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Red Hook seemed eerily quiet on Saturday, as we checked out the traffic flow on Columbia and Van Brunt Streets on the West Side of the neighborhood. Any prediction of overwhelming weekend gridlock seemed not to be panning out-- except for one Ikea bus ferrying people from Boro Hall, the scene seemed as quiet and bucolic as any summer weekend in years past. Indeed, maybe even quieter, as people who'd normally be out at the Van Brunt shops were checking out the Swedish wares. Local shops seemed to realize this-- we spotted a few signs like the ones above attempting to draw people away from the store.
Closer to Beard Street, where the store is located, we noticed more traffic-- a long line of cars backing up Columbia Street by the Projects. Most of this traffic seemed to be coming from the BQE-- in weeks hence, perhaps people will reroute along Richards and Van Brunt, as they learn the main approach along Columbia is crowded with cars.
Around the store, the new Erie Basin Park seemed oddly empty, except for people coming to and from the Water Taxi pier. A few families were enjoying the deserted piers-- biking or strolling with babies-- but everyone else was inside the store. Indeed, as soon as we crossed the threshold, we were trapped in an overwhelming crowd that swept us into the labyrinth of aisles that makes up the massive building. Every nook and cranny, from the model apartments to the food court, was filled with people-- it's hard to imagine the place could get any more crowded. And yet, most of the parking lots were still empty-- what will the place be like when they are filled?
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I went Saturday morning at 10 and took the shuttle buses they had. It was easy to get to, and didn't notice much traffic.
The area where the IKEA is is a bit unsavory. Why exactly were residents complaining?
BC- The RH residents were probably complaining about the high volume of traffic clogging narrow streets. If Saturday seemed quiet, by Sunday evening, traffic cops were directing drivers to keep going because the lots were full. Best bet is to take public trans or ride your bike if you are only going for the meatballs and lingonberries.
I really do think that a great percentage of the people who will be shopping at this Ikea do not have cars. All us city folk who have been taking the bus to Elizabeth all these years can now take public transport to this Ikea. Granted, it is opening weekend, so we'll see how things shape up with traffic in the coming months, but yeah, I'm not surprised that the parking lot was largely empty. I was in Red Hook on Saturday and the B61 was packed with shoppers.
The area where the IKEA is is a bit unsavory.
That's a very polite way of putting it, BC. Who knew you were such the gentleman.
Anyone know if they will still be offering the shuttle bus to the Ikea in Elizabeth, NJ. I don't mind going to that location to avoid the crowds.
That's a very polite way of putting it, BC. Who knew you were such the gentleman.
Good one.
While all of Red Hook may not be so depressed, the immediate vicinity and the housing is definitely controlled by the city and statistically poorer areas are more crime laden areas. This is just fact.
My initial comment was why should the residents be so opposed to it, especially when you and I are subsidizing their housing in the first place.
Is there a way...
to offer up promotions for individual brooklyn neighborhoods. such as park slope day, red hook day, etc. and when everybody gets inside, seal the doors and pump in the xyklon D or carbon monoxide and then shovel them out to the graving dock.
I hate to say this, but I went on Thursday evening and had a mostly pleasant experience there. The water taxi is a great way to go. I was really disturbed by all those damn clowns though. They were everywhere, even in aisles in the middle of the store.
Is jenspellnogood the same as babyhitler?
You hate to say that you had a mostly pleasant experience? Were you hoping to be miserable?
Screw all you guys who don't like Ikea! I love it cause 1. It's like 5 minutes away and 2. I don't give a shit about the locals being inconvenienced cause I'm self absorbed and could care less how the neighborhood is being gentrified. Everyone who whines about Ikea being bad is either a white apologist or some local furniture store owner who's pissed they can't sell crappy furniture for insane markups anymore. the only people who live in Red hook are mexicans, more mexicans, and dumb hipsters who thought Red Hook was gonna blow up and decided to move there instead of williamsburgh but it imploded and they regretted it and have been living in envy of williamsburg and were in the midst of trying to move to williamsburgh but were waiting to see how Ikea panned out so they could justify their move to red hook.
I am the singular mohamed el kaboom, brooklyn hater, hipster despiser, the anti - anti gentrifier!
You know,stop. Seriously, just stop it.Stop posting shamelessly stupid and uninteresting advertorials about IKEA, already. It's here,it's queer, so get used to it and get the fuck over it you stupid Red Hook crybabies. You lost. You didn't get what you want. Have a fucking swedish meatball.
Really now, who cares its Red Hook. Trains don't even go there it's so lame.
Yeah fuck Red Hook.
wait I live there.
The biggest trouble spot traffic wise was Columbia Street at the buses hit that construction redirection... Looked like most of the drivers could make that turn, lotsa beeping of backing up buses.
Never saw so many cops in Red Hook. and so many lost drivers. flat pack full cars doing u turns was a very common site.
was a bit disappointed in the public space, but will take it.
and it was never us vs them, it was there is this amazing space on the water, what do you want to do with it. and Big Box won for one of the first times ever in NYC.
BTW if you going try Baked or Lenelle's on Van Brunt
I went Sunday evening... there were way too many ppl there... you could barely move around the store without saying excuse me 20 times in a row... but the French fries were good the Swedish meatballs ehhh not so much.
i took awesome pics from the pier... after the storm, i think that was the only good thing.
There were tons of security... i felt overwhelmed by it.... every time you would turn there was another guard - crazyyy but i guess its understandable giving that the projects are right across the street.