Three more places near us want to become bars!

CB 8 is presently considering three new liquor license applications for Prospect Heights.

Although Google maps can't always be trusted, I've included photos of the addresses:

1. 793 Washington Avenue/full license (St. John’s/Lincoln). This is presently a storefront that has been vacant a LOOOONG time. It is located on Washington between Love Liquors and Colala. It wants to be a bar, perhaps with a little garden area in the back yard. The application was filed by "Tooker Alley"

2. 607 Vanderbilt Avenue/full license (tavern) (Bergen/St. Marks). This is a small space, located on Vanderbilt near Nick's Barbershop. The application was filed by Leonard Zella.

3. 960 Atlantic Avenue/full license (Grand/Classon). This is a huge site that is presently a warehouse. The application was filed by Milk River Café, and could become a very large indoor venue.

The meeting to discuss the applications takes place tonight (Tuesday April 10th):

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Chairperson: Priscilla Maddox, Co-Chair; Atim Oton

Meeting Day: 2nd Tuesday of the Month

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Place: Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation

727 Classon Avenue( bet.Park Place and Prospect Place)

with a name like "Tooker Alley" I suppose they will keep the vinyl faux brick facade?

](*,)

With a name like Tooker Alley, they are likely fans of the city of Chicago.

...as a result, I suspect they know that faux brick and $60 windows will not withstand the wind coming off the lake.

I once looked in the windows and determined that the building lacks a back wall and roof. A gut rehab is underway.

There goes the neighborhood

landlord said:

There goes the neighborhood

“please respect our neighbors.”

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/02/5173233/golden-era-noble-ineffectual-respect-our-neighbors-sign?page=all

By requesting permits, these folks seem to be pursing the conventional method.

Wonderful news! I am always happy to patronize a new bar. I think the only one I haven't tried is the one called Three Eves (?), which replaced Prospect Pond. Anyone been?

I have not been in Eves yet, but it seems to be doing ok when I walk by.

There are still a lot of storefronts vacant on Washington, but they are dwindling at a steady clip.

The place next to Tooker Alley is presently being renovated into something food related as per the work permit.

Wonderful. More loud drunk white people walking the hood. Ugh!

God, you are making assumptions about what crowd they will serve.

For example, a mostly sober, quiet, African American crowd seems to patronize Eve's. This is sharp contract to when it was Prospect Pond and -before that- Ripple.

Maybe this mellow crowd will patronize nearby Tooker Alley as well.

Before that it was Manhattans, not Ripple.

Sorry, I forgot about the brief moment it was Manhattans.

I think it was Manhattan's after it was Ripple.

See, it was once Ripple:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/ripple-bar-brooklyn

You are correct. Ripple - Manhattans - Prsospect Pond - 3 Eves

Speaking of, anyone know where Sam (the manager of both Manhattans towards the end and of Prospect Pond) is? He was a great guy who really wanted both places to succeed - they just didn't..

Yea, drunken white people we can do without. Drunken African American, West Indian, African, Asian, Latino, Native American, and Pacific Islander folks are OK, though. Hopefully those and other groups who cannot be classified as "white" will patronize these new establishments.

whynot,

Any news on Kingston Lounge in Crown Heights? I heard it came up at the same meeting, and that the new owners from Astoria want to return it to what it once was.

I have heard this as well, but have nothing to add re: whether they are going to actually do it.

The space needs lots of work and $. Unless it becomes a profitable venue from the moment it was to reopen, it might take a really long time for them to recoup any money and effort they put into it.

This site has photos of the condition of the interior:

http://kingstonlounge.blogspot.com/2008/04/kingston-lounge-wine-dine-restaurant.html?m=1

xlizellx said:

You are correct. Ripple - Manhattans - Prsospect Pond - 3 Eves

Speaking of, anyone know where Sam (the manager of both Manhattans towards the end and of Prospect Pond) is? He was a great guy who really wanted both places to succeed - they just didn't..

Ah, but before all that, it was Buttafly. That location has been a bar since at least 2000. Five different venues in 12 years seems a bit much for one location.

Buttafly - Ripple - Manhattans - Prospect Pond - 3 Eves

This site says Buttafly was phat: http://nightlife.uptake.com/bars/new_york/brooklyn/buttafly_lounge_42551401.html

I haven't heard "phat" used in a non-derogatory way since at least 2002.

Ha! Which is probably the last time I was in Buttafly!

Tooker Alley and the storefront next to it are both presently under construction. Both have work permits saying they will be food establishments.

...however, one place says Laundrymatt Coming Soon.

Do work permits define laundrymatts as being similar to food establishments?

The Tooker Alley place on Washington had its door open today; It looks almost complete. It could open within 2 weeks.

The laundry mat coming soon place next door to it has had another floor added to its building. The faux brick will be ripped down soon, and we will get a storefront out of the deal. ...maybe they plan to still open a laundry.

I talked with the owner of Tooker Alley this evening. I learned the following:

It will be Cocktail bar, not a beer bar.

He hopes to open in a few weeks.

....all is well with the city permit wise, he just has a few things the contractor needs to complete.

He seems like a nice guy.

A great feature from Edible Manhattan on Tooker Alley's owner, Del Pedro - who's a respected mixologist and career bartender currently at Pegu Club on Houston: http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/magazine/through_the_drinking_glad/ Sounds like a cool guy who knows how to run a classy establishment.

Also, revisiting the name Tooker Alley - from the Chicago Tribune:

The Dill Pickle Club (or Dil Pickle Club, as purists insist) was a bohemian-anarchist-literati hangout and speakeasy at 10 Tooker Alley (now Tooker Place). The alley was entered from Dearborn Street, just north of Chestnut Street, and among those who took the stroll down the red brick pavement were Eugene Debs, Carl Sandburg, Sherwood Anderson, Emma Goldman, Ben Hecht and Mayor "Big Bill" Thompson.

Grange Hall and Pegu Club? Quite the resume. I can't wait.

It is nicely decorated on the inside, and he is clearly paying attention to details.

He is aiming for an upscale clientele.

I hope the drinks are not as expensive, nor the wait as long, as at Weather Up.

(Weather Up is a fancy cocktail bar on Vanderbilt.)

"The Dil Pickle Club was almost hidden from the outside and was considered a "hole in the wall" in Tooker Alley. The entrance was marked by a "DANGER" sign that which pointed to the orange main door which was lite by a green light. On the door, it read: “Step High, Stoop Low and Leave Your Dignity Outside.” Once inside, another sign read "Elevate Your Mind to a Lower Level of Thinking" before you entered the main part of the club. Immediately inside was a large main room with a stage. The room was decorated with brightly painted chairs and partially surrounded by counters where drinks and sandwiches were sold. ..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dil_Pickle_Club

More: http://publications.newberry.org/frontiertoheartland/exhibits/show/perspectives/dillpickle/briefhistory

I am beginning to like this place.

P.S. Tooker Alley is the place to left of faux brick facade.

Is tooker alley open?

Hmmm, I just read that the owner is a bartender from Pegu Club, which makes a great cocktail. That's exciting.

Is tooker alley open?

It is not open yet.