The hamburger joint, which opened in May 2011, never really took off, partly because of it's prices, partly because of it's uninviting interior. It also faced stiff competition from Five Guys and Moo Burger just a few blocks further on Court Street in Cobble Hill. Or perhaps it was just the name.
In December 2011, Vinzee's owner posted a sign in the window announcing the eatery's new "Winter hours." Basically, the place was only open from Thursdays to Sundays from then on.
By then, it was just a matter of time before it's final demise.
In the last few day, I got two emails from readers telling me that the place is now closed all the time.
Eryana writes:
"Vinzee's Magic Fountain totally kaput? It looks like they've been closed the past few days. After they reduced their hours a few months ago, it wasn't looking promising."
And Dineocrat comments:
"I live by Vinzies and saw that they weren't even open for their winter hours this week. They were closed all weekend. Just wanted to let you know. I wonder what would do well in the space."
Good question! What would do well here?
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20 comments:
I'd love to see a decent mid-range supermarket, but the market will probably demand a Duane Reade or Bank of America.
I feel sorry for the elderly Italian couple who let their son convince them to close up the laundromat to make it the into the terrible Vinzee's. I would love if someone turned it back into a clean new laundromat!!! We need it!
Erratic hours seems to be the warning sign that a restaurant isn't going to make it. See Fulltummy. Now Vinzee's and possibly Sadie's Kitchen (although I hope not--I love their biscuits).
Open an Ice cream and coffee place!
The Dunkin Donuts is terrible - usually it is 90 degrees inside and awful service but the only option if you need to sit.
i live just a few doors down from Vinzee's, but I've never been. While I love burgers and I get takeout around the neighborhood often, the decor is really uninviting to adults without children. It looks like it's made for a kid's birthday party and I'd be embarrassed to go in there as a single adult. I don't mind the name though!
To contrast, Moo burger looks good for kids and adults...
Pseudo-Tyrolian beer garden.
That's very funny, Tony.
2 Thoughts -
1st - For a decent mid-range grocery try Good Food on Court. It's run by the same family of Professional Butchers for 3 generations AND they have many well priced grocery items.
2nd - I tried Vinzee's for the 1st time a couple of weeks ago on the last REALLY warm Saturday. My wife & I enjoyed the Hot Dogs (which weren't over priced for foot longs) and the man running the counter was friendly and kept the place very, very clean - unlike the old Magic Fountain. It would be great if he could afford to open the place because he had a lot of great ideas - including a better schedule.
As far as the decor - it was a classic (yet clean) Coney Island Hot Dog Stand/Storefront design. It was perfect for what it offered, AND it had outdoor yet private seating.
They had a sign out front on their clapboard that they were going to change this menu this spring....well spring is here and Vinzee's isn't. I saw a few business men in there yesterday doing a walking through. My guess he's going to rent it out to someone else that wants to do a burger/hot dog/faux fast food joint. And while we are at it- Snack Shop (next door has re-opened) Now it has dirty hipsters with wacky haircuts making coffee...
Starbucks's would do great here. Seriously.
Not sure what I'd like to see there but I'd like to NOT see there: a bank, nail salon, hair salon, Thai food, Mexican food, yogurt place, baby clothing store ANOTHER coffee shop.
Actually, I would like to see an African food restaurant. Maybe monthly pop-up Etsy shops from artists/craftspeople who design unique objects - not the same-o same-o you see while wandering Court and Smith Street.
White Castle or Popeye's anyone?
How about a chinese place with clean fresh food. It's a pretty terrible selection in the area neighborhood with all the corn-starch/MSG/flavorless mush that is served by places like Ting Hua, Wing Hua, Red Apple, Me and My Egg Roll, Ling Ling. It'd be a joy to have fresh fast clean chinese delivery in the neighborhood.
Isn't it the same owners as the Dunkin Donuts across the street? My money is on Starbucks or a chain restaurant.
By the way, is anyone else stunned that the people who took over Snack Shop opened up a watered-down version of the exact same store that just failed there?
I own area yoga and whenever I am at the studio for the past 6 months, I sit and wonder when Vinzees is/was going to close........
I think a really good vegetarian & raw restaurant would be good. Something like Quintessence. http://www.raw-q.com/
From the name to the decor, Vinzee's was doomed from the start. With no real restaurant or marketing experience these sons simply blew through their parents $$ with no real consideration for the neighborhoods needs. Suggestions for the space would be a good coffee house (not a Starbucks) with comfortable seating, free WiFi and a great menu al-la Canteen on Smith Smith Street that offered breakfast, lunch and late night options. The adjacent patio is great too! Could be a winner with the right experienced talent.
The guy that opened Snack Shop is really awesome. I hope people support them. That bodega on 1st place and Court is so disgusting and doesn't sell anything except for Lotto tickets and cigs. At least this place is an easy stop in for Organic milk, coffee, beverages, etc. Better than having to walk down to gourmet fresh. The owner has been so nice everytime we've been in. They also sell the cheapest Stumptown coffee you will find anywhere. Also- not everyone under 30 is a hipster. Try going to Williamsburg some time and you'll realize how good we have it.
^that would fail faster then Vinzees. They might get the yoga crowd- but they aren't going to get kids and adults
Considering how many yoga studios or places in the neighborhood that have yoga classes, a place that attracts a yoga crowd is actually a good thing.
I personally am sick of all these burger places.....how many burger places does on neighborhood need? It is last years restaurant trend and I am so over it.
But the restaurant business is very hard and glad I am not in it! So I have no idea what restaurant would do well, but clearly Vinzees was a bomb from the start. The style was not what this neighborhood wants.
Dirty hipsters ? I'll take a dirty hipster over that awful orange sign any day. The place looks clunky from the street. The layout looks sloppy.
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