list:http://gothamist.com/2014/01/13/bergn.phpPeople like beer.
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Website up:https://www.facebook.com/bergnbeerhall
Construction photos within!
The bar:
Area for coffee and bagels
The whole space
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If any of you are wondering what sort of "feel" they are going for, the food venues in this article provide models: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/dining/restaurant-review-gotham-west-market-in-hells-kitchen.html?_r=0
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Tonight, I met one of the managers who will be running the beer garden. She says they are looking at an early April opening in light of the bad weather.
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This weekend, Ms. Whynot and I made it a point to go to Gotham West market, to see what Bergen might be like.
http://gothamwestmarket.com/
Their foot print is much smaller than "ours". It was crowded, there was not much space to walk around or hang out. Everyone was constantly in everyone else's way.
As a result of being larger and not in Manhattan, hopefully "ours" will avoid these problems.
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Branding:
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website: http://www.bergn.com/"A beer hall from the creatorsof the Brooklyn Flea andSmorgasburgfeaturing the food ofAsia Dog, Mighty Quinn's,Pizza Moto, and Ramen Burger.899 Bergen StreetBrooklyn, NY 11238SPRING 2014"
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Liquor lic remains in Pending status:BERGEN PROJECTS LLC
SMORGABERG -
View from above:
Note that there is an outdoor courtyard (i.e. area without a roof). Franklin Park is about to get some competition. -
Photo for folks who like photos, as opposed to reading:
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Here comes the daily press to the foodies:
http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/04/what-to-eat-at-bergn.html -
The return of the food court:
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/food-drink/places-to-eat-the-food-court-gets-a-boost-in-new-york-city
http://m.ny.eater.com/archives/2014/05/bourdain_lining_up_mind_blowing_people_for_food_hall.php
They are not a lot different from the ones' in suburban malls or on college campuses.
You know, the places that "real" New Yorkers claim to despise.... -
whynot_31 said:
They are not a lot different from the ones' in suburban malls or on college campuses.
You know, the places that "real" New Yorkers claim to despise....
I'm not a big fan of the "food court" style grouping of restaurants. Food truck parks and events have the same feel to me... just not an environment in which I want to eat.
That said, the difference in these and the suburban mall food court is that these are 1) locally operated, 2) usually higher quality food, and 3) located in real places... as opposed to the depressingly phony, manufactured environment in which mall food courts are located.
The mall food court is just a microcosm of what is truly being despised: American suburbia. -
The drum continues to beat:
http://www.tastingtable.com/entry_detail/national/17012/5_Dishes_and_Drinks_to_Try_at_Crown_Heights_Upcoming_Bergn_.htm
A little birdie tells me they might open the last weekend in May. -
They are stressing the gourmet aspect:
http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/05/underground-gourmet-outdoor-dining-guide-2014.html -
At peak times on most non-winter weekends those racks will be several dozen short of what's needed.
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whynot_31 said:
DOT only installs so many per each request.
Yeah, I know... just saying...
When is the official open date? -
My money is on the day after this no longer says "pending":
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Their Facebook cover photo now says "Opening June 12"
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msboombastic said:
Their Facebook cover photo now says "Opening June 12"
Sweet. Can't wait to check it out. -
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According to their Twitter feed @bergnbk - "just a few more DOB sign-offs to go", but also, to someone asking if they'll be open this weekend, they reply "sorry not yet".
At one point a week ago a construction worker told a friend 6/19 was the goal...but that seems to have slipped again. -
A lot of money is not being earned.
These permitting problems come at the heels of the failure of 3rd Ward, and have resulted in lots of office vacancies remaining in 1000 Dean.
The combined development presently lacks the appeal that was envisioned.
...I suspect some of those that have been offered jobs in the beer hall - food court are going to go elsewhere; They need income now.
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Their Facebook page included a nice shot of the bar.
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Job Fair:
Berg’n Beer Hall is hosting a job fair on Tuesday, July 1st from 11am – 1pm and 5pm – 7pm.
Applicants can either bring in a resume and cover letter or fill out this application (which they ask be filled out before you arrive):
http://crowhillcommunity.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Bergn-Job-App-PDF.pdf -
Delays for the Certificate of Occupancy are very common in construction projects. Getting the final inspections and sign-offs often takes longer than anticipated. I assume this is what is happening for this project, and will likely be resolved within a few weeks. I can't wait for it to open!
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Instead of occurring today, I am now hearing the job fair will be next Tuesday, July 8 from 11am - 1pm and 5pm - 7pm.
I hope they are open by July 17th, for the Brooklynian Happy Hour:
http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/44288/the-summer-2014-brooklynian-gathering-thursday-july-17th#Item_13 -
Rachel Holliday Smith covers the Berg'n job fair in DNAinfo: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140703/crown-heights/bartenders-servers-wanted-at-massive-new-brooklyn-beer-hallThe Berg’n job fair will be held at 899 Bergen St. in Crown Heights on Tuesday, July 8, in two parts: from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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So, given the job market and the "coolness" of this location, does any one want to make any predictions on how many applicants will show up on Tuesday?
There are 45 positions, some which may already be filled.
I predict 250 applicants.
Note: There is no prize. I will get the number from the manager at a later date, or from Rachel if it is a slow news day and she decides to cover this event. -
Word (from a limited partner in the ownership team) has it that Berg'n will open the weekend of July 17.
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July 15th:
Still no alcohol permit.
http://www.trans.abc.state.ny.us/servlet/ApplicationServlet?pageName=com.ibm.nysla.data.publicquery.PublicQuerySuccessfulResultsPage&validated=true&serialNumber=1270567&licenseType=OP
BTW, an entity must pass their DOB inspections before the SLA gives you a permit. So, we are going to be lucky if this place opens by our postponed date of July 24th.
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The July 24th gathering will be at Covenhoven instead.
Here's a piece on how people really want this beer hall to open:
http://www.theawl.com/2014/07/brooklyn-residents-discover-new-form-of-entitlement
...when it does finally open, it seems like it will be packed. -
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: the day may finally be upon us. Rejoice.
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@whynot_31 - agreed - it would not surprise me if they opened up the doors this weekend for a lowkey opening.
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Wow, I was way off.
This place is not opening until August 27th:
http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/07/bergn-beer-hall-opening-date.html
A mystery to me. -
Here is a link with beautiful pictures! http://ny.eater.com/archives/2014/08/bergn_crown_heightss_enormous_food_and_beer_hall.php
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Rumors about a soft opening this weekend are circulating.
....however, if you hike there expecting a beer only to find it isn't open until its official opening date on August 27th, don't blame me. -
It seems many media sources are merely dusting off the promo articles they wrote when it was previously supposed to open: http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/08/bergn-new-dishes.html
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So I checked out the menu of the “Berg'n” place. Even if the
prices are “affordable” as the grubstreet article cited the owner(s) as
claiming, the portion sizes seem a bit too small to actually make eating there “affordable”
and filling. I’ll probably try it out as the menu sounds amazing, but can’t see
myself eating there regularly. -
Yes, I suspect this will be somewhat of a destination, where friends meet up on a Saturday and pay a little more than they would otherwise. The customer base will constantly be newbies.
In that way, it is like Smorgasberg or that big outdoor beer garden in Astoria that I can't remember the name of.
Press:
http://m.nydailynews.com/life-style/eats/brooklyn-flea-creators-open-berg-beer-hall-article-1.1912565 -
That beer list is less than exciting considering they keep touting its curation by Garret Oliver.
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One curates a beer list?
Seems like a generous use of the term. -
If anyone walks by this evening, I'd love to know if the rumors are true. If they're open, I will head over at some point tonight
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The sign says closed tonight for private party (as of 6:30pm)
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So far agreed it looks like a newbie destination vs regulars. My hope is that the newness wears off after a few months, newbies "discover" it and realize its not worth trekking to, and they revise it to be more of a 'neighborhood' spot, which means as far as park slope at most to the west, and the rest of us here. Either way, good for the neighborhood.
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I think one's view whether it will be "good" or "bad" depends upon how one imagines the readers of Gothamist. I think it is safe to say, they will be coming:
http://gothamist.com/2014/08/22/bergn_open_crown_heights.php#. -
They best not be the only ones coming, if the business is to succeed.
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This venue's task has certainly been made more difficult as a result of 3rd Ward's collapse, and the failure to secure a new tenant.
Berg'n was going to serve as 3rd Ward's defacto cafeteria. Hundreds of people were going travel to the space every week for 3rd Ward. They were expected to be hungry and thirsty.
If the first floor of 1000 Dean becomes the winter home of the Brooklyn Flea this task becomes easier.
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Given how much media is being generated, I have no doubt it will be packed for the first month:
http://www.myfoxny.com/story/26351166/bergn-beer-food-hallSome good spin re: how they planned for Berg'n to be a destination of its own: http://therealdeal.com/blog/2014/08/24/brooklyn-flea-flea-founders-launch-crown-heights-effort/yea, the neighborhood improvements caused that. Not the disappearance of 3rd Ward. (?!) -
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Does this open today?
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Yup. August 27th.
For the next month, I expect a wave ad new adopter, "have you been yet?" foodie types.
In about October, we will get a feel for what it will become. -
Been there , done that.
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And, how was it?
You went mid day on opening day. Was it filled with unemployed foodies? -
It was half filled. Channel 12 was there. I finally tried the ramen burger which was better than I expected. I was told that they will eventually have Ramen in broth for the winter months. I wanted to get BBQ but it was closed until 5. Lot's of people with laptops and parents with very young children.
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I'm here at 9:30pm. The place is packed, with a small line outside waiting to get in. Nice mix of people. Bar is operating smoothly. Food is a bit slow. You order at the window and they deliver to your table. Seems to be a great opening night.
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I went at the wrong time--around 8 pm. The line was back to the train tracks, and they were only letting people in by groups of 10 every 15 mins or so. The dude working the door was super friendly. He explained there is a 400 person capacity, which seems on the low end for a place that size, but I'm sure they were taking no risks lest the DOB inspector show up.
The place is great once you are in. Well designed and spacious. No problem finding a seat even at capacity. The waitress who took our drink orders was nice and prompt. I got Asia Dog for the lady and stood in a long Ramen Burger line for myself. Ramen Burger seemed to have some administrative hiccups, but again, first night and all that. They also had the longest line by far. I'll leave my culinary review of Ramen Burger for another day.
It seemed to be the smoother opening night I've seen in this neighborhood, but with the pros running it that's not surprising. Looking forward to a more low key time there when the hype dies down.
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