Brooklynian

whynot_31

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.

notsayin

Smorgasbergen

whynot_31

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.

caseopele

Thank god I don't live on that block anymore.

whynot_31

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

whynot_31

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.

whynot_31

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

notsayin

44,000 square feet and one bathroom.

I still say its "Smorgasbergen"

whynot_31

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.

mr. met

caseopele said:

Thank god I don't live on that block anymore.

LOL

whynot_31

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 $.

whynot_31

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.....

whynot_31

nearby properties are changing fast:

(Dead link re: a warehouse on the block for sale)

whynot_31

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).

whynot_31

Lots of renovation being done to the structure of the former garage. The roof is now missing in several places.

whynot_31

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....

whynot_31

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

notsayin

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.

notsayin

As far as I'm concerned, it shall always be called Smorgasbergen

epiclylaterd

Smorgasbergen 4ever

mamacita

Smorgasbergen! Brilliant!

whynot_31

whynot_31

Snazzy rendering:

whynot_31

Press that includes the beer list:http://gothamist.com/2014/01/13/bergn.phpPeople like beer.

whynot_31

Website up:https://www.facebook.com/bergnbeerhall

Construction photos within!

The bar:

Area for coffee and bagels

The whole space

whynot_31

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

whynot_31

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.

whynot_31

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.

whynot_31

Branding:

whynot_31

website: http://www.bergn.com/

"A beer hall from the creators

of the Brooklyn Flea and

Smorgasburg

featuring the food of

Asia Dog, Mighty Quinn's,

Pizza Moto, and Ramen Burger.

899 Bergen Street

Brooklyn, NY 11238

SPRING 2014"

whynot_31

Liquor lic remains in Pending status:

http://www.trans.abc.state.ny.us/servlet/ApplicationServlet?pageName=com.ibm.nysla.data.publicquery.PublicQuerySuccessfulResultsPage&validated=true&serialNumber=1270567&licenseType=OP

BERGEN PROJECTS LLC
SMORGABERG

whynot_31

View from above:

Note that there is an outdoor courtyard (i.e. area without a roof). Franklin Park is about to get some competition.

whynot_31

More press: http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/04/bergen-street-preview-crown-finish-caves-bergn.html

Photo for folks who like photos, as opposed to reading:

whynot_31

Here comes the daily press to the foodies:

http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/04/what-to-eat-at-bergn.html

whynot_31

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....

mike dunlap

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.

whynot_31

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.

whynot_31

Now Hiring!

http://goodfoodjobs.com/mobile/jobs/40375/bergn-beer-hall-seeks-floor-staff.html

whynot_31

They are stressing the gourmet aspect:

http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/05/underground-gourmet-outdoor-dining-guide-2014.html

jfinks

Nice to hear that Dough will be at Berg'n! Though it is a bit close to their main store. Might be why they are doing it though, they can easily truck over fresh donuts throughout the day.

whynot_31

Bike racks: Check

mike dunlap

At peak times on most non-winter weekends those racks will be several dozen short of what's needed.

whynot_31

DOT only installs so many per each request.

I suspect more requests will be made and granted in the future.

mike dunlap

whynot_31 said:
DOT only installs so many per each request.

Yeah, I know... just saying...

When is the official open date?

whynot_31

My money is on the day after this no longer says "pending":

http://www.trans.abc.state.ny.us/servlet/ApplicationServlet?pageName=com.ibm.nysla.data.publicquery.PublicQuerySuccessfulResultsPage&validated=true&serialNumber=1270567&licenseType=OP

msboombastic

Their Facebook cover photo now says "Opening June 12"

whynot_31

yup, it does:

10257096_245519612311905_5850719819374310213_o.jpg

mike dunlap

msboombastic said:
Their Facebook cover photo now says "Opening June 12"

Sweet. Can't wait to check it out.

scrollie

New signage is up:

lilern

Now the Opening June 12 is down from the cover photo but even if the date is pushed back I can't imagine it will be that much longer :-)

whynot_31

whynot_31 said:
My money is on the day after this no longer says "pending":

http://www.trans.abc.state.ny.us/servlet/ApplicationServlet?pageName=com.ibm.nysla.data.publicquery.PublicQuerySuccessfulResultsPage&validated=true&serialNumber=1270567&licenseType=OP

lilern

ahhhh - makes sense!

whynot_31

Exclusive pictures, now with tables! Note, June 12th is less than certain as per workers. "We are waiting for permits"

This is the eastern part of the space:

whynot_31

Here's a photo of the west side, from their Facebook page. The bar on the right is long and serves both sides:

whynot_31

Sorry to state the obvious, but June 12th has now come and gone, and the lic is still being reported as "pending".

Sadness.

jfinks

noticed this as well.

Anyone peaked in lately to see whats up?

notsayin

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.

whynot_31

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.

tsarina

and the wait continues.

rogers_sterling

Their Facebook page included a nice shot of the bar. 10407384_254914798039053_869400980728009780_n

whynot_31

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

wbm

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!

whynot_31

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

scrollie

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-hall

The 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.

whynot_31

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.

whynot_31

Ms Whynot (see photo) guesses 312.

vaportrail

Word (from a limited partner in the ownership team) has it that Berg'n will open the weekend of July 17.

whynot_31

That's great news.

But it seems like we may need to have our Summer Brooklynian Gathering on July 17th elsewhere.

whynot_31

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.

whynot_31

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.

mcpoet

Just to clarify, most posts about 1000 Dean Street talk about the site having a beer garden and restaurants, but they're really talking about 899 Bergen, right?

whynot_31

yup.

I've broken it into two buildings, but most of the media has not.

rogers_sterling

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: the day may finally be upon us. Rejoice.

http://www.trans.abc.state.ny.us/servlet/ApplicationServlet?pageName=com.ibm.nysla.data.publicquery.PublicQuerySuccessfulResultsPage&validated=true&serialNumber=1270567&licenseType=OP

whynot_31

Lic Effective 7/24/2014.

....I wonder if they can move quickly enough to have a soft opening this weekend. It will definately be fully open by 8/1/2014.

lilern

@whynot_31 - agreed - it would not surprise me if they opened up the doors this weekend for a lowkey opening.

tsarina

Praise the lord! I for one will dress immodestly.

whynot_31

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.

tsarina

I weep bitter tears of agony, will wait the additional time and put a sensible cardigan over aforementioned immodest outfit.

whynot_31

There is no need to wait; there are other bars in the neighborhood.

Brooklynian

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