Store Opening/Store Closing 2.0

[c'est Moi!]

UPS Store on 94th & 3rd appears to have closed. Though there is no sign on door/window, it was not open this afternoon and everything looks packed up inside.

by bklyngirl
October 2nd, 2010, 4:31 pm

Oops, where that year go?????
I must be stuck in a time warp

[Kitchop]

UPS Store on 94th & 3rd appears to have closed. Though there is no sign on door/window, it was not open this afternoon and everything looks packed up inside.

by bklyngirl
October 2nd, 2010, 4:31 pm

Oops, where that year go?????
I must be stuck in a time warp

Thanks for confirming that I read that 2010 date correctly. I want my UPS store. But I agree that the year flew by. Whoosh! and gone!

[xoxoxo]

the former Blockbuster building is 10933 sqft. the old gas station across is zoned for utility/transportation. and two properties have different owners.

[VirginiaDave]

the former Blockbuster building is 10933 sqft. the old gas station across is zoned for utility/transportation. and two properties have different owners.

Is this the whole building or just the part where blockbuster was? That still should be enough space.

[xoxoxo]

Is this the whole building or just the part where blockbuster was? That still should be enough space.

whole building.

[bklyngirl]

bklngrl, your OP that was quoted was posted on October 2, 2010 not 2011, right? That's over a year ago, which is why I was confused about why it was coming up now.

I was confused too when I saw it come up today. I didn't remember when it was originally posted, just knew that it was old so I did a BRT search this morning and saw it was from Oct 2010. C'est Moi was in a time warp indeed. lol

[bklyngirl]

Now that sounds like the Greek paneantico. I hope they have good kourambiethes.

Ha! You beat me to it. I took a quick glance around Athens tonight on my way home from work and I was about to post on here that Athens appears to be what I was expecting Goustaro to be (but isn't) and more.

[queenoftheclick]

I would love a TJ's in Bay Ridge - even a small one!

I go to Staten Island's Trader Joes at least twice a month. I buy some organic things at Foodtown, but they have a lot more things at TJ's that I use. I particularly love their ricotta cheese as it makes lasagna and baked ziti taste amazing. I always get potatoes there. Once I heard about the amount of pesticides used on potatoes, I started buying the organic kind (and TJ's has cute tiny tiny ones too)

Potato info here: http://whatsonmyfood.org/food.jsp?food=PO

[brgirl]

I checked out Athens Market today and they were offering samples of their kourambiethes (loade with both almonds & walnuts) as well as finikia (a.k.a. melomakarana) and both were scrumptious! The owner (Steve) is starting slow since he wants to get input from his customers on what they would like to see in the store. We like a specific type of Greek cheese and currently the only place where I can get it where it's fresh is Titan in Astoria, Steve said he would try to get some for me within the next week. Prices on olives were good between $3.99-4.99/lb. Looks like it'll be a nice place to shop, I hope they do well.

[Tara]

I went to the new met citymarket a few times now. Very nice alternative to food town and much closer to me right off the train. The store is clean, well organized.
The selection of produce and meats were small, but of good quality and fair prices. The staff are very friendly. A very welcome addition up here in the 90's.

[lonestar]

i am loving citymarket and pioneer supermarkets, both clean and organized

[c'est Moi!]

i am loving citymarket and pioneer supermarkets, both clean and organized

Ditto on Pioneer, I've been there a few times but it's a bit out of the way for me, City market is a welcome alternative.
With those and Athena I can make less trips to FT with their idiotic useless staff and not so fresh meats..

[carfreeinla]

I know some of the Fairway folk and believe me, I petition them on behalf of BR regularly. Getting me no where however.
But I am dreaming about a 10k sq ft Dairy Queen...

[Observateur]

I went to the new met citymarket a few times now. Very nice alternative to food town and much closer to me right off the train. The store is clean, well organized.
The selection of produce and meats were small, but of good quality and fair prices. The staff are very friendly. A very welcome addition up here in the 90's.

I stopped in a few times and thought it was a decent place, but my wife has become a real fan. This was a shocker, since (like me) she views supermarkets and grocery shopping as the Seventh Circle of Hell.

[CommenterX]

Sorry to see Turqua Grill go... that spot is the storefront of death, it was a comedy club for a couple of years, a Peruvian place for a while. Place was great, good prices, great food... wish I ate there more! I hope their new neighbors learn something, though... their customer service was atrocious.... they seemed shocked, surprised, dismayed when you came in for a meal. Treated you well once they figured out why you would have walked into their otherwise completely empty restaurant..... TG lasted longer than all the others, but just did not "get it".

Their neighbors, Athens Market, suffers from a much more disconcerting habit. They are openly hostile from the minute you walk in. Have left there angry at the contempt they show for my time and business emptyhanded twice, and decided to give them a third try, where I stuck it out through 15 minutes of EVERYTHING being more important than selling anyone anything.... maybe it is a Meditteranean thing, but if that is the way they intend to do business, I give them until June, tops...... which would be a shame, since the area could use a good place for interesting cheese, olives, etc. I hope they figure it out soon.

[bklyngirl]

Their neighbors, Athens Market, suffers from a much more disconcerting habit. They are openly hostile from the minute you walk in. Have left there angry at the contempt they show for my time and business emptyhanded twice, and decided to give them a third try, where I stuck it out through 15 minutes of EVERYTHING being more important than selling anyone anything....

I walked in there a few nights ago on my way home. I didn't buy anything at the time cause my hands were full with other bags, I just wanted to take a quick look around and check it out. The staff was friendly from the minute I walked in. I plan on going back and checking it out more thoroughly, maybe pick up a few things.
I also want to check out Metropolitan Citymarket soon, haven't gone in there yet.

[qwijibo]

Hi all.
I stopped by Athens Market to pick up a late lunch. I did a quick loop around the store and stopped by the prepared foods
where I was helped right away. I got 3 stuffed peppers, a spinach pie, 2 pieces baklava and a 1 pound box of kourambiedes.
Looking forward to trying a frappe next time.

Happy New Year !!

[BobO 2.0]

Stopped by C-Town today, seemed like a good selection and decent prices. We also recently went to Pioneer recently, pretty good set up. Places like Food Town and Associated need to pick up their game, they are not the only game in town anymore.

[PuffinJ]

We went to Athens Market today and it was fine. No one was pushing anything on us but no one was "openly hostile" either. I think we got more attention after we started picking things up to purchase and asking questions, but that's just fine with me.

We bought olives, stuffed grape leaves, and some other things. The grape leaves are decent but I prefer the ones at Karam (maybe that's a different style though?). They carry halloumi, which is great to grill in the summer, and several types of feta. I will have to try the feta there sometime. Prices were quite reasonable. They had the fire going in the oven.

I wonder what Foodtown and Key Food are going to do given all the good new supermarkets? Will they be able to cut prices to compete?

[maggies]

Their neighbors, Athens Market, suffers from a much more disconcerting habit. They are openly hostile from the minute you walk in. Have left there angry at the contempt they show for my time and business emptyhanded twice, and decided to give them a third try, where I stuck it out through 15 minutes of EVERYTHING being more important than selling anyone anything.... maybe it is a Meditteranean thing, but if that is the way they intend to do business, I give them until June, tops...... which would be a shame, since the area could use a good place for interesting cheese, olives, etc. I hope they figure it out soon.

Is this a joke or what? I went to Athens Market yesterday and the people who work there could not be more friendly and accommodating. They have not yet had their grand opening and are still getting the lay of the land as far as employees, etc. The main guy who I think is an owner helped us at the cheese counter and also made the frappe. Another man helped us at the bakery and prepared foods area. There was also a butcher in the back. I asked for a recommendation of a good feta for the table not for cooking and he recommended one which was not the most expensive one there. It was very very good. The frappe was also very nice but the koumbiades were the best I have had outside of a family member's. They are butter cookies made with nuts. I am looking forward to trying the moussaka. I nice addition to the neighborhood.

[bklyngirl]

Is this a joke or what?

Since it's from a new screenname, might be another business that sees this place as potential competition.

[Observateur]

Not all that "new," and previously posted re: Goustaro's.

(Edited to correct name.)

[bklyngirl]

Around here I consider 2 months to still be "new". lol

[naked rev. trish]

Went to Athens. It does still have that not opened yet feel (they haven't had their grand opening yet). But like someone else said once you ask a question they are more than helpful. We tasted cookies and cheese. They were roasting coffee. Their cookies are delicious and their custard dessert (the one that starts with a g and goes on for a while that I like to just point at) is seriously fabulous and they have 2 kinds -- one in dessert form and one not as sweet. I did find the olive section to be a little blah/boring looking.

They do have a butcher section and it's being served by John (formerly of Richie & Vinnie's) and it's not pre-packaged stuff. It's all the way in the back on the left.

[qwijibo]

their custard dessert (the one that starts with a g and goes on for a while that I like to just point at) is seriously fabulous and they have 2 kinds -- one in dessert form and one not as sweet. .

This one ?

Wiki
Galaktoboureko (γαλακτομπούρεκο) is a Greek dessert of semolina-based custard (sometimes flavored with lemon or orange) in phyllo. It may be made in a pan, with phyllo layered on top and underneath, or rolled into individual servings (often approximately 10 cm long). It is served or coated with a clear, sweet syrup.

Its name is derived from the words gala (γάλα; milk in Greek) and bourek (Turkish word burek: pie or pastry).

Easy to pronounce: Galacto-Boo-Rico

[naked rev. trish]

Yes. I just can't seem to get it to stick in my head.

[beerman]

"Bay Ridge" posted this on facebook:

John, formerly of Richie & Vinnie's is behind the butcher counter at Athens Market (the old Goodfella's space between 96&97 on 3rd).

i rememer when he was the delivery guy for them

[Kitchop]

I ordered delivery from Glow Thai last night for the first time and delivery was fast but I was very disappointed in the food. We kept it very basic for our first test. My friend had green curry with chicken, which was fine. Not great but good enough.

But my Chicken Pad Thai was some of the worst Pad Thai I've ever had. The noodles, which should be long flat rice noodles were like overcooked vermicelli. So overcooked and mushy that a lot of the noodles were in broken, short, bite-sized pieces. There was so little chicken that a vegetarian would have been fooled. And it was the blandest, most tasteless "sauce" on those noodles. It didn't have any of the flavors that I associate with pad thai. It was strange. It just didn't have any flavor. And very little stuff to add a little crunch like peanuts, shoots or scallion.

I was hoping for a go-to Thai restaurant in the neighborhood. But I'm reluctant to try anything else from a restaurant that makes such bad pad thai. Very disappointed. I really wanted to like it.

[bklyngirl]

Finally went into Metropolitan Citymarket this evening. I like it; pretty good produce section, and meat was lower prices than Foodtown.

[JustinBrannan]

Now I'm hearing Trader Joe's looked at the space (old Blockbuster on 3rd) but it wasn't big enough...
::cue the sad trombone::

[VirginiaDave]

Booooooooo

[italiana71]

So... does this mean that TJ's is in the market in Bay Ridge?

[Kitchop]

That's disappointing news. Is there an available space in BR that would be big enough for Trader Joe's? Most of their NYC stores are 15,000 sq ft, although their Chelsea store is 41,000 sq ft. So, I guess the Blockbuster site is about 4,000 sq ft short of 15,000 sq ft. A Third Ave TJ's would have been great for me. Since I don't have a car, a TJ's in BR less easily accessible by bus won't be as exciting to me. I already shop at TJ's at Atlantic & Court and drag groceries home via the 63 bus. It would have been nice to have a TJ's closer.

[xoxoxo]

the biggest viable space for another supermarket in Bay Ridge is the former A&P site at 4 Avenue & Senator Street, with 20550 sqft (including the next door laundromat). But that location is not prime enough and with a lower household income range. Otherwise, the Verizon building at 77 Street & 3 Avenue can be converted into use "someday". Or the current Rite Aid site at 72 Street & 3 Avenue by combining the upper two floors of of the old Bay Ridge theater.

[Kitchop]

the biggest viable space for another supermarket in Bay Ridge is the former A&P site at 4 Avenue & Senator Street, with 20550 sqft (including the next door laundromat). But that location is not prime enough and with a lower household income range. Otherwise, the Verizon building at 77 Street & 3 Avenue can be converted into use "someday". Or the current Rite Aid site at 72 Street & 3 Avenue by combining the upper two floors of of the old Bay Ridge theater.

Personally, it would be easier for me to continue shopping at TJ's at Court & Atlantic than it would at 4th & Senator. Also, never riding by it and, therefore, never seeing it, I think it would be out of sight/out of mind for me at that location. But I'm sure it would be great for people in that area of BR and for people with cars. The Verizon location would be great. Is it empty? TJ's in downtown is in a converted Independence Bank building. Re the Rite Aid location, I think all of TJ's other stores are in single floor formats. Did I hear a rumor that Rite Aid on Third at 93rd might close? If so, that might be big enough.

[xoxoxo]

The Blockbuster space is good if the owner adds one more floor on top of the ground floor.

[VirginiaDave]

The Blockbuster space is good if the owner adds one more floor on top of the ground floor.

It would probably be cheaper to knock it down and start over.

[Laertes607]

That's disappointing news. Is there an available space in BR that would be big enough for Trader Joe's? Most of their NYC stores are 15,000 sq ft, although their Chelsea store is 41,000 sq ft. So, I guess the Blockbuster site is about 4,000 sq ft short of 15,000 sq ft. A Third Ave TJ's would have been great for me. Since I don't have a car, a TJ's in BR less easily accessible by bus won't be as exciting to me. I already shop at TJ's at Atlantic & Court and drag groceries home via the 63 bus. It would have been nice to have a TJ's closer.

Via the 63 bus? which bus is that and along which avenue/street does it run?

I just use the subway, is the bus easier?

[Kitchop]

That's disappointing news. Is there an available space in BR that would be big enough for Trader Joe's? Most of their NYC stores are 15,000 sq ft, although their Chelsea store is 41,000 sq ft. So, I guess the Blockbuster site is about 4,000 sq ft short of 15,000 sq ft. A Third Ave TJ's would have been great for me. Since I don't have a car, a TJ's in BR less easily accessible by bus won't be as exciting to me. I already shop at TJ's at Atlantic & Court and drag groceries home via the 63 bus. It would have been nice to have a TJ's closer.

Via the 63 bus? which bus is that and along which avenue/street does it run?

I just use the subway, is the bus easier?

No. The subway is easier & faster. I've had a bad last year and a half orthopedic injury and surgerywise (ruptured Achilles tendon, torn meniscus), so it's easier for me using the bus for now rather than "running" up & down subway stairs carrying a lot of stuff. Yay for my iPhone so I can get stuff done on the long bus ride. Like post on message boards. The 63 stops right across from TJ's downtown and runs along Atlantic, then Fifth Ave. I swim at the Y across the street from TJ's, so I'm there a lot. The old 37 route used to be a much faster bus from downtown to BR along Third Ave. The quickest route is driving the BQE/Gowanus/Belt. One more major injury and I may think about buying a car.

[Kitchop]

The Blockbuster space is good if the owner adds one more floor on top of the ground floor.

It would probably be cheaper to knock it down and start over.

I agree that it would cheaper to tear it down and build new. But I still don't see a TJ's laid out on two floors. I think they would want a ground floor with enough square footage. Almost every shopper has a cart. They'd need a way to move all those carts up & down.

[PuffinJ]

The Blockbuster space is good if the owner adds one more floor on top of the ground floor.

It would probably be cheaper to knock it down and start over.

I agree that it would cheaper to tear it down and build new. But I still don't see a TJ's laid out on two floors. I think they would want a ground floor with enough square footage. Almost every shopper has a cart. They'd need a way to move all those carts up & down.

They might prefer a one-level space ready to move in. But for places where it is necessary/desirable to consider multiple floors, there are special escalators for carts that run alongside escalators for people in multi-level stores. Whole Foods in Union Square has one, as most of their store is on the basement level.

[bklyngirl]

yeah I'm surprised Kitchop isn't familiar with those conveyor-like escalators; Costco in sunset park and Bed Bath & Beyond in the city has it too.

[c'est Moi!]

The Blockbuster space is good if the owner adds one more floor on top of the ground floor.

It would probably be cheaper to knock it down and start over.

I agree that it would cheaper to tear it down and build new. But I still don't see a TJ's laid out on two floors. I think they would want a ground floor with enough square footage. Almost every shopper has a cart. They'd need a way to move all those carts up & down.

TJ's on the upper west side is on two floors and has the escalator setup mentioned.

[naked rev. trish]

not a big fan of the cart escalator -- always feel like the store is chopped up.

I think all the new markets opening up in BR has cut into TJ's and Fairway's perceived customer base for this area. I don't blame them for passing up that space.

[c'est Moi!]

not a big fan of the cart escalator -- always feel like the store is chopped up.

And this affects the rest of us "younger" and more adaptable folks in what way?

[naked rev. trish]

not a big fan of the cart escalator -- always feel like the store is chopped up.

And this affects the rest of us "younger" and more adaptable folks in what way?

go pick a fight with the other assholes. I'm not in the mood to be yours today.

[c'est Moi!]

not a big fan of the cart escalator -- always feel like the store is chopped up.

And this affects the rest of us "younger" and more adaptable folks in what way?

go pick a fight with the other assholes. I'm not in the mood to be yours today.

Then shut the fuck up in the first place.

[naked rev. trish]

not a big fan of the cart escalator -- always feel like the store is chopped up.

And this affects the rest of us "younger" and more adaptable folks in what way?

go pick a fight with the other assholes. I'm not in the mood to be yours today.

Then shut the fuck up in the first place.

why? I simply stated my opinion. you chose to respond with your superior attitude. You should have shut the fuck up in the first place.

[c'est Moi!]

not a big fan of the cart escalator -- always feel like the store is chopped up.

And this affects the rest of us "younger" and more adaptable folks in what way?

go pick a fight with the other assholes. I'm not in the mood to be yours today.

Then shut the fuck up in the first place.

why? I simply stated my opinion. you chose to respond with your superior attitude. You should have shut the fuck up in the first place.

If you think I have a superior attitude it's probably because I am. Maybe you should think twice before you respond to something I post with your stuck up bitchiness.

[naked rev. trish]

not a big fan of the cart escalator -- always feel like the store is chopped up.

And this affects the rest of us "younger" and more adaptable folks in what way?

go pick a fight with the other assholes. I'm not in the mood to be yours today.

Then shut the fuck up in the first place.

why? I simply stated my opinion. you chose to respond with your superior attitude. You should have shut the fuck up in the first place.

If you think I have a superior attitude it's probably because I am. Maybe you should think twice before you respond to something I post with your stuck up bitchiness.

OH MY! duly humbled.