Another Deli/Bodega on Bergen Nostrand....Why????

I drove past the former Starlight Lounge this morning and noticed a new cheesy awning for a Deli/Bodega. I am very disappointed that a bodega is going in that corner. These types of businesses usually attracts lots of loitering which leads to other things. Ugh!! SMH!

Tried to convince owner to go upscale a la Pine tree, but we will see. I too was dismayed to see the cheesey awning. Lets see if he brings anything good to the table. At least there is more glass around the outside so maybe it will be pretty.

old photo of location (approx. 2005):

newer photo (approx Jan 2013):

recent real estate ad: https://retailmls.com/space-detail/9362

The ask: $5000 a month for 1000 sq ft

The new awning took us a few steps backwards!!! IJS

Please take a photo. Thanks

Backwards in what sense? Is it like super old school? Bad colors? Blinking lights? Curious!

I do hope it is upscale enough that it can benefit from its proximity to Nostrand Ave Pub.

...an old school bodega is not going to be able to pay $5k a month in rent.

^ unless it's the franklin-and-lincoln kind of old school. in which case... yikes.

I don't know that a new entrant to Nostrand drug market would survive long.

They would have to under price, and/or have better service and product than the guys who deal around Nostrand & Park.

crownheightster said:

Backwards in what sense? Is it like super old school? Bad colors? Blinking lights? Curious!

I say it took us backwards because it's cheesy and very 1990!

same old, same old.

You can't have trendy coffee shops in every corner. Bodega's do fill a need.

An abundance of any business is no good landlord. Nostrand already has a bodega on every corner "filling the need" you're talking about. There is, however, a need for some more upscale items as other posters have described

I think people get confused when it comes to the word "need".

In my view, what someone believes an area "needs" is really of no consequence. Throughout the city and world, lots of "needs" are unmet, or seemingly over met.

All that really matters is whether a given business meets the desires of people, and whether people have the financial means to have those desires fulfilled.

This Nostrand business doesn't seem like it is ready to "see", but many others are taking the risky plunge.

PS. Although offering similar products to those already available locally, this place will be certainly newer, and likely cleaner.

Maybe when they take down the brown paper, we'll see a chef-driven restaurant with locally sourced foods. It kind of looks like Do or Dine, right?

Or, perhaps this is a tongue-in-cheek RETRO 90s bodega, filled with lost cases of Crystal Pepsi and Red Dog beer.

Maybe.

Regardless of the specific form, I predict Nostrand Ave in CH will get an reasonably upscale restaurant by Summer 2014.

Something along the lines of Mayfield, Bar Corvo, Sunshine Co, or Barbachino.....

So disappointing to see another "same old, same old" bodega business on Nostrand. Future/hopeful Nostrand Ave business owners and landlords, are you listening?

faithful said:

I drove past the former Starlight Lounge this morning and noticed a new cheesy awning for a Deli/Bodega. I am very disappointed that a bodega is going in that corner. These types of businesses usually attracts lots of loitering which leads to other things. Ugh!! SMH!

Where do bodegas encourage loitering? Inside the establishment or outside of the establishment? If people are loitering on the bodega's proprty, methinks that'd be trespassing, yes?

thecameralady said:

Where do bodegas encourage loitering? Inside the establishment or outside of the establishment? If people are loitering on the bodega's proprty, methinks that'd be trespassing, yes?

I never said "encourage," I said "attracts" loitering and I stand by that. On any given day, you see a group of people hanging outside of many bodegas!

I think that the amount of loitering is directly proportional to the permissiveness of other things. I live near two bodegas that are diagonal from one another, one run by Yemeni and the other by Palestinians. The Yemeni are strict Muslims that don't sell alcohol or pork. They also don't sell loosies and have only a limited selection of rolling papers and tobacco products. The Palestinians sell alcohol, loosies, pork and even fresh tobacco leaves for rolling blunts.

Can you guess which one always has folks hanging inside and outside of the store?

I know I said it above, but I can't help say it again:

I don't think that a down scale bodega is going to be able to pay the rent that this venue is demanding.

If this bodega replicates what is already on Nostrand, my sense is that it will go under pretty quickly, simply because it is paying comparitively so much more in rent.

https://retailmls.com/space-detail/9362

whynot_31 said:

I know I said it above, but I can't help say it again:

I don't think that a down scale bodega is going to be able to pay the rent that this venue is demanding.

If this bodega replicates what is already on Nostrand, my sense is that it will go under pretty quickly simply because it is paying comparitively so much more in rent.

https://retailmls.com/space-detail/9362

I guess we'll have to see....I truly hope for a positive outcome!

deli open. looks like a very green (novice) owner. Candy is openly displayed right at the door. Good luck running after all the kids. Lots of muffins and baked goods. (with CT Muffin across the street) Very clean and not crowded. Let see.

Bodega deathwatch thread?

faithful said:

I never said "encourage," I said "attracts" loitering and I stand by that. On any given day, you see a group of people hanging outside of many bodegas!

If it's right by a bus stop, maybe.

I have an issue with the overgeneralization of this last statement. Some people tend to hang around outside of "some" bodegas, not "many".

Are you concerned because the loiterers tend to attract crime? What's the real issue here?

The above photo of the awning doesn't seem to state beer, lottery or cigarettes.

...the absence of these products alone could make it less than appealing to those who earn their living by standing in front of bodgeas.

thecameralady said:

If it's right by a bus stop, maybe.

I have an issue with the overgeneralization of this last statement. Some people tend to hang around outside of "some" bodegas, not "many".

Are you concerned because the loiterers tend to attract crime? What's the real issue here?

Some....many, but YES, usually where there is hanging out in front of establishments it doesn't lead to tea and scones!! IJS

whynot_31 said:

The above photo of the awning doesn't seem to state beer, lottery or cigarettes.

...the absence of these products alone could make it less than appealing to those who earn their living by standing in front of bodgeas.

this is quite possibly true!

We are also lacking a sign that says "Open 24 Hours".

...meaning that this doesn't look to me to be more of the same.