Fifth Avenue - NY Post

Uh, oh. At least the same old Brooklyn blogger wasn't quoted.
SLOPE-GOERS TAKE THE FIFTH
ONCE CONSIDERED A FRINGE STREET, PARK SLOPE'S FIFTH AVENUE NOW MAKES SEVENTH AVENUE FEEL STALE

Bobby Gagnon's Fifth Avenue bar, the Gate, is a Park Slope institution. Back when he opened it in 1999, though, it was barely considered part of the neighborhood.

"We'd be out there driving nails, and people would walk by and tell me this wasn't Park Slope," he recalls.

Seventh Avenue was the main commercial drag in those days. Closer to Prospect Park and much of the area's prime brownstone stock, this was where Park Slope's shops and restaurants clustered.

"It was the strip," Gagnon says, "for years, for decades."

For more:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06042009/realestate/slope_goers_take_the_fifth_172415.htm

The gate has only been around since 1999?

Seems like longer.

I love how they say AOC Bistro was a restaurant that drew people to 5th Ave. That place opened up a year or two ago at most.

Uh, clearly it was me moving to 5th ave that drew everyone downhill.

Yah, AOC was very late in the game....I'm surprised at how much lower the rents per sq. foot are on 5th v 7th.

I spend much more time on 5th then I do on 7th. 5th ave is definitly more fun.

I spend much more time on 5th then I do on 7th. 5th ave is definitly more fun.

How in the world did AOC Bistro help 5th Avenue? Didn't they just open up last year? 5th Avenue had their resurgence way before that place showed up! The owners of AOC must know the person who wrote the article.

anyway, hubby and I were just saying how we almost never eat on 7th Avenue anymore but go to restaurants on 5th Avenue all the time! i remember years ago when places wouldn't even deliver to us because we lived between 5th and 6th Avenues, we would be on the phone like "but, we are much much closer to 6th, really!"

How in the world did AOC Bistro help 5th Avenue? Didn't they just open up last year? 5th Avenue had their resurgence way before that place showed up! The owners of AOC must know the person who wrote the article.

anyway, hubby and I were just saying how we almost never eat on 7th Avenue anymore but go to restaurants on 5th Avenue all the time! i remember years ago when places wouldn't even deliver to us because we lived between 5th and 6th Avenues, we would be on the phone like "but, we are much much closer to 6th, really!"

Cucina was the first real restaurant draw on 5th. I don't see how an article like that doesn't mention that restaurant.

Cucina was the first real restaurant draw on 5th. I don't see how an article like that doesn't mention that restaurant.

Does 10 years make an institution?

Does 10 years make an institution?

Carnivore wrote: Cucina was the first real restaurant draw on 5th. I don't see how an article like that doesn't mention that restaurant.

+1 Cucina was the ONLY nice restaurant on 5th when I moved here in '97

Carnivore wrote: Cucina was the first real restaurant draw on 5th. I don't see how an article like that doesn't mention that restaurant.

+1 Cucina was the ONLY nice restaurant on 5th when I moved here in '97

I remember back in the day when 200 5th was the only real restaurant on 5th Avenue, before it had the sports bar annex next door. i could never figure out how they ever survived back then, there was nothing else around

I remember back in the day when 200 5th was the only real restaurant on 5th Avenue, before it had the sports bar annex next door. i could never figure out how they ever survived back then, there was nothing else around

I remember 200 Fifth back in the early-mid 90's too. We used to take our kids there when they were small. IIRC, they had paper tablecloths and crayons. I imagine they survived back then because there wasn't much competition. There were very few decent restaurants on 7th Avenue in those days, let alone 5th. We lived on 7th and we probably visited 200 Fifth a couple of times a month.

I remember 200 Fifth back in the early-mid 90's too. We used to take our kids there when they were small. IIRC, they had paper tablecloths and crayons. I imagine they survived back then because there wasn't much competition. There were very few decent restaurants on 7th Avenue in those days, let alone 5th. We lived on 7th and we probably visited 200 Fifth a couple of times a month.

they also used to keep toys in the dresser that the antique cash register sat on, kids were able to go and help themselves to them. that was back when mark had a young daughter himself.

they also used to keep toys in the dresser that the antique cash register sat on, kids were able to go and help themselves to them. that was back when mark had a young daughter himself.

When 200 5th opened, the owners told us they lived down there and there were no restaurants in the area...so they took a chance and opened up.

When 200 5th opened, the owners told us they lived down there and there were no restaurants in the area...so they took a chance and opened up.

yeah, the owner Mark (back then he was with his first wife) lived nearby for many many years, he just recently moved to another section of Brooklyn.

yeah, the owner Mark (back then he was with his first wife) lived nearby for many many years, he just recently moved to another section of Brooklyn.

MeredithB wrote: The gate has only been around since 1999?

Seems like longer.

Pretty sure you're right. I think since spring of 1997. Not to mention that space has been a bar of some kind since time immemorial.

MeredithB wrote: The gate has only been around since 1999?

Seems like longer.

Pretty sure you're right. I think since spring of 1997. Not to mention that space has been a bar of some kind since time immemorial.

I would say Mark, who owns 200 5th Ave., and the owner of A&S and Cucina, along with Chef Michael Ayoub of Cucina, were the driving force of 5th Ave. Before Cucina or 200 5th opened, 5th Ave. was considered a shooting gallery.

I would say Mark, who owns 200 5th Ave., and the owner of A&S and Cucina, along with Chef Michael Ayoub of Cucina, were the driving force of 5th Ave. Before Cucina or 200 5th opened, 5th Ave. was considered a shooting gallery.

I would say Mark, who owns 200 5th Ave., and the owner of A&S and Cucina, along with Chef Michael Ayoub of Cucina, were the driving force of 5th Ave. Before Cucina or 200 5th opened, 5th Ave. was considered a shooting gallery.

I agree, they were there way before anyone else and at least in the case of 2 of them, they are stil going strong. I remember eating at 200 5th years ago when walking home along 5th Avenue was far from the safest thing in the world to do!