Vermont Market and Pharmacy, the shuttered storefront on the corner of Sackett and Henry Streets in Carroll Gardens, has long been the source of intense neighborhood curiosity. The space, packed with old newspapers, jars, rusty maple syrup tins, and a coin operated horoscope-and-weight scale, has also inspired plenty of rumors. Neighborhood residents consider Mark Stein, the building’s owner, “a recluse who wears suspenders and prefers walking in the street,” according to a Times article about the mysterious pharmacy, and “a genius with a deep knowledge of homeopathic remedies.” more ›

This past week, the NY Times peeked inside the Vermont Market and Pharmacy in Carroll Gardens, which has been closed for over a decade...actually, owner Mark Stein wouldn't let them inside, but he does shed some light on the shuttered store. Apparently when it was open, it had a 1920s aesthetic and "was a combination drugstore and market, selling specialties from Vermont"; prior to that, and under the same owner, it was called Mark's Pharmacy. These days it serves as a look into the past, a frozen-in-time storefront sitting on Henry and Sackett Streets. Local lore is that the suspender-wearing Stein is a quirky genius and recluse who is perhaps unwilling to sell his piece of prime real estate. He recently addressed some of the speculation about the store's past with the Times:

He dispelled some of the rumors, though, saying that aliens were not the reason the store closed down. Mr. Stein said: “It didn’t quite work out.” more ›