New Businesses You Want to See on Nostrand Ave

Above, @bicycle_roots mentioned a greek or middle eastern place.

Greek Food was in the works for 710 Franklin, but now it is becoming a deli grill place.   So, we still lack a greek restaurant.    

I think the area around Nostrand could/would support one.

  

I have discovered the Moroccan restaurant Marrakesch Door, on Franklin between Fulton and Atlantic. Authentic food (I've been to Morocco), cheap, eat in (with table service) or take out available. So my needs are satisfied. Technically I think it might be in Bed Stuy. But it's worth the hazardous crossing of Atlantic Avenue!

Businesses that will shovel snow in the winter months and sweep the sidewalks.

Yeah!

Businesses that will shovel snow in the winter months and sweep the sidewalks.

"All you people want is fancy stuff"

/sarcasm

In other news on Nostrand, the Dulce Cleaners is moving to 774 Nostrand (next to Furniture House). They have nice new signage and everything. It remains to be seen what will take over the old Dulce Cleaners location, which is just two or three storefronts away from Chika Mexicana.

Also, the Golden Asian restaurant (the one that caught fire a few months back) looks like it is getting ready to rent (or is perhaps in the process of being built out) and there are new rental apartments upstairs.

More news. 770 Nostrand is now vacant and leasing. 770 Nostrand was the home of Chicago 60 pizza. So, we have two storefronts (Chicago 60 Pizza and the former Golden Asian Restaurant), right next to each other, both with new apartments for rent and both leasing out the retail space.

Also, I'll just put it out there. I'd love for a place like Russo's Pasta & Mozzarella (http://russosmozzarellaandpasta.com/) to move into one of the tiny storefronts on Nostrand. Maybe it would be successful if it was the place where a manufacturer or fresh pasta had their factory in the back, and sold some of their wares, plus other Italian specialty goods. Kind of like the Pelzer's Pretzels and The Local/Brooklyn Bell Ice Cream model.

I don't want to slip and fall into trash when I am drunk from bar hopping along Nostrand

I'm going to add to my list...

What Nostrand could use would be a well-stocked pet supply store.

While you are waiting for one, Acme pets on Vanderbilt delivers.

At the moment, I see Nostrand (between EP and Atlantic) being underbid by Flatbush (between Empire and Midwood).

Similar number of people with means and unmet preference. Less commercial rent.

(Dee's pet food also delivers. They are on Classon and Prospect. The store looks a little dingy, the windows are a bit grubby, the treats and accessories aren't extensive and are up high where you can't easily check out ingredients. But they have a large variety of dog and cat foods and no defined delivery limits or minimums. If you want a specific item they also say they will order it for you. And it's nice to support locally. )

+1 for Acme Pets. They have everything, and how they manage to cram it into such a small space astonishes me.

@crownheightster @bicycle_roots What about Paws and the City? (http://www.pawsandthecitynyc.com/) It's on St. Johns Pl, at Nostrand. I've never actually been INSIDE this store, but it looks like a pet shop! (I personally buy my pet's food from the Petsmart near Atlantic or order online, so I don't really have stake in this discussion)

I've seen Paws and the City, but it seems like more of a grooming store than a shop with pet food and litter and stuff. But it is super cute and apparently successful! I plan to bring my cat there after this winter season.

They have Paws and the City II which is one storefront away that sells pet food and accessories like leashes and litter. I've stopped in once or twice but the last time had to be six months ago or more. At the time they were stocking higher priced natural foods (Wellness, Natural Balance, Blue Buffalo, etc) and not the mid-priced food my pets preferred, so I didn't make them a go to place, but I did do the "Damn we're out of pet food" run there once or twice. Not sure if the retail side is still open, but the grooming business certainly is.

I just wanted to point out how many of these requests have come/are coming to Nostrand ave since this wishlist thread began in March 2013:

• "A bagel store, like Bergen Bagels"  -- NA Bagels
• "A fancy mani/pedi place or spa where you can treat yourself nicely but not break the bank" -- while not really "fancy", the new location of Bling nail salon is spiffy and clean and it remains very cheap. 
• "A fresh bakery/cafe type place, probably closer to Eastern Parkway so as not to compete with Richols" -- a bakery is rumored to be opening in the old syd's space on nostrand/st. johns.
• "New sit-down restaurants" -- Two Saints and the Breueklyn-run bistro, opening soon. Meme's Healthy Nibbles and a few new Indian and Japanese places have also opened. 
• "a bike shop would be super" -- Bicycle Roots
• "A hair salon like Badlands in Park Slope" -- Deck Salon
• "New bars and evening gathering spaces" -- we now have Nostrand avenue pub and the soon-to-open Bar Bertrand
• "A coffee shop" -- we now have tintos, lula bagel, and another coffee shop coming to Rogers and St. Johns

as well as:

• chika's mexicana
• urban asanas yoga studio
• martine's dream -- clothing shop
• chop chop grub shop

Clearly we have manifested these businesses through our collective will power and should keep wishing. I'm still waiting on:

• a cheap and well-curated vintage clothing/furniture store
• a big gym with classes
• a butcher shop
• a good hardware store
• a home goods store
• a nice wine store
• more more more sit-down dinner and brunch joints, especially a high quality thai/vietnamese/japanese place or some other ethnic cuisine (ethiopian?)

re: "good hardware store"

There is a Home Depot on Nostrand near the G train, but what I think people are really seeking is a mid-size hardware store that has an affiliation with True Value or Ace.

The new Benjamin Moore paint store at Bergen and Bedford fills part of this desire.

I am kind of surprised no one wished for a shipping store; Nostrand is about to get one of those:

http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/45063/ups-store-bergen-and-nostrand#Item_9

Also, here's a list of somewhat upscale bars and restaurants that is scheduled to open this spring: http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/45049/the-nostrand-ave-takes-flight-spring-2015-thread/p1

The Benjamin Moore on Bergen and Bedford is a joke.  I went in a couple months ago and asked the lounging guy behind the counter if they had tarp clamps.  He went totally blank and said "uhhh, what are those?"  I explained, showed him a picture on my phone, explained their use and he said he had never heard of them.  So I asked if he had any small weights and got another blank stare.  "You know, weights, small heavy things you use to weigh things down?" I said.  No answer.  Ok, so I ask him, what about eyes?  Like hook and eyes, but without the hooks.  Here he comes from behind the counter and points to a wall and says they should be somewhere up there since that wall was just stocked.  I look and low and behold a part I actually need.  So I ask if he has anything that is similar is size and style to washers but heavier.  He suggests ... Washers.  Ok, I ask, what are the biggest washers you have?  So he stands staring at the wall looking.  I find them first.  They're not that big.  I decided to not even bother with the one things they did have.

I recently went to the Hardware store on Franklin just south of Eastern Parkway and asked if they sold yard sticks.  I got total blank stares.  So I clarified, "You know, a stick of wood, about an inch wide that has measurements along it equaling a yard".  He handed me a 12" ruler.  

I want a proper hardware store SO badly.

There is already a shipping/mailing store on Nostrand just south of Eastern Parkway on the west side of the street.  While they are perhaps not stocked to the degree I would like, they are very friendly and would probably order what people need. (I was just in a rush)

The Benjamin Moore paint store is extremely tiny. As much as one would wish them to stock everything you want, it aint going to happen. I am thankful they are there, a block from my home, so I can get the basics. Often I have to explain to the guy what I am buying and what it is used for.

I don't expect them to carry everything I want.  But I do expect them to know what things are.  If they don't have something they should either offer to order it or suggest where I can get it.  Or at the least do more than stare at me.

Is Garvey's Hardware really that bad? Its been good to me all these years. 

Garvey's is convenient but don't keep up on the stock while they hang out. So 40% of the time I have to walk to Franklin Ave where the Hware store hustles to serve. Basicly  lazy Garvey's looks like they are waiting to sell out to the highest bidder. Sad, coz they could be the go to place on Nostrand.

Despite living on the PH/CH border, I prefer to go to Tazanian hardware in PS.

Mayday on Washington has always been lousy. Pinchik used to be good, but has become lousy.

That would be Tarzian hardware, on 7th Avenue.  It's a very good hardware store, and has been there nearly 100 years.

Ah, that's how it is spelled.   For me it was a tossup between spelling it Tazanian or in the same manner as that name of that guy who lives in the jungle, Tarzan.