The Q at Parkside

(for those for whom the Parkside Q is their hometrain)

News and Nonsense from the Brooklyn neighborhood of Lefferts and environs, or more specifically a neighborhood once known as Melrose Park. Sometimes called Lefferts Gardens. Or Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. Or PLG. Or North Flatbush. Or Caledonia (west of Ocean). Or West Pigtown. Across From Park Slope. Under Crown Heights. Near Drummer's Grove. The Side of the Park With the McDonalds. Jackie Robinson Town. Home of Lefferts Manor. West Wingate. Near Kings County Hospital. Or if you're coming from the airport in taxi, maybe just Flatbush is best.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Papa & Sons Closes Doors

Some melancholy pictures from Stephen B. as Papa & Sons closes its doors for good. There's been a lot hand wringing over the landlord's temperament and plans for the block, but perhaps a wait-and-see approach is best. Clearly plans are in the works, for better or worse. For whatever reason, the block has become a stand-in for issues of the neighborhood at large. Perhaps it's mine and others' faults for continuing to report on it as if it were anything other than the churning of commercial real estate, which is ultimately all it is. This is hardly the only corner of PLG worth developing, if someone, anyone, saw fit. My take is that it's easy to complain, much harder to go out and start a business yourself. To intrepid entrepreneurs of every type, the Q salutes you for your optimism and fortitude!




And this curiously supine suprise:



12 comments:

Anonymous said...

It'll be interesting to see what goes in here.

Meanwhile, I peeked into the storefront at the corner of Parkside and Flatbush (across from the Popeyes) and they're putting in a very nice new bodega/deli. Totally gut-renovated. I hope it doesn't sell booze and loosies...

Anonymous said...

not too sad about losing the store but the 24 hour presence will be missed.

Anonymous said...

Can't say I'm sad at all, the store was just too dirty for me.

Anonymous said...

two years ago, when i lived in that building the landlord said she wished to lease that corner space to an organic food store. hope that will happen soon

Anonymous said...

it's bitter sweet. but i do think anything that goes into that space, particilarly an organic food market, would have to be a significant improvement over Papas.

Anonymous said...

PLG does not need an organic food store there, what we desperately need is a hair salon or a 99 cent store!

Anonymous said...

The landlady is an idiot and is going to bankrupt the neighborhood. I don't care how quickly her supporters (ie: her friends and family) come out of the woodwork to support her. Anyone with any sense of commercial real estate OR business savvy would very quickly realize that she's shooting herself - and the neighborhood - in the foot. I'm not looking forward to a year + of neither Papas or the Roost being occupied.

babs said...

Well, considering there are signed leases on both of those spaces I don't think you need to worry about them being unoccupied for too long, and the new businesses coming in will both be welcome additions to the neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

Can we know what they are??

babs said...

If you've been reading this blog, you know that the former Blue Roost/K-Dog space will be a cafe, owned & operated by neighborhood residents who already have a successful catering business (so they know what they're doing). Can't talk about the other space yet ( so much renovation to be done - it's pathetic the state that space is in), but when they are ready they will reach out to the community for input.

MattOnLincoln said...

"For whatever reason, the block has become a stand-in for issues of the neighborhood at large. Perhaps it's mine and others' faults for continuing to report on it as if it were anything other than the churning of commercial real estate, which is ultimately all it is."

Nah, you're being overly rhetorical. This block genuinely adds up to more than the churn of its commercial real estate. Streetscapes around Prospect and Central Park entrances are major community assets. Same goes for streetscapes around express train stops. Storefronts on that Lincoln block have the potential to serve PLG's many resident commuters, and also welcome visitors from around the city. So they're multi-layered indicators of what the community is about.

Maybe you're making the point that one shouldn't separate the Lincoln Rd streetscape from the streetscapes around the corner on Flatbush? PLG has 3 entrances to park (and garden), including Parkside. Many of us are relieved that none of these 3 stretches cater exclusively to the city's moneyed residents, who now dominate many other n'hoods. Yet it'd be a boon if these 3 areas could become genuinely comfortable and inviting public places to linger, echoing the nearby green space.

Anonymous said...

I've actually heard from no fewer than 3 sources that the landlady is trying to screw the catering company out of more money. She has no idea what she is doing, frankly, and her continued push to also drive out LPT makes that pretty clear.

There are already guys hanging out infront of Papas doing whatever idle hands get into in this neighborhood.