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There are plenty of Starbucks in Manhattan (over 170), but if you head over to Brooklyn -- you'll see the streets are mostly void of discarded Venti cups and hardly anyone has heard Josh Groban's new Christmas album. But things are about to change, chain-haters beware.
A recent Brooklyn Real Estate Roundtable meeting revealed that retail giants such as Starbucks, Duane Reade pharmacies and Chase Bank are planning to double and in some cases triple their presence in the borough.Brooklyn (which currently only has a smattering of the Seattle-based beanery) can expect 75 more Starbucks in the next three years, 20 more Chase banks (there are currently 46) and Duane Reade will double it's dosage with an expected 60 stores total in the next three years. Will the borough open up and say "ahhh" to expensive specialty coffee drinkacinnos, or stick to their mom and pop shop? The Daily News reports that "If you're sipping a $4 latte from Starbucks, chances are everything's rosy...analysts say if you got your cup of joe for 75 cents from the guy on the corner, times are likely hard - and New Yorkers seem to back them up." The company does say it's looking at areas with "good income demographics." We expect to see a lot more "Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Starbucks" graffiti around, and perhaps a Reverend Billy sighting. Read more about the good and the bad of the 'Bucks, and The Times article on a more corporate Brooklyn.
Photo of Starbucks-holding couple and the Brooklyn Bridge via Eisenberg's Flickr.
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The company does say it's looking at areas with "good income demographics."
Guess they ain't moving to my neighborhood! Sweet.
depressing. i live in greenpoint, brooklyn. we have several pretty cool cafes here. but earlier this year starbucks moved into the vacated burger king. we only have half a train (the G), but at least we have easy access to venti latte.
also in Greenpoint, don't forget the two Rite Aids 2 blocks from each other, along with about 20 banks and 50 Thai restaurants within 1/4 mile stretch. How about a usable laundromat?
the only chain I was actually anticipating was Ricky's, and it doesn't look like that's going to happen now.
I only go into starbucks if I see a hot chick drinking a venti. Which is never! maybe once in a blue moon. You have your business class ladies drinking in starbucks. boring.
I don't care what they put in, but Grand Street in Williamsburg seriously needs some new businesses.
The stretch between Union Ave. and Bushwick is incredibly depressing. A Duane Reade would actually be really nice. There are a few decent restaurants, but it's mostly junk stores that smell like mothballs and empty shops that have been closed for 20 years.
I'm sick of having to go to Manhattan. Please somebody open a non-Chinese restaurant/Spanish restaurant/bodega/mothball store on Grand St.
you're right, freshyill. wombat, huckleberry bar, bushwick country club, second look, le barricou, willburg cafe, affinity bicycles, the health food store, key foods, art bar, freshthetic, bahia and da closet are no good. maybe if you would stop going to manhattan, the businesses opening on grand street wouldn't have such a hard time surviving.
shovel - the two rite aids are only because rite aide bought eckerd. not that either location is going to close. and there was a ricky's for a little bit. they had a halloween popup store next to citibank.
"I don't care what they put in, but Grand Street in Williamsburg seriously needs some new businesses."
The secret to getting new businesses is getting rid of the old neighbors!
tien - I did read they bought the Eckerd chain, but nonetheless it's still depressing. As far as the temporary Ricky's, there was a sign during this time that said the location would be a permanent store in December. As of now there is a "for rent" sign in the window.
I'm sure Duane Reade will open instead.
Ricky's opened in Brooklyn Heights a few months ago. Maybe they thought Greenpoint wasn't ready.
The middle-aged Polish ladies already have their hair spray, peroxide and blue eyeshadow needs taken care of.
fingers crossed, shovel! or maybe another chase!
jink: mmm, love bahia's papusas.
"If you're sipping a $4 latte from Starbucks, chances are everything's rosy...analysts say if you got your cup of joe for 75 cents from the guy on the corner, times are likely hard"
Really? I thought it meant that you, you know, weren't a complete brainwashed idiot.
There's only one Chipotle in Brooklyn. That's just not right.
Weird, I could swear there were already a zillion Duane Reades in Brooklyn.
Of course, given that Duane Reade sucks, I kinda wish there were fewer.
shovel -- what's the deal with the Ricky's in Greenpoint? I was eagerly awaiting that!!!!! This is news to me...