Empty For Years, The Former P.J. Hanley's Soon To Become Flora, A Family Friendly Restaurant

The former Irish tavern P.J. Hanley at 449 Court Street on the corner of Third Street has stood empty. since 2014. In the past few years, the bar, one of Brooklyn's oldest, was tangled in a messy bankruptcy proceeding between the Hanley family, who owns the building, and the last tenant of the commercial space, James McGown.
(Many may better remember McGown as the owner of 320 Court Street, which housed Buschenschank for a number of years.)

McGown, known as 'the bankruptcy baron' for the trail of failed businesses and real estate investments he left in New York City, took over Hanley's in 2005. By February 2013, he filed for Chapter 11 for the bar. Months before, he had done the same for his South Brooklyn Pizza chain that occupied the retail space next door at 451 Court Street.

Rather than vacate the premises to return it to the Hanley family, he remodeled the space (without permits) and renamed the bar Goldenrod.

The matter ended in court when the Hanley family accused McGown of having "breached his lease by making substantial alterations without getting consent from the building owner or the Department of Buildings" and for paying rent only sporadically. The Hanleys began eviction proceedings and City Marshals finally seized the property in November 2014.
The place has been empty since then.

That may soon change. Last night, representatives of a new venture at this location gave members of Community Board 6's Permits and Licenses Committee a presentation for an on-premise liquor license. (The Committee voted to recommend approval to the NYS Liquor Authority.

The new family friendly restaurant is to be named FLORA. It is a new venture by Matthew Shendell of the Paige Hospitality Group, which also owns The Ainsworth, a small chain of restaurants in Manhattan.

Flora's menu will mostly offer standard American cuisine and will offer a raw bar, big salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes and steaks. The restaurant will be serving lunch and dinner, brunch on week-ends. 

The side yard will allow for outdoor seating.  Flora will also occupy the former South Brooklyn Pizza space at 251 Court Street, so it will be a rather large venue for Carroll Gardens standarts.

Interestingly enough, the entire building is currently for sale for $6,750,000.  It is being marketed by Meridian Capital Group.

courtesy of Meridian Capital Group

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Empty Since Late 2014, The Former P.J. Hanley Space On Court Street In Carroll Gardens Finally For Rent

It has been so very long since the former Irish tavern P.J. Hanley at 449 Court Street on the corner of Third Street has stood empty. The bar, one of Brooklyn's oldest, was tangled in a messy bankruptcy proceeding between the Hanley family, who owns the building, and the last tenant of the commercial space, James McGown.

(Many may better remember McGown as the owner of 320 Court Street, which housed Buschenschank for a number of years.)

McGown, known as 'the bankruptcy baron' for the trail of failed businesses and real estate investments he left in New York City, took over Hanley's in 2005. By February 2013, he filed for Chapter 11 for the bar. Months before, he had done the same for his South Brooklyn Pizza chain that occupied the retail space next door at 451 Court Street.

Rather than vacate the premises to return it to the Hanley family, he remodeled the space (without permits) and renamed the bar Goldenrod.

The matter ended in court when the Hanley family accused McGown of having "breached his lease by making substantial alterations without getting consent from the building owner or the Department of Buildings" and for paying rent only sporadically. The Hanleys began eviction proceedings and City Marshals finally seized the property in November 2014.

The place has been empty since then.

That may soon change. A PMFA reader alerted us to the fact that a new "space for lease" sign has gone up at the former bar  and the former pizza place just this past week. Newmark Knight Frank, a commercial real estate brokerage firm, has the listing.

It would be wonderful to see a new tavern or restaurant bring some life back to this corner of Carroll Gardens. What type of establishment would you like to see here? What do you think would do well.

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Picture Of The Day: Limbo

Weeds growing over the wood benches in P.J. Hanley's side yard on Court Street at 4th Place

The gastro-pub has been closed for well over two years now.

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The 2013 'Girls Write Now' Oscars Party To Be Held At PJ Hanley's

Reader Elaine reached out to let me know of a charity event for Girls Write Now, which will be held right here in Carroll Gardens.   Founded in 1998, the organization "pairs professional women writers with at-risk and under-served NYC teenage girls for a writing and mentoring relationship."

Its a worthwhile organization and a fun event, so please consider attending and/or donation.

More details below:

The 2013 Girls Write Now Oscars Party

Please join us for light food, drinks, great raffle prizes,

and the Academy Awards on multiple TV screens.

Sunday, February 24, 7 PM

From red carpet coverage until the show ends!

PJ Hanley's

449 Court Street at 4th Place, Brooklyn, NY 11231

F train to Carroll Street, walk one block to Court Street and make a left

Tickets

$25 in advance, $30 at the door

includes light food and one drink

RSVP on Facebook

Buy tickets in advance here: http://oscars2013gwn.eventbrite.com/

All proceeds from the event will support Girls Write Now,

celebrating fifteen years of mentoring the next generation of women writers.

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P.J. Hanley's Neighbors In For Rough St. Patty's Night As Tavern Expands Its Tented Real Estate

For most, Saint Patrick's Day means wearing green, having fun and going out to drink. That goes without saying. Even here in Carroll Gardens, a neighborhood that was home to a large Irish population before it became predominantly Italian, many will celebrate the night away. That's cool.

P.J. Hanley's at 449 Court Street, is certainly expecting a huge crowd tonight. To accommodate everyone for St. Patrick's Day, they have erected a huge tent over their already tented courtyard, and it extends all the way onto the sidewalk. (Are they allowed to do that? Just asking...)

The tavern, founded in 1875, has been using its side courtyard as outdoor seating for a couple of years now. A few summer seasons ago, the owners covered part of the yard with a big semi-permanent tent, so that they could extend the season and increase seating in their establishment, even when the weather was not co-operating.

As the saying goes, one man's pleasure is another man's pain. One has to feel bad for Hanley's neighbors. It's bound to be a very, very loud and sleepless night for them.

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Play Bingo With The Brooklyn Women's Rugby Football Team

I have never played bingo in my life, but after reading about this event, I really want to. The Brooklyn Women's Rugby Football Team is holding their second annual Bingo Night.

And no, you don't have to be on the team to play, so everyone can come.

Brooklyn Women's Rugby Bingo Night is BACK for round 2! We have fabulous 100% donated prizes to give to away from Brooklyn Bowl, Harbor Fitness, the Bronx Zoo, Cobble Hill Cinemas, MoMA, Ceol, Chelsea Piers, and MORE!

Many thanks to our new friend PJ Hanley's for allowing us take the f*ck over for the night!

This is our first event of the spring season, so please invite everyone you know to come party, win prizes, and buy some of our super cool new gear (hint: koozies!)

Bring your A-game. You'll need it - this is NOT your nana's bingo.

Where/When?

PJ Hanley's

449 Court Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

February 26th, 2011

7PM

Cost: $12 for 2 Bingo cards, pizza and beer!

(increase your odds with $2 additional cards!)

Reserve On Facebook here.

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