Those of you close to the story...mind chiming in to quell the rumors?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
K-Dog Closing?
Not to be a nosey Norman...but sheesh, I just got wind that K-Dog & DuneBuggy, the great Latte hope of Lincoln, is going to close, at least for awhile. This from Babs over on the yahoo listserve, which is a great place for emerging gossip on our emerging market.
Those of you close to the story...mind chiming in to quell the rumors?
Those of you close to the story...mind chiming in to quell the rumors?
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23 comments:
what is this listserv you speak of?
This is a classic example of the adage that no good deed goes unpunished. It is disappointing that bringing a successful coffee shop to the neighborhood resulted in its demise through rising rents, rather than similar effects to the other businesses, some of which are not terribly unique, and all of which are using prime Lincoln Road commercial real estate. I fault the landlord for failing to present the owner with acceptable terms, for short-sightedness, and for potentially taking away some of the best iced coffee I have ever had. If there is any way to save this place and its people, it ought to be done, now.
I second what Matthew wrote. K-Dog transformed Lincoln Road from a block many people walked down only to go to the subway or the park to the vital center of our neighborhood. I, for one would miss it terribly when, or if....
For Lia, the "listserv" is the Yahoo Lefferts List:
I posted the URL for the Lefferts List above, but it didn't appear. Its:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lefferts/
Matthew's and Bob's assessment of the situation only considers one side of the story, and there is no evidence that the owner did not present several alternatives (indeed, I have heard the contrary). Guess we'll have to wait and see. Regardless, I think we can perhaps classify K-Dog as a victim of its own success - from an unwanted space to one that has proven it can support a very viable business. People get gentrified out of places they "pioneered" (ever check out non-stabilized residential rents here vs. 6 yrs. ago?), so, unfortunately, do businesses.
Babs,
I was just expressing sorrow at the possibility of K-Dog closing. That doesn't mean that I won't consider patronizing whatever business that might replace it. I haven't made any disparaging comments about the landlord, other than (in another forum) expressing the fear that she might price the space unrealistically and leave it vacant for an extended period of time, a practice that's not unknown among commercial landlords.
I know this landlord pretty well and she's a sharp businessperson to be sure - sharp enough to know better than to allow a space to sit vacant and lose money due to unrealistic pricing. She owns that entire building and is smart enough to know that an empty storefront can ultimately bring down the value of the entire asset.
Bob, thanks very much.
I am so sad to hear about this. K-Dog is a center of this community and I feel like it will be a little less livable without it.
*sigh*
seriously why? I just want a neighborhood place to grab a cup of coffee on the way to work or something to tide me over as i head into the city :( I have always liked the staff and the lay-out and I will miss it very much.
you guys are seriously delusional about k-dog being a nice place to gather. i've pretty much never had a good experience there. it's overpriced and the staff is SO rude. seriously. it always made me sad that the one place to grab coffee and a bagel (besides papa & sons) was so terrible from a customer-service point of view. I hope whoever moves in there has a better attitude towards its customers.
F your shrewd business woman owner friend and her "options." I could give a flip. KDOG is an admirably active and diverse PLG community spot and I am so frustrated to see it go.
I have never had a bad experience at K-Dog and always found the atmosphere inviting and welcoming, the staff friendly and helpful, and the food and beverage options yummy. As for those who would arbitrarily disparage the owner of the building without knowing the full story, please remember that the decision to close was made by K-Dog's owner - had she wanted to stay I'm sure a way to do so could have been found via support from the community that has appreciated, loved, and benefitted from the place for years. She chose not to and her decision should be respected.
dear god,
please PLEASE let it not be another dunkin' donuts that moves in there.
Man!....I do love those maple frosted donuts
"the decision to close was made by K-Dog's owner"
I don't know about that. I have no direct knowledge, since I've been in the sticks of VT for the last few weeks, but PLG visitors, who just left, tell me that Gabby told them last week that she's still negotiating.
Well telling people her rent is being tripled (when according to the owner it isn't at all, quite far from it) and she's going to have to shut down may not be the best negotiating technique out there. I love K-Dog and would really hate to see it go, but this knee-jerk evil landlod reaction is just incorrect in this situation
There are always two sides Babs and I'm too remote now to comment further, other than that I hope K-Dog is still there when I get home. [After all, I have a card in my wallet that's punched 9 times*]
*Just kidding--I'd be glad to pay more, if that's what it takes :-)
I think it's important to note that K-Dog's owners can sell, if a suitor comes along willing to work with the building's owner. So if you REALLY, REALLY love K-Dog, there's still time to make your play. :) (hush-hush, someone may have already moved their pawn).
While a coffee place can feel like part of the fabric of a community (ask the Cortelyou Road fans of VOX PoP, [founded by a delusional 9/11 Truther, I might add] many of whom lost their shirts trying to community-own the place), in the end it's a business like any other, prone to the vagaries of income, expense and the personalities and personal lives of all those involved.
True indeed - another example of a community bailout that left people in the lurch is Bread Stuy in Stuyvesant Heights. It too was a beloved and community-minded, welcoming space. Unfortunately the owners ran up approx. $10K in unpaid taxes and the space was closed down - until community members raised the funds to bail its owners out. It shut down for good a few months later after getting a "C" sanitation grade and then being closed down for operating without proper permits, leaving those who'd chipped in to cover the tax bills holding the bag.
I estimate an approximately 0% chance that babs is not in a business relationship with the owner.
Guess what? I am not at all in any sort of business relationship with this owner. I am a residential broker and specifically do not handle commercial listings. Sorry!
Say it ain't so! I love this place.
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