'My Gym' Children's Fitness Center Opening In Former FAAN Space On Smith Street

The storefront at 209 Smith Street at Baltic Street has been empty for a long time  It was once the home of Faan, an Asian fusion restaurant, which occupied the space for ten years until 2011. It was replaced by the short-lived Burger on Smith, which closed in May 2013. Since then, it was occasionally used as a seasonal Halloween store.

The 5,600 SF storefront was marketed by Thor Equities, which seems to have finally found a new tenant: My Gym/Cobble Hill,  a children's fitness center that offers gymnastic classes, parties, camps and special events.  It will open this summer.

My Gym is a franchise with apparently 600+ locations worldwide.  From the website:

"My Gym was born out of our passion to teach children in a fun, physically engaging environment. We delighted in seeing children's eyes light up for all those incredible milestones, from the tentative first steps to tumbling down soft mats. Sharing the parents’ excitement at their children’s accomplishments was the high point of our day.

We knew from the start that, through fun and captivating activities, we could accomplish great things. Our goal: To create an environment where children feel loved and supported so their self-esteem and confidence can flourish. Now, more than 35 years later, we’re proud to say that all children of all abilities can succeed and thrive at My Gym."

This particular franchise places itself in Cobble Hill, thought this Smith Street location is more precisely in Boerum Hill. (Sorry, it's a pet peeve of mine when a new business does not seem to know what neighborhood it is moving into.)  We are also a bit confused by the '1/2 off first month's tuition forever' offer for Founding Members. What exactly does that mean?

I suppose we should be thankful for a new tenant for this space,  but we miss Faan! 

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Seasonal Halloween Store Returns To 209 Smith Street

The storefront at 209 Smith Street at Baltic Street has been empty for more than two years now. It was once the home of Faan, an Asian fusion restaurant for ten years. It was replaced by the short-lived Burger on Smith, which closed in May 2013.

Last September, Ricky's opened a seasonal halloween store at this location, but closed shortly afterwards.  This fall, it appears that Spirit Halloween will be running a temporary shop in the space.

In the meantime, the 5,600 SF storefront is still listed by Thor Equities.

Here is the description:

"40 feet of prime frontage on Smith Street and approximately 5,600 SF across two levels offer endless opportunities. A corner property, 209 Smith St. will be seen by countless pedestrians perusing the local restaurants and shops."

Neighboring Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill, two of Brooklyn’s most fashionable shopping districts, Smith Street boasts many trendy tenants. Hip retailers, in addition to Brooklyn’s most illustrious restaurants, have made Smith Street a chic destination for locals and tourists alike."

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Ricky's (Halloween?) Coming To Smith Street Soon

Posters in the storefront window at 209 Smith Street between Baltic and Butler Streets indicate that Ricky's will be moving in soon.  This may be a temporary location for the chain, since the posters include the link to the store's Halloween costume and accessory site.
The nearest Ricky's haircare and make-up shop is located at 107 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights.

Thanks to both Bob and Donald for alerting us to the opening. Donald wrote: "The recent loss of Met Food means that 3 of the 4 stores on that intersection are currently vacant, so it's good to see some activity."

The storefront was the home of Faan, an Asian fusion restaurant for ten years. It was replaced by the short-lived Burger on Smith, which closed in May 2013.
The space has been for rent ever since. It is currently still listed by Thor Equities, which would support the assumption that this will be a seasonal pop-up store for Ricky's.

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'Burger On Smith' Is No More

Last week, Reader Rich alerted me to the fact that Burger On Smith at 209 Smith Street in Boerum Hill seemed to be closed. Sure enough, when I walked past last Sunday, the place was empty and the door locked, though it was Mother's Day and every other eatery on Smith Street was busy.

When Burger on Smith opened in January 2012, Kyle Huebbe and Blessing Schuman-Strange, the culinary team behind the farm-to-table eatery, described the menu as "New American, but elevated."
Their burgers were made from grass-fed beef, ground daily and supplied by a local butcher.

Obviously, they could not compete with all the new burger joints that opened in the neighborhood, though Huebbe beat out four other contestants to win Brooklyn Paper's first Burger Bash contest in 2009.

This is the second restaurant to call it quits at this location. Before Burger On Smith, it was the home of Faan, one of the first Asian-Fusion eateries in the neighborhood.

Are you surprised at the closing or was it predictable?




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'Burger On Smith' Opens In Former Faan Space On Smith Street

Burger on Smith at 209 Smith Street just opened its doors a few days ago in the space once occupied by Faan, one of the first Asian-Fusion eateries on Restaurant Row. 
The menu features a selection of  burgers, wings, fries and shakes, but as Kyle Huebbe and Blessing Schuman-Strange, the culinary team behind this new farm-to-table eatery, will point out the food is "New American, but elevated."  The burgers are made from grass-fed beef, ground daily and supplied by a local butcher.
The selection includes the 'Friday Night', which is topped with fried egg, caramelized onions, oven roasted tomato, arugula, truffle vinaigrette.  There's also the "Left Coast",  topped with gruyere cheese, avocado, oven roasted tomato, arugula and garlic aioli. 
For lighter options, there are turkey, lamb, chicken and trout burgers, and for vegetarians, the menu includes a nut-vegetable-quinoa burger.
Don't see what you want?  You can create your very own, by choosing from various toppings.
Kyle Huebbe, a Ditmas Park resident obviously knows a thing or two about food and burgers. He is a former short-order cook with stints at restaurants like Picket Fence.  In 2009, he beat out four other contestants to win Brooklyn Paper's first Burger Bash contest..
Blessing Schuman-Strange, a Brooklyn native, who moved to California five years ago, just came back East to help his best friend Huebbe with Burger on Smith.  "My background is more in fine dining" he told me.  "Mine is in burgers and wings" chimed in Huebbe.
Sounds like a perfect team.  
Good luck, guys!

Burger on Smith

209 Smith Street

718 694 2277

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