Good-Bye From Velvette Brew On Smith Street

painting of Velvette Brew's Smith Street by @jenna_snyderphillips

***Please see UPDATE at bottom of post***

Last week, Velvette Brew at 251 Smith Street sent around an e-mail to its loyal customers stating that its Carroll Garden location would be closing.

The email reads:
"Farewell Carroll Gardens Friends & Neighbors
Velvette Brew espresso bar is very saddened to announce that we are no longer at the Carroll Gardens (251 Smith St) location, although you may still see our beans available to drink and familiar faces behind the bar as we transition.

We will miss you from the bottom of our highly caffeinated hearts for all of your smiles and the incredible community support given throughout the past few years especially during a global pandemic. You have helped sprout the dreams of a small business owner,

thank you!
Hope you'll visit us at the Velvette Brew in Park Slope @ 279 5th Ave"

The place was still open on Friday afternoon as we walked by.

We can imagine that this is just the beginning of the closings in and around Carroll Gardens as many small businesses will certainly struggle to come back after the pandemic.

Stay safe out there, friends. And get ready to support our merchants as soon as as the curfew is lifted. They need our business desperately.

***UPDATE***
A reader told us that Velvette followed up its first email with a second one stating:

"Hello neighbors, sorry for the news earlier. We would like to clarify what is going on - we started as two business partners but have decided to part in different directions and unfortunately had to happen during a pandemic, which has put extra strain on presumably all small business owners. The Smith Street location will operate under a new coffee shop brand with quality coffee and familiar baristas. Please feel free to reach out to us. Thank you for all of the heartfelt support."

A bit confusing, no?  Today, Monday, I walked past and the café was still open. Someone had attempted to scrape off the name "Velvette" from the storefront window, but there was no indication of what the new name will be.

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Red Hanger Cleaners: A Utah-Based Laundry Service Coming To Smith Street

New signage recently went up at 251 Smith Street, indicating that a laundry/cleaner service was taking over the empty storefront previously occupied by OMG Taco.
We have all complained about the many nail salons and banks proliferating in the neighborhood, so the new business, Red Hanger Cleaners, may actually be a business that will be useful for local residents.
A quick internet search reveals that Red Hanger Cleaners is actually based in Utah.  There do not appear to be any others outside of that state.  This new Brooklyn location therefore seems to be a bit random, unless they want to expand on the East Coast.

If the Smith Street Red Hanger location will be similar to the ones in Utah, it will offer a variety of dry cleaning and laundry services and perhaps provide pick-up and delivery.
It is doubtful that many of the services will actually be done on site, since this is really a very small space.

What do you think?  Will "Utah's most quality and convenient cleaner" be a welcome addition on Smith Street?

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Shelsky's On Smith Street Celebrating Special Hollandse Nieuwe Haring

(photo by Shelsky's)

Peter Shelsky, the owner of Shelsky's, at 251 Smith Street, purveyor of the best smoked and pickled fish on this side of the Brooklyn Bridge, is really excited about a special delivery to his store.
You see, he has been trying to get his hands on some Hollandse Nieuwe Haring for a while now, and he finally scored some.  He is expecting a delivery this Friday.
Hollandse Nieuwe is the season’s first herring, which starts appearing at the beginning of June. Only Herring caught between May and July can be called 'nieuwe'.
To celebrate and to share this New Catch Holland Herring, Shelsky's is inviting everyone to a special event on Friday night to kick-off the season.

Shelsky's New Catch Holland Herring Festival

Friday June 14th

7:30 pm to 9:30 pm

$20 a person

Reservation Required

Please call 718 855 8817

If you miss it, don't fret.  Peter will also make this special herring available on the dates below:
Saturday June, 15th. 1PM to 4PM
Friday, June 21st, 1PM-4PM
Saturday, June 22nd, 1PM-7PM
Sunday, June 23rd, 11AM-4PM (During the Smith Street Fair)



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Order Your Passover Dinner At Shelsky's On Smith Getting Ready

Besides its usual selection of delectable cured fish like salmon, whitefish, sable and sturgeon as well as pickled herring, Shelsky's at 251 Smith Street, has added some Passover stables like Matzos and Gefillte Fish for the Holidays. To make things even easier, owner Peter Shelsky is offering an entire Seder dinner complete with Matzo Ball soup, braised lamb shanks, potato kugel, and apricot and prune Tzimmes.
Just stop by the shop before April 1, and place your order. Pick up on Thursday, April 5 to Saturday, April 7th.   Free delivery for orders over $200.


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Smith Street Restaurant's Oil Slick Infuriates Neighbors

What to do with old cooking oil?  If you are Ting Hua, the Chinese eatery at 351 Smith Street, you dump a few huge containers of the greasy stuff right into the gutter and let it flow down into the city's sewer drain.
The resulting mess has neighbors fuming, especially since  the grease is quite slippery and is leaving track marks up and shown the sidewalk. On top of that , the ooze kept on flowing past the intersection at Carroll Street and down the side street, where it left a few smelly puddles.
It was easy to trace the slick back to the restaurant by following the track to the eatery's  front doors.
When confronted by an angry resident,  the staff at Ting Hua admitted to having dumped the grease.
Apparently, the restaurant had placed a few big open containers of used oil out with the trash, but the carter responsible for picking up its trash only picked up one container.
I suppose dumping the others into the gutter seemed like a capital idea.
Unfortunately, it's not the first time Ting Hua does this. Read more

Last Night At Shelsky's First Monthly Tasting

Peter Shelsky, the owner of Shelsky's, 251 Smith Street, was standing behind the counter smiling, handing out samples of smoked whitefish on Monday evening, on the first of his new monthly taste testings.  

For $25 ($20 if reserved in advance) the tasting menu allowed guests to sample many of Shelsky's delicious smoked, pickled and cured fish, as well as some of the salads.  And those who attended last night clearly enjoyed every bite. 

"Try this." he encouraged.  "I just got it in.  It comes from Michigan."  He handed me a small piece of white fish.  "Isn't it great?" Peter asked.  Oh, yes! It was simply amazing. So light and delicate.  And that was just the beginning.  

"Now try the white fish caviar from the same supplier." Peter disappeared into the back of the store and came back with a small jar of golden roe, opened it and handed me a spoon. What can I say?  It was simply divine.

And to top it all off, there were samples of home-made chocolate Babka and fruit-filled rugelach. Not a bad way to spend a Monday night, I say. 

The next tasting will be held on Monday, December 5th.  To reserve in advance, call Sheslky's at 718 855 8817 or stop by the store.

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Great Food News! Shelsky's To Host Monthly Tastings

If you haven't discovered Shelsky's on Smith Street yet, you have been missing out.  But don't worry, because owner Peter Shelsky  just came up with a compelling reason for everyone to stop by his amazing store to sample his wonderful smoked, cured and pickled fish, salads and bread.
Peter writes:
"Starting next Monday, November 21st, we are doing monthly tastings in the evening from 6-9PM in the store at 251 Smith Street.  We will open our doors in the evening for people to taste many of our smoked fish and pickled offerings in the form of hors d’oeuvres and canapés.  The cost is $20/person if they reserve in advance, or $25 at the door.   I just want to create these really lovely evenings so people can get acquainted with Shelsky’s and what we have to offer, and maybe give our present customers the opportunity to taste some items they haven’t yet tasted.  We are going to make it an evening of teachable moments with me discussing the different fish, how they are prepared, and even a salmon slicing lesson.  Further down the road, I hope to bring in people from our suppliers to discuss the process of smoking."
Count me in, Peter!
In the future, Peter is hoping to get a temporary liquor license to be able to offer bubbly with the tastings.  It doesn't get any better than that, I say.  Count me in!
To reserve in advance, call Sheslky's at 718 855 8817 or stop by the store.  

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Shelsky's Smoked Fish Now Open On Smith Street

On the left, owner Peter Shelsky

Foodies, rejoice! No need to head to the Lower East Side anymore for great lox or white fish. From now on, all you have to do is to stop by Shelsky's Smoked Fish at 251 Smith Street. The store just opened its doors a few days ago and already, it's clear that it will soon be a neighborhood favorite. Whether cold or hot smoked, cured, pickled or kippered fish, the store seems to have it all, including wonderful spreads and salad.

And did I mention they also carry delicious rye bread, bialys, bagels and knishes?

Take it home, or order a sandwich to go. It all looks delicious. Oh, and did I mention that they will cater as well?

Shelsky's Smoked Fish

251 Smith Street

Tel: 718 855 8817

info@shelbys.com

www.Shelskys.com

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