Gaia DiLoreto in her 'By Brooklyn' store
The past few months has not been good for Smith Street as stores and restaurants have been closing one by one on this once very popular commercial strip. Sadly, you can now add 'By Brooklyn' at 261 Smith Street to the long list.
PMFA was alerted to the closing by a reader who simply said: "So depressing."
'By Brooklyn' owner Gaia DiLoreto confirmed the end of the road for both her Smith Street store in Carroll Gardens and her Williamsburg store on her business' Facebook page.
She writes:
"Thank you to everyone for making the past 5 years such an incredible adventure. It's been a wild ride and we are glad you could be part of it."
This closing is not only sad for Gia, but also for the community of artists and craftsmen she helped support by selling their Brooklyn-inspired wares in her store.
By Brooklyn is inviting people to stop by the store on Saturday, April 23 for a farewell party.
Yea, this is totally depressing. Gaia and 'By Brooklyn' will be very much missed on Smith Street.
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21 comments:
So it's safe to say Smith Street is dead, right?
Epaulet's closing after Sunday, too. Smith Street is grim these days.
@Anonymous, you may be right. This is what happens when they allow too many bars on one street. It destroys all the reasons to go during the daytime.
Its now literally Bye Brooklyn on Smith Street.
And thus one more empty storefront on Smith St. Landlords don't see the irony here. By holding out for someone to pay some ridiculously high rent, they're really only bringing the market rate down for the entire area. Look at how many empty places there are on Smith St. Empty storefronts means less foot traffic.
@Anonymous: Too many bars? There isn't too many of anything these days, and I don't think too many bars were ever the problem. We've now heard it from multiple shop owners (the owner of By Brooklyn mentioned this in the DNA Info story) that losing the Met really killed the neighborhood in more ways than one. Not only do residents have to walk further for fresh food, but businesses lose customers from reduced foot traffic. This is a prime example of how interconnected urban communities are. Think about that the next time you're opening your box from Amazon Prime or FreshDirect.
What is even left on Smith Street for a local resident? I haven't eaten at a restaurant (that's currently open) on Smith other than Bar Tabac or Vinny's in years. I don't bank on Smith (not that that's some great neighborhood perk), I no longer go grocery shopping on Smith, I don't buy clothing/accessories on Smith and i don't drink on Smith.
It's amazing to think about what the street was like ten years ago vs what it's like today.
I remember living there fondly but I don't have fond memories of purchasing goods and services from staff in the shops and restaurants who automatically assume that they are more hip and cool than their customers. I liked this store and am sorry that it is going out of business. If the Area Yoga, etc., group would go out of business, now that would be something to celebrate!
I miss the shops that were on Smith St - the ones that were there before the trendy places closing now. Multiple hardware stores, variety stores, florist, liquor store, unpretentious restaurants. The ones closing now - not.
so sad, really. I bought many a gift for west coast friends (and their babies, because what's cuter than a Brooklyn-themed onesie?) at this store. I used to live above Robin des bois and we know how that ended up. Sigh.
Dassara gone now too. https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160413/carroll-gardens/dassara-ramen-quietly-closes-on-smith-street
Yes. When all the rents were give aways and cute private shops could move right in when no one else wanted. Patois. Banania. Fun and busy cafes. Met Food wasn't the greatest but it did serve the neighborhood for essentials. I'm sorry that the hardware store closed. I bought everything from them. And that shop there now? The smell of insense makes me gag. And when was there a run on Frieda Kahlo magnets?
There are bright spots but when will their days be up? By Brooklyn will live on online probably but Smith is sad. Come back, Little Sheba. Come back.
By Brooklyn will not exist online, I'm shuttering the entire operation. Thank you to all who supported my business over the years and please continue supporting the businesses that remain!
I miss the discount store where the Starbucks is now. It was good for Pokemon cards. With the Met Food gone I don't have much of a reason to walk along Smith Street. I guess I know why I was unable from Dassara the other night. My kid will be sad to hear that if closed.
I still miss Sur and the Boerum Hill Food Company.
The Painted will be moving in one year and they are concerned about whether or not they can remain in the neighborhood. The business has been on the same block for 19 years.
The Painted Pot you mean. That's a great business. I would hate to see her go.
Thankfully Portal is around for the long haul. Dominican foods. And copy cottage. Tony retired of Tonys hardware but he could have sold his hardware store as is but i think didnt go at it correctly. Smith could use a fruit and vegetable shop like in court street. Something. The Foods u Desire and others that sell chips and soda just don't have it.
Bombay Dream/Baluchi's windows are papered up too. Bergen Hill on Court closed up shop earlier this month too. Not too surprised about that one though, Ravi DeRossi can't keep anything open in Brooklyn
This is some sad news. I recently moved out of the neighborhood, and By Brooklyn and Dassara were two reasons for us to make the trek back. Now, not so much. So much of the neighborhood's character is tied up in these small businesses - hopefully the remaining ones (Stinky, Smith and Vine and Robert Newton's restaurants) stay put.
Resident since 1959. PS29, Nathan Hale JHS John Jay HS NYC Comunity College on Jay St. but most importantly a small business in Cobble Hill since 1993! I say all of this because you have to understand my philosophy of what I think is happening. Simply put, GREED!
Yup, that's it. Landlords seem to prefer leaving their storefronts empty until they find someone who is crazy enough to pay top dollars for a ting storefront, rather than to take a bit less money but secure a tenant who will say for ten, twenty or even 30 years.
More turnover and more useless chain stores are definitely in our future.
Yikes, I wanted to got here today and just found this out. I lived in CG when Smith Street was at its peak, the last few years have been depressing as I've come in from my new neighborhood - which is still going strong! - and walked down Smith seeing all the empty storefronts. Kensington, thank goodness, has so much to offer now but I wonder for how long before the landlords start getting greedy here too!
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