I was truly saddened last night when I heard from my friend Maria that the Salsa Barber of Smith Street was closing his doors at 259 Smith Street for good after many years in business. Macho and his barber shop were Known as much for the haircuts as for the salsa lessons given at night in the storefront.
A hand written sign in the window states:
A hand written sign in the window states:
Dear Customers,It has been a pleasure serving you, but we are officially closing!! Please come join us as we bid farewell to the end of an era on Saturday, March 5, 2011! Macho's new location will be 404 50th Street" 718-290-6988.
At least, the Salsa Barber found a new home in Brooklyn, but he will be missed in this neighborhood. With him goes another piece of Carroll Gardens history.
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16 comments:
I guess it's because they didn't offer a beer with every haircut..more latino culture on it's way out, how long will Nueovo Portal last? This neightborhood is getting more and more nauseatingly as every new business caters to hipster/yuppies and their spawn.
I'm Norwegian, I do remember in the early 20th century when those Italians with their pizza and social clubs came invade OUR area!
Those places, like this barber, are OWNED by old timers, most have Italian roots, who just are just GREEDY.
Looking to move out, you are so right. Everyone who has moved here in the last few years has an obligation to change their culture and become exactly the same as the people who were here before them. If they don't like it, they should stay out, because the neighborhood should NEVER change.
What makes New York City such a special and exciting place is the fact that neighborhoods are always evolving and everything is susceptible to change. This is a good thing, not a bad thing. If you don't like it, move out.
What is going on with those store fronts? Stinky next door is also moving out. Maybe new condos?
The 'newbies' move in BECAUSE of what was... Don't you people get it? I remember when 1st Place WAS the first place--clean, fragrant, the place you wanted to live! Now look at it! C'mon, give me a break--the neighborhood (the one I loved) is GONE!
That's right, frozen farts get out!
To anon 9:46, the Italins brought in pizza & social clubs--lucky you & yours. I'm part Norwegian (mostly Italian) the Italian part of me is the better fed one.
Yes Cassandra, as you proved it "change is good", new cultures are a great addition to our area.
The psychorigids that want to keep OUR area "frozen in time" need to wake up and read history.
Huh? What is everyone talking about? Stinky is MOVING down the block, not closing. And if "change" means looking like a Tulsa Shopping mall, then I'm all for "frozen Farts." Hmm. What was that Norwegian comment? You mean in Bay Ridge? What is this 1911? Oy, get those Greene Hornes back to the Continent! This is New York City, people...excuse me while I go sweep my hearth on Hester Street with my corn broom. Everyone has just got to relax! Can't we all just get along? That Salsa dude is either retiring or someone raised his rent. Simmer down, people...and I will give one credit to "Hipsters", at least they appreciate originality. OK , release the hounds!!!
Haha. Hipsters aren't an Ethnic group.
I has my hair cut here for about three years and was very sad to see the barbershop close. If I understand correctly, Rey (the father) from whom I received my haircuts is retiring and Machado (his son) is opening the new barbershop. The whole operation was a family business as the salsa lessons, which I never took, were given by the daughter. (The barber chairs were on wheels so that they could be wheeled out of the way.) I never felt less than welcomed at the barbershop.
I'm fed up with those people that don't understand that our area has always witness changes: in a nutshell:
Native American, Irish, yes Norwegian (then moved to Bay Ridge), Italians, now a mix of young families with higher income (not an ethnic group but you know who I'm referring too)
http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/ourbrooklyn/carrollgardens/
I agree, we need to get along, accept differences, change.
to anon 2:37, it's kind of difficult to welcome people that look down on you, i.e. italians, it's gotten worse the last 10 years or so. i don't think it has anything to do with 'who' the newbies are, i think it's due to their age and how that generation was raised (poorly). i guess you can't blame them directly. i fear how their offspring will turn out.
To concetta
Yes I agree, it is difficult to welcome people that look down on you, but you have to admit that the majority (maybe the silent one) is not looking down on long timers. It seems that always the "big mouths" in each group (age, ethnic, income, etc...) tend to influence the perception toward their own group, which is shame...
I think most of the newcomers of the last 5-7 yrs love the Italian roots of the nabe. But the oldtimers hate the influence that those newcomers had on prices from real estate (in the case that they don't own an apartment or a building, if they do, they LOVE them...) to groceries...
To concetta, comment made on March 4th, when you wrote "The 'newbies' move in BECAUSE of what was...", I do agree in some cases, but most newbies came and will come to our nabe because the apartments are LARGER than Manhattan, as they have kids or they want kids, Manhattan has too little to offer for a "decent" price. So I think it is a question of value that you get here real estate wise, then you add the facts that the schools are good (getting crazy crowded though...), the food scene is great (old and new), etc...
Had been there a few time. Now going to Dance Fever Studios for salsa lessons. It's about 15 minutes away.
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