Friday, September 27, 2019

Now that Carroll Gardens' Momofuku Milk Bar Is Gone, What Would You Like To See In Its Place?

oo
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
There was general excitement and quite a bit of press coverage when Momofuku opened a Milk Bar at 360 Smith Street, near 2nd Place in Carroll Gardens in the spring of 2012. The location on the ground floor of a newly constructed building over the F and G train at the Carroll Street station seemed perfect for an outpost of the popular bakery, with its famous Crack Pies and Cereal Milk soft
serve ice cream. Besides, it was a convenient coffee spot for commuters.
In August, we received several messages from readers letting us know that Milk Bar was officially closing at that location.  It came as quite a surprise.
A note in the window explained that after 7 years, the company was moving the staff from Carroll Gardens to its new flagship store at 29th and Broadway in Manhattan, which is slated to open this fall.
The retail space now stands empty, but perhaps not for long since this is such a high traffic corner of the neighborhood. The space is rather small, however, limiting the type of business that can thrive here.
What would you like to see at this corner?  What sort of business would do well and would be useful to local residents?  Would love to hear your thoughts.

Here is a blast from the past, before the building at 360 Smith Street was built. Who remembers the newsstand that stood at the location once occupied by this retail spot?

The corner of Smith Street and Second Place before 360 Smith Street was constructed.
 The former newsstand next to the subway station.


13 comments:

TKSmith said...

When I first worked for Assemblymember Joan Millman we'd pick up the NY Times and other papers from this newsstand for the office every morning!

Anonymous said...

a nail salon or a bank please!!!!

Katia said...

That newspaper stand owner was promised by Joel’s Stein, the developer, and then-councilmber deBlasio that he would get that space back after construction of 360 Smith Street. It never happened, obviously.

Howard Allen said...

We have some of them, but we don't have a Walgreens.

John said...

Pizza?

Anonymous said...

Wow. I loved that newsstand. So I vote for a decent coffee place with newspapers and cool magazines. Like a mini deli without vaping products. It could also sell commuter needs like phone chargers and earplugs. Purell hand sanitizer.

Steel said...

When I see the before picture it just reminds me of how much of an eyesore the current building is...

Jill said...

That place would not take cash! It was too precious. How about just a good neighborhood friendly place where I can get a coffee for max $2.00 before I get on the train, and some tissues, and some staples for dinner when I get off. NOT A CHAIN STORE.

Anonymous said...

the current building is very nice and not an eyesore at all. I feel that it blends in well with it's surrounding homes in my opinion. It's not too high and creates a nice plaza for the corner. I would love to see an Japanese omakase restaurant though! Something very small, traditional and intimate. - E

Anonymous said...

anonymous september 28, 2019 7:07 AM - the corner newsstand you seek is called Regular Visitors. it's on the corner of smith and bergen. a bit too posh for my taste, but it carries many of those items you mentioned.

as for the milk bar space, me thinks shanghainese soup dumplings fits the bill.

Katia said...

So happy the quest for Shanghainese soup dumplings is still alive and well

Anonymous said...

Bring back the historic parking lot!

Emily said...

A place that you can grab fresh pre-made dinners when you get off the train- just to heat up when you get home. So you don't have to ask the worst question ever-WHAT DO WE DO FOR DINNER?! - they would just have to have a few things per night- 2-3 options. EASY!