Storefronting: Starbucks Colonizes Smith Street
Friday, December 15, 2006, by Lockhart
1) Cobble Hill: For those who've lately lamented the decline of Smith Street as a destination dining experience—uhh, yeah. Emails a tipster, "This morning I saw people cleaning out the now-vacant variety store on NW corner Wyckoff & Smith. Boss man on site says they are expecting a Starbucks to move in. I have no outrage to share, I don't drink coffee." This is the first Smith Street Starbucks, and will undoubtedly become crucial to those who'd otherwise have to trek all the way to Court and Amity for the sweet, sweet foam. [Storefronting Inbox]
2) Flatiron: Back in Manhattan, the chaining of NYC continues apace. Reports blogger Manhattan Offender, "With the recent opening of a branch between Park Avenue South and Lexington, Citibank now very much owns 23rd Street. The new branch joins those at Eighth Avenue, Sixth Avenue, and Broadway as well as a kiosk just off 23rd on Park and an ATM location at 7-Eleven. With a ConEd refund check to be deposited after bank hours, there was a revelation about all of these Citibank locations. Not one has a working pen. While Citibank may be trying to become the Starbucks of banking, perhaps they should keep in mind that Starbucks would never open an outlet and not provide cups. Before opening another branch, perhaps an investment in pens could be made." [Manhattan Offender]
3) Tribeca: Vinotherapy! We have no idea what it means—something about braising oneself with wine, it seems—but it sounds new and essential, and we're all about new essentials. And lo, the Delluva Vinotherapy Day Spa has opened at 152 Franklin St. in the old Assets London space. Per The Real Estate, "The spa itself won't begin treating customers for several more weeks, while the rear of the 2,500-square-foot space is renovated. Once complete, it will feature six therapy suites and a comfy waiting area, where patrons can sip complimentary vino prior to treatment." [The Real Estate, Official Site]
can a duane reade be far behind??
ha ha ha yeah starbucks walmart coming soon
ah - NYC is so exciting. Another Starbucks, another bank branch and another day spa.
Just keeps getting better and better. So cosmopolitan.
Someone here made a good point once about how Starbucks, for all their chain attributes, represent a 'new urbanism' idea in some way. I try to keep that in mind when I see another one opening. Doesn't always help.
The Duane Reade's are another interesting phenomenon. They're almost kind of a like a new type of bodega for New Yorkers, meeting the kind of varied needs that people don't want to walk too far for.
It is about time a Starbucks comes to Smith Street. I like their coffee.
Why so close to the other 3 starbucks in the neighborhood? There's 2 in the heights and one on court and dean. Hey *bucks, how about some love for Carroll Gardens?
Its not that Starbucks coffee (espresso) is great, its just that virtually every other places sucks
I think starbucks is a decent chain to go to. It serves it's purpose. Besides, there's not really a place to get a coffee (that isn't gross). (exceptions to Boerum Hill Food Co, which has Gorilla)
And anyway, the reason why they put them so close to one another is because the first store can handle the volume of customers.
Additionally, people aren't going to make it up to court st if they are going to take the f-line.
Yeah, I don't know about other neighborhoods. We're kind of spoiled in the East Village as there are a good number of independent places where you can buy excellent coffee. Not sure if that's always the case in other neighborhoods. I assumed Smith Street would certainly have one or two. Guess not.
I'd rather get on the subway and drink my joe on Smith Street, than sip on anything in the East Village - that place is freaking filthy.
I'm so with you # 3 - it's sick what's happening here, and what's sicker is so many of these dumb turds like it! Anyone who's been living here pre- 1995 knows how it was before the "invasion of the Manhattanite Snatchers" showed up.
So fredupp, when you came in on the LIRR for a night out in Manhattan pre-1995, what did you like about it?
NOTE: The "variety" store it's Motherfucking Starbucks is replacing was a Puerto Rican variety store. There are people who lived here when Smith St was all Spanish, Italian & Arab... it was FINE.
There is a Starbucks a goddamn block away on Court. There is a Dunkin' Donuts nearby.
One free beer-- hell, one free bottle of your fave wine or champagne too-- the first person to go Trenchcoat Mafia in
1) Flight 101
2) "Brooklyn Industries" chain store cunts
3) American Apparel
4) "Angry Wade's" (just cuz)
Thank you for your consideration,
Amelia
p/s-- the bad fucking fact is, South Brooklyn has been VESTIGAL Italian for 20+ years & thus had NO late night coffee shop, unlike every other ** REAL ** dago 'hood of note. Starfuck SUV-Strollers (& their GUYANESE nannies) may still have shown up but there would have been more resitance. Enjoy life on Smith Street strip mall, douchebags!
wow, amelia, you sound very angry, and nearly vestigial yourself. perhaps a nice cup of starbucks coffee and a crash-landing in another city would straighten you out. why are you even torturing yourself by looking at 'curbed'?
This is my city, Sambo, & many of us liked it when it was fucking DISTINCT. So what if there was no fucking Target or "indie rock" (cough) jukeboxes around? Offer still stands, btw, tho' I'll expand the offer to graffiti tagging and/or putting Chain Stores Suck bumper stickers on Brooklyn Industries-- land of the sheep, home of the inane. Tell us oh sage one, where you from? I supsect it's not Maspeth Midwood Melrose Marble Hill Midland Beach, or any foreign country which at least brings some hot new shit to the table.
Enjoy the ride, dipshit.
xxoo,
Amelia
i'm from right here in brooklyn, since 1961. i hate the influx of starbucks also, but the city is always changing, and your bumper stickers won't change a thing. nyc hasn't been distinct in over a decade, so get over yourself.
Ah bing, silly man- I've been living here since 1984. How about you? '94 - '02, lived on East 7th between 1st and A. That was enough to give me a good taste of EV life. But those were different times for me, and that pad was the only one I could afford. Never would have chosen that area, it was out of necessity.
It was dirty then, and it's just as dirty now, and gee, now you get the added bonus of drunken frat boys pissing on your doorstep, and Murray Hill whores screaming down the street at 4.00 am.
Yeah so maybe you have good coffee- so drink up man, and enjoy the show. And oh, life on RSD and 84th is good, really good. I can sleep at night, and when I want a good cup of coffee, I walk to Cafe Lalo- and sit next to civilized folks.
Fredupp's the only person in NYC who thinks East VIllage is still sketchy.
I was initially thinking he was from Long Island, but now I'm guessing Jersey.
Funny, here on the UWS Starbucks are closing and being replaced by the next worse thing: bank branches (86th & Broadway, 102 & Broadway). I never thought I'd get nostalgic for the days when Starbucks lined the streets.
I didn't say sketchy genius, I said DIRTY. What's more, I can put together a very large group of people who would say it very definitely is still sketchy. Open your eyes, and take your head out of your ass man. Oh, by the way, I was born in Brescia, Lombardia - know where that is East Village lover? I doubt it....
Sincerely,
Federico Andreoli
Federico,
Shave off your buttbroom and go back where you came from, you hairy guinea.
Barely Human #24-
If it was hairy; which you mistakenly assumed it was, I would prefer to have you shave it off using your teeth, that being the only thing I can think of that a German would be useless for.
I would take offense at your comment, but being Italian I know that historically the Germans have always been jealous of us. We being the country that gave the world the Renaissance,some of the world's greatest artists, gastronomy, fashion, and all things beautiful and tasteful.
Germany contributed Sauerkraut and the Holocaust. If you like, I can take-up a collection among my fellow countrymen, and we can reopen Auschwitz and hang you by your balls from the front gate.
Happy Holidays
Federico
P.S.
You can bring Bing with you -
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