Nostrand to get a Coffee Shop Soon!
Credit: Nostrandpark.com
We’re so tickled by this news we couldn’t wait for our regular Monday, Wednesday, Friday blog cycle to discuss.
Some may recall a previous post that we’ve done about the Pacific Street Cafe – a cafe project that was an extension of the Pacific Street Loft condominium development a few doors down at 1311 Pacific Street.
Apparently, the developer was having difficulties finding someone to run the cafe, so the place remained dormant for a while. But we received a tip from reader Lee who noticed “activity” going on at the cafe, so we decided to investigate.
Apparently some new owners have taken over the cafe and plan to open it by September or October of this year. (Now, of course, this is not the first coffee shop to open on Nostrand. Long before the Glass House, Breukelen, and Pulp and Bean, there was Bagels and High Tea. For a number of reasons Bagels and High Tea did not flourish, but perhaps it just wasn’t the time.) We had a nice long talk with the owners, David and Arson Arsen. David and Arson Arsen are also the proprietors of a jewelry shop around the corner from the cafe. Now if the run down plexi-glass jewelry shop is any indication of what’s to come, then don’t even bother.
BUT we pressed the duo hard about the need for a QUALITY establishment that addresses the needs of an increasingly diverse socio-economic resident base. They assured us that they are striving to make the coffee shop a quality “high end” space, serving bagels, Italian pastries from Ariola pastries, fresh smoothies, and of course, coffee. This blogger doesn’t even drink coffee, but is excited about the news.
They also said they are hoping to get a sidewalk cafe permit (which of course is part of the vision of Destination Nostrand … plug in, plug out). And if successful, they will expand to another neighboring establishment. Oh … and they will be changing the name to “Pacific Oasis Cafe”. Keep your ears out.
Popularity: 46% [?]
That’s great news! I wish them well. If they’re successful, that bodes well for the neighborhood. Maybe somebody will open a coffee shop closer to Eastern Parkway for those of us who like our coffee properly brewed and tasty – sorry Dunkin’!
This is the BEST news!
I’m so excited about this. I can’t wait
Finally we needed a place like this. Hope it will open sooner.
Finally a place to get a descent coffee. The neighborhood needs it
During the 1950s when I was a youngster living on Pacific between Nostrand and New York, this little place was a soda shop and newspaper stand. Black and white tile floors. Wood and glass cabinets. A long fountain and stools.
There were lots of papers in those days: Times, Trib, Mirror, News, Post (at the time the most liberal of them all!), etc. and I was sent out each Sunday to lug them home.
This intersection also had a grocery, a shoe repair shop and a stationers, a lively hub for our block. It was the first place where I learned to spend money and to interact with adults who weren’t family or my teachers.
A healthy neighborhood needs all kinds of retail. And not just for grown-ups but for kids, too, because a good neighborhood “main street” helps teach them a thing or two.
Nostalgic on Park Avenue
I think there is some serious pent-up demand for a good coffee shop on Nostrand. Franklin has it’s dueling shops, but Nostrand is ready. The right people can really make this take off. Wishing them lots of luck…
I wish they would expand in Prospect Lefferts-
Gardens
Shoots! I was kind of hoping that Nostrand would hold strong to coffee shops and burger joints. I was walking down Nostrand the other day and was thinking how amazing the ave is with a unique west indian african design. I asked a new resident what she thought of the neighborhood, whether she liked west indian food. Her response was, “I like my building and who lives in it.” All I could think to ask next was, “Why did you move there then?”
Folks moving to Crown Heights need to take a look around and talk we people in the neighborhood to get a sense of whats going on, make connections between race and class. I know this is a cliche diatribe but seriously, this is Brooklyn at its finest, Nostrand ave. Where else can you find this? You can find coffee shops and low budget artists in a number of hoods. Folks move into crown heights and the next day tell their new neighbors to turn down their music, stop making so much noise with their partying cause the new writer needs quite to concentrate. New folks should move in with open ears and open eyes to get a sense of the community they are moving into. By talking with people on the block, in your building, newbees can then understand how they are interacting or not with people who have lived there for years. Show some respect and say hello. thats a start