Say Hello To Mr. Beet: Smith Street In Boerum Hill Finally Gets A Produce/Food Store

We couldn't believe our eyes when we walked along Smith Street towards Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill a few days ago. Right on the sidewalk at 193 Smith Street between Warren and Baltic Streets, carts filled with fresh vegetables and fruit were displayed for sale in front of what was until recently 'Festival', a Thai restaurant.  It was Thai Spice before that and NY Perks going back even further)

It turns out that the retail space has been taken over by Mr. Beet, a well stocked produce store/superette which offers everything from a juice bar to a sushi section.  The prices are comparable to other food stores, but the produce seems a great deal.  Strawberries were $.99 for a regular sized container.  The same size container was available for $2.99 at KY Produce on Court Street.

It is amazing to see a food store open on Smith Street, which has been in sore need of one since Met Food Supermarket closed in 2014. We are sure local residents would agree that this is a great addition to the neighborhood.

Amidst Smith Street's restaurants, expensive gift shops, banks, nail places and multiplying chain stores, here is finally a store we can all use.



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Céol Irish Pub On Smith Street Reportedly Closed

Two weeks ago, my friend David reported that one of Céol's bartenders revealed that the Irish pub at 191 Smith Street would be closing soon.
Sure enough, today, I received the following email from reader Keith this morning.
"Was open earlier this week but last night when I passed by...the inevitable. Don't let them take our only Irish bar! I have a feeling they are not remodeling."

It is more likely that Céol is closed for good.
The building housing the pub and its neighbor at 193 Smith Street have been marketed as a contiguous property by Smith Hanten Real Estate for $13,000,000 for the past few months.
Both buildings are 25 feet wide, which would represent a total of 50 feet of commercial frontage on a high foot traffic street, along a subway line.

Céol has been part of the community for quite a few years and will be missed. It offered a real no-frills neighborhood atmosphere compared to the more pretentious bars that opened on Smith Street in more recent years.

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Two Contiguous Properties On Smith Street Up For Grabs For $13 Million

Smith Street between Warren and Baltic Streets

191 and 193 Smith Street

191 Smith Street, currently housing Ceol, an Irish pub

Since the one story brick building housing Met Food at 205 Smith Street between Warren and Baltic Streets was just sold in May for $18,500,000 to a group of investors to make way for a new two-story retail building, the owner of two properties on the same block must have decided to put them on the market as well.

The two contiguous buildings at 191 and 193 Smith Street are being sold through Smith Hanten Real Estate for $13,000,000. Both buildings are 25 feet wide, which would represent a total of 50 feet of commercial frontage on a high foot traffic street, along a subway line.

Number 191 currently houses Ceol, an Irish pub that has been at this location for quite a number of years. Spice, a Thai restaurant just moved into number 193 this past January.

One has to wonder what all of this will mean to the small one story building and the deli at 189 Smith Street. How long until it, too, will be sold and probably demolished.


This particular block was rezoned as part of the Carroll Gardens contextual rezoning and is zoned R6B with a commercial overlay and a 50 feet hight limit.

189 Smith Street

Just recently, the building at 195 Smith Street, also on the same block,  has gone through a rather sad re-muddle that left it void of any character. Sadly, it used to be identical to 193 Smith Street.
It is safe to say that Smith Street between Warren and Baltic will look very different very soon.

193 and 195 Smith Street in January 2014

The façade at Number 195 Smith Street was altered just recently.

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'Spice', Smith Street's Newest Thai Restaurant, Opened Over The Week-End

"Spice", the Thai eatery at 193 Smith Street in the space formerly occupied by NY Perks, opened its doors this past Friday. I walked by this morning and asked to take a peak inside and to take a few photos. It's actually a rather large space with several different dining areas and a full bar.
This is the 10th location for the 'Spice' restaurant chain. Most of the other locations are in Manhattan, but there is already one on 7th Avenue in Manhattan.
Prices seem reasonable. Crispy Spring rolls are $4, Crispy Calamari is $6, Lemongrass Tom Yum soup is $4. Specialties include Lemongrass Seafood Combo ($18), Char Grilled Chicken($14), Spicy Crispy Pork Belly ($13), and Grilled Honey Duck ($15).

Of course, Spice also features Pad Thai ($12) and several curries ($14).

Have you been? What do you think of the food and prices?




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What's Up With The Smith Street Building That Once Housed Robin Des Bois?

Something quite strange is going on with the Smith Street building that once housed Robin Des Bois.
A year after the once popular French bistro called it quits in late 2011, it appeared that a brick  oven pizza joint would take its place at 195 Smith Street.
In September 2012, the NYC Department Of Buildings approved a permit for a horizontal enlargement at rear to change the three-story, two family building with commercial space to a "four family with commercial space."

Shortly afterwards, a crew began excavating the  backyard.  Day after day, workers dumped wheel barrel after wheel barrel of dirt into a dumpster.  By November, the  NYC Department of Buildings Emergency response team issued a violation for work without a permit. Apparently, the proper permits for structural and underpinning work had not yet been obtained.
Several other violations that were issued in early 2013 were dismissed.

Excavation of back yard in late 2012

Work continued all throughout the spring, but rather than to enlarge the building in the rear, it would appear that the roof, rear and side wall of the building have been slowly dismantled.

Rather than working on the extension, it looks as though everything but the front façade are still intact. It all looks rather precarious.

The construction (or rather de-construction) has stopped of late.   Several 311 calls seem to have been made to express concern about the structural stability of the building and to report that the gutting had damaged the side wall of number 193 Smith Street. but so far, DOB does not seem concerned and has dismissed the complaints.

Not sure about you, but for the time being, I'll walk on the opposite side of the street.




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Former 'New York Perks' Space On Smith Street Is Renting For $12,000 A Month

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The space recently vacated by New York Perks, the slightly shady martini bar/ nightclub that closed its doors back in the fall of 2012 is currently being marketed by Smith Hanten Realty.

The approximately 2,500 square foot retail space with 25 foot wide frontage at 193 Smith Street has a large basement that was utilized by Perks for private parties, but the extra space below street level may not have been quite legal. On its site, Perks boasted about its 3400 square foot facility, but the business never got the necessary Public Assembly Permit from NYC Department of Buildings to accommodate all the extra customers.

(A Public Assembly Permit is required when more than 75 people [including staff] gather in one establishment. The PA permit addresses proper fire safety, egress and safety lighting and is issued jointly by the Buildings Department and Fire Department.)

The listing by Smith Hanten reflects the correct usable square footage and just mentions the basement as an extra feature.

What do you think of the monthly rent? A bit steep for Smith Street? Or just about right?

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