Good-Bye To Sheila's Café and Bakery On Court Street

This must be the quickest closing in Carroll Gardens yet. Sheila's, a Café, Bakery, and restaurant opened its doors at 412 Court Street in May 2017.  Its last day in operation was December 10.
From their web page:
"Dear regulars and guests,
Sheila’s last service will be on Sunday, December 10th, ending at 3:30pm after which time we will be permanently closing. Having Sheila’s here in Carroll Gardens and in this space has been both the opportunity and challenge of a lifetime. On behalf of Molly, my father, and our small but mighty crew: Renie, Moonui, Brian, Allee, Finn, Jed, Joe, James, led by Chef Steven in the kitchen, we thank you for your patronage, support, and for sharing your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch times with us this past year. We are honored to have served you."

While it was open, Sheila was committed to serving sustainable, fair-trade coffee as well as using seasonal, local, greenmarket ingredients for their food offerings. According to its owner, their "model combined "a higher hourly wage with a revenue-sharing system and is a more equitable and sustainable way of doing business which compensates all members of our team, both front, and back-of-house, without exception."

Whether that model did not work out as planned, or Sheila did not attract enough customers, or both, the place will be missed.
The space was formerly occupied by Dover and before that, by Vinzee's, an ice cream parlor and hamburger joint. For those who can remember further back, it was the Magical Fountain and a laundromat.

What would do well here, do you think?

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Sheila's, A New Bakery, Café And Restaurant Now Open On Court Street

Over the week-end, Sheila's, a brand new café, bakery, and restaurant at 412 Court Street in Carroll Gardens opened its doors.  The space, formerly occupied by Dover, is bright and welcoming with lots of natural daylight and plenty of seating.
Stop by in the morning for coffee, freshly house-baked bread and pastries, granola, and breakfast sandwiches. Lunch options includes soups, salads, sandwiches, as well as market bowls. A dinner menu will be added soon and Sheila's intends to serve craft beers, wine and cocktails.
Sheila is committed to serving sustainable, fair-trade coffee as well as using seasonal, local, greenmarket ingredients for their food offerings. The menu indicates that this is "a gratuity-free establishment. Our model combines a higher hourly wage with a revenue-sharing system and is a more equitable and sustainable way of doing business which compensates all members of our team, both front, and back-of-house, without exception."
Have you stopped by yet?

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It's Confirmed. Vinzee's On Court Street Is No More. Space Now For Rent

 

So now we know for sure. Vinzee's Magic Fountain at 412 Court Street isn't coming back. Obviously it wasn't so magic.  After just a year in business and an agonizingly slow decline from the moment it opened its doors, the hamburger joint is now for rent by Prudential Douglass Elliman for the rather insane prize of $15,000 a month.  The space is advertised as followed on the realty's web site:

Prime Carroll Gardens! Corner Location! 2800 sq.ft. with an additional 600 of outdoor space. This location provides an extraordinary amount of foot traffic as its sandwiched between the Smith street subway and steps from CVS and Capital One Bank . It also has the bus stop right outside the front door. Turn key operation that’s practically brand new. Seats 75 plus a full prep kitchen that’s designed for catering. Central air, Walk-in Refrigerator,Walk-in Freezer, Garland 4 burner range, CecilWare double fryer, Broiler, Griddle, Mofat convection oven, Henny Penny pressure fryer, Vita mixer, Chef Mate grinder, Taylor soft serve, and the list goes on and on... Ideal for the person who wants to skip the hassle of construction so they can earn from day one.

Perhaps someone with a bit more savvy can actually operate a viable business here. It's a great location.
What do you think of the rent?

Thanks, Nicholas for making me aware of the ad.

 

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Is Vinzee's Magic Fountain On Court Street Finally 'Kaput'?

No big surprise, but it looks as though Vinzee's at 412 Court Street, at the corner of First Place, may have closed its doors for good.
The hamburger joint, which opened in May 2011, never really took off, partly because of it's prices, partly because of it's uninviting interior. It also faced stiff competition from Five Guys and Moo Burger just a few blocks further on Court Street in Cobble Hill.  Or perhaps it was just the name.
In December 2011, Vinzee's owner posted a sign in the window announcing the eatery's new "Winter hours." Basically, the place was only open from Thursdays to Sundays from then on.
By then, it was just a matter of time before it's final demise.

In the last few day, I got two emails from readers telling me that the place is now closed all the time.
Eryana writes:
"Vinzee's Magic Fountain totally kaput? It looks like they've been closed the past few days. After they reduced their hours a few months ago, it wasn't looking promising."
And Dineocrat comments:
"I live by Vinzies and saw that they weren't even open for their winter hours this week. They were closed all weekend. Just wanted to let you know. I wonder what would do well in the space."

Good question! What would do well here?



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Vinzee's Magic Fountain On Court Street Now Only Open Four Days A Week

I noticed just recently that Vinzee's Magic Fountain at 412 Court Street was closed on a Wednesday, when it should have been open.  A few days later, a sign in the window announced the eatery's new "Winter Schedule."  It appears that, until further notice, the joint will only be opened from Thursdays to Sundays.  Though the hamburger joint never seemed to be super popular, the change may frustrate some customers, especially those ordering take-out, since it is not reflected on its web site nor on its Facebook page.
Just two days ago, a reviewer on Yelp wrote:

"What Happened? Strange place closed Mon,Tues,&Wed? what restaurant closes those days?very confusing I guess there going out of Business?I wanted to go back and see my favorite cook but they where closed  I figured I'd give something else a try but i guess there going out of Business Very strange.. And Very sad."

Either Vinzee's can turn a profit by only operating four days a week, or their new schedule is a cost saving measure.  Since this place has had to compete with the recently opened (and much more popular) Five Guys and Moo Burger on Court Street in Cobble Hill, this does not seem like the soundest business decision. Read more

Vinzee's, Carroll Gardens' Newest Hamburger Joint, Finally Opens On Court Street

After a few delays, Vinzee's Magic Fountain at 412 Court Street on the corner of First Place, finally opened this past week-end. Much anticipated (and criticized for its name and white stucco façade,) the eatery's opening coincided with filming of scenes from "Men In Black 3."

One reader wrote in to tell me: "Guess they thought it would be a good night for an opening, what with all the neighborhood out and about, gawping at the Hollywood-style action going on."

According to it's web site and Facebook page, the 'fast casual restaurant' offers an American-style menu made from "fresh ingredients provided by local distributors and our products are all eco-friendly." A few in the neighborhood tried it and reported back that the food was all right. One resident was disappointed that the place looked more like a fast food, take-out joint rather than a place to actually sit down for dinner.

Did you try it yet? How was it?

Related reading:

Vinzee's Magic Fountain, Carroll Gardens Newest Hamburger Joint, Gets A New Sign And Its S.W.O. Lifted

Despite Stop-Work Order, Vinzee's Magic Fountain, Court Street's Newest Hamburger Joint, Inching Closer To Grand Opening

It's Official: The Magic Fountain On Court Street Is No More

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Vinzee's Magic Fountain, Carroll Gardens Newest Hamburger Joint, Gets A New Sign And Its S.W.O. Lifted

Photos courtesy of Jeff S.

The opening of Vinzee's Magic Fountain, the new hamburger joint coming to 408-412 Court Street, was delayed when the renovation of the space was halted by the NYC Department of Building with a stop work order. That has now been lifted and it probably won't be long before the place will open its doors. And just in the last few days, a sign has been put up.

Reader Jeff S. sent me the photos above and wrote : "My wife and I were just out for a walk and noticed Vinzee's Magic Fountain has hung up a sign. It truly looks ... "magical"?"

That sign does look a bit hokey. Many of you readers weren't wild about the name of the place last time I posted about it and quite a few commented on the stark white façade.

According to its facebook page, "Vinzee’s Magic Fountain is a fast casual restaurant with an American style cuisine and wonderful ice cream desserts! We use fresh ingredients provided by local distributors and our products are all eco-friendly."

No menu has been posted yet.

Related Reading:

Despite Stop-Work Order, Vinzee's Magic Fountain, Court Street's Newest Hamburger Joint, Inching Closer To Grand Opening

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Despite Stop-Work Order, Vinzee's Magic Fountain, Court Street's Newest Hamburger Joint, Inching Closer To Grand Opening

Though a stop work order involving the side courtyard has yet to be lifted by the NYC D.o.B, the new owner of the restaurant at 412 Court Street, on the corner of First Place, obviously feels confident that he will be able to open soon.

Vinzee's Magic Fountain, as the new burger joint will be called, already has a web site, a Facebook page and a Twitter account.

And according to a flier which appeared in the window recently, the eatery is now hiring.

Better get that issue with DoB resolved soon....

The space was occupied until recently by a laundromat and by 'Magic Fountain,' an ice-cream place that I never saw anyone go into.

Related Reading:

It's Official: The Magic Fountain On Court Street Is No More

Carroll Gardens Loses Another Laundromat And Gains Still Another Restaurant

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It's Official: The Magic Fountain On Court Street Is No More

It is now official! The Magic Fountain, the ice cream parlor that didn't seem to sell ice cream at all at 412 Court Street is no more. The storefront was being totally gutted on Monday morning as I walked by.

The Magic Place certainly was not a neighborhood favorite by any means and I doubt that many people will be sorry to see it go. A reader commented:

I walked in there one day a few years back to buy a bottle of water for my 5 year old daughter who was feeling bad because of the heat. The owner(?) just stared at me when I asked to buy a bottle of water. No response, just a hostile stare.

I've never tried to force my money on them since, as they are evidently doing just fine without it.

Anything that moves in there can only be an improvement.

Just last week, I reported that the laundromat next door at number 410 Court Street was undergoing major renovation. A permit states that the laundromat was being converted into a restaurant.

If the Magic Fountain space will be added to the laundromat space, it will most probably become quite a large eating establishments.

No word yet on what type of restaurant it will become.

What kind of food would you like to see there, dear Readers?

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Carroll Gardens Loses Another Laundromat And Gains Still Another Restaurant

The dry cleaner at 410 Court Street at the corner of First Street has been closed for a few months now, but on Monday, the door was open and a peek inside revealed that the place was being totally gutted. Workers were carrying out buckets the debris as dust billowed out of the storefront.

When asked, I was told that the place was in the process of being converted into a restaurant, but further questioning as to what kind was met with an enigmatic smile. Department of Buildings permits confirm the conversion.

When I enquired further if the Magic Fountain ice cream parlor next door at 412 Court Street was going to be part of the restaurant space, he said yes, though that store has remained open so far.

Before it was a laundromat, the space was occupied by a pharmacy, according to my friends Rita and Gloria, who grew up in the neighborhood.

So Carroll Gardens has lost another laundromat and gained yet another restaurant.

What's your feeling, dear reader? Does this neighborhood need a restaurant or a laundromat more? Would love to hear what you have to say.

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