El Milagro Opens Pop-Up Store On Smith Street. Will Get Permanent Home Across the Street In Spring

Owner Roberto Lopez

El Milagro, a jewelry, gift, and home decor store has opened a Holiday pop-up location that will remain open throughout December at 180 Smith Street.
The merchandise is sourced from around the world by owner Roberto Lopez, who already owns similar store on 5th and 7th  Avenues and  Park Slope.  Come April, Lopez will be taking over Tony's Hardware Store at 181 Smith Street as a more permanent home for El Milagro in Boerum Hill.
You can follow El Milagro on Facebook here.



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Ecopolis Closes Its Door On Smith Street

Independently, readers Donald and Tim contacted me to let me know that Ecoplis Café, at 180 Smith Street at Warren Street had recently closed its doors. I passed by to confirm the news and sure enough, tho 'ecologically-friendly" neighborhood coffee place apparently called it quits on February 26th. A note in the window from the owner and staff bids farewell to its customers and urges everyone to support the next business that will be taken over the space.
The café had been in business at this location since 2010, moving into the new building shortly after construction was completed.
I must admit that I never ventured into Ecoplis.
Was it any good? Will it be missed? Any suggestion for appropriate business uses for the storefront?

And here is another closing on Smith Street, just a few doors down from Ecolplis. The independently-owned Verizon Wireless store at number 158 Smith Street has been emptied except for the shelving and some chairs.

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Where Once A Dogwood Grew, A Building Nears Completion

The sweet little corner garden that once graced Smith Street at the corner of Warren
in May 2008, the day construction scaffolding went up.

And the same corner now!

Agreed! As far as new buildings go, 311 Warren/180 Smith is not as bad as some. The brick façade, though lacking any detail around the windows, looks all right. However, the set-backs make it tower over the much lower neighboring row houses on Smith.
Construction on the new building looks almost done. Yesterday, workers were balancing on the top level, working on the air conditioning units. It remains to be seen what exterior treatment the top floors will get.
For decades, that same corner was the home of a beautiful dogwood and of a red leaf maple, which grew there undisturbed for decades. It seemed like a little oasis on Smith Street, like a pleasant surprise, as one walked down the block, the sky opening wide above.

I miss that garden.




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New Building At 311 Warren Street Didn't Look So Bad, Until.....

Once Upon A Time at 311 Warren Street / 180 Smith Street

311 Warren today

Where once there was a sweet little garden with a lovely dogwood tree, there is now a new buildings.

I had high hopes for the new construction at 311 Warren Street, I really did. The brick clad building didn't seem too out of scale with the rest of Smith Street and I loved the number of windows facing Warren. With a cornice, it could have looked downright contextual.

And then it happened! More steal and cinder blocks were added for additional floors, which makes the building tower over its 'neighbors.'

Too bad. Without the extra height, it wouldn't have been half bad.

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