Kimchi Grill Relocates From Smith Street To Nevins Street In Gowanus

While we were out of town these past few days, a PMFA reader reported that Kimchi Grill at 478 Smith Street at the corner of 9th Street, had closed at this location.  In actuality, the popular Korean BBQ place, which opened in Carroll Gardens in the summer of 2014, has relocated to 318 Nevins Street in Gowanus.  Unfortunately, the restaurant will only be doing delivery service for the time being, but obviously, that is better than totally doing without Kimchi Grill in the neighborhood.
In addition, founder Phillip Lee is still operating his Kimchi Taco truck and has also opened a sit down restaurant in Prospect Heights.

Meanwhile, the recently vacated 478 Smith Street storefront will be taken over by BOOQOO, a new creole café, which will offer beignets and poboys, which sounds like a great option at this corner.
According to the café's Facebook page:
"Cafe Booqoo is the creation of Matt Pace, a New Orleans native now residing in Brooklyn who's mission is to bring some of the best creole flavors from New Orleans to NYC, serving up delicious poboys, beignets, chicory coffee, and other creole favorites."

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Some Summer Openings, Closings And One Re-Opening In And Around Carroll Gardens

There were quite a few openings, closings and one re-opening in and around the neighborhood during the summer months that you may have missed, if like me, you have been traveling.
Here are just a few. If you can add to the list, let us know.

Eton now closed at 359 Sackett Street

After more than 5 years in the neighborhood, Eton, the neighborhood go-to dumpling spot, has closed its doors at 359 Sackett Street at the end of July.
In a farewell letter taped to the eatery's storefront, owner Eton Chan explains that his frozen dumplings will be available at local grocery stores starting this month.  That's good to know.

Eton encourages people to stay in touch through the eatery's Facebook page, though it does not seem to have been updated in quite some time.

If any readers happen to spot Eton dumplings in a local store, please share the info.

Bizio and Soci Boutique at 308 Court Street Now Open

Bizio and Soci, a new men's and women's apparel boutique opened earlier this summer at 308 Court Street, in the storefront formerly occupied by Gloria Flower Shop.
The boutique seems to be an outpost for a clothing store called Made in Heaven, located in Rome, Italy.
Glad to see that they left Gloria's great tile floor.
Has anyone checked it out?

New Kimchi Grill On Smith Street At 9th Street Gets Great Reviews

Kimchi Grill,  a relatively new Korean BBQ place located at 478 Smith Street at the corner of 9th Street is getting some pretty awesome reviews on Yelp.  The eatery was opened by Phillip Lee, known for his popular Kimchi Taco food truck.  Most people seem to have discovered the new eatery on their way back by shuttle from Ikea Red Hook.
The prices seem pretty reasonable.  Check out their menu here.
Put this one on your 'must try' list for this fall.

The Re-Opening Of Mastellone's At 303 Court Street . It's Now Called Carroll Gardens Market

Many were sorry to see Mastellone's, an old-fashioned, family-owned Italian deli/ superette close last summer. It was replaced by Big Apple Gourmet, a produce store owned by Billy Solmaz, who also runs Pacific Green, a popular Cobble Hill store at 303 Court Street at Pacific Street.
After less than a year, Big Apple Gourmet called it quits in April 2014.

Carroll Gardens Market opened at this location at the beginning of August. Apparently, it is run by Mastellone family, who owned the original Italian deli.

I popped into the new Carroll Gardens Market over the week-end. In addition to produce and the usual deli selection, the market also offers fresh meat.

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Smith-N-9 Pizza To Replace Il Cantuccio On Smith Street

First, the storefront of the relatively new (and ugly) Bricolage-designed building at 478 Smith Street at the corner of 9th Street was home to an Uncle Louie G's. Then in early 2010, Il Cantuccio, an Italian pizza place moved in. Local residents seemed excited at first to have another food option at this corner, but the place never seemed to do much business. Recently, the doors were padlocked, but Cantuccio apparently continued to deliver pizza for take-out orders.
In November, a reviewer on Yelp was wondering what was up with the place. She wrote:
"Umm, pretty sure they're making pizza out of their home. I called to order for PICK UP, and when I went by, the place was dead dark and chained closed. I called to figure out what on earth was going on (was this place run by a bunch of Italian ghosts??) when the guy answered and shouted at me because he would DELIVER the pizza. He said the store is being "worked on" and then muttered some unintelligible nonsense about "somewhere else." I really, really wouldn't order from them. No idea how their pizza tastes, but don't trust this "being worked on" business. Also, they quoted me $12 per large pie, which I thought was an awfully good deal. Now I think it's too good."
Along with being 'worked on," the pizzeria seems to be getting a name change. New signs in the window announce that "Smith-N-9 Pizza and Pita" will be opening there soon. Read more

A Glimpse Back In Time At The Corner Of Smith And 9th Streets

Another glimpse back into Carroll Gardens' past with this wonderful photo of the corner of Smith Street and 9th Street in 1930...and the same corner today. The one obvious change is that the subway had not yet been built and therefore, the Culver Viaduct structure is missing.

If you look carefully at the foreground of the photo, you can see that on both the left and the right side of 9th Street, there are still brownstones, which were taken down to make way for the viaduct.

Also, at the corner, the small house with a pitched roof at # 478 Smith Street no longer stands. Just recently, a rather ugly new structure designed by Henry Radusky of Bricolage Designs has taken its place on than spot.

Now take a look at the same corner in the 1950's, exactly twenty years later. The street corner is almost identical to what it looks like right now.

I love the trolley cars. Don't you?

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Il Cuntuccio Brick Oven Pizza Coming To Corner Of Smith & 9th Streets

According to a sign in 478 Smith Street's storefront window, Il Cuntuccio Brick Oven Pizza is coming to that location. I haven't ventures to the end of Smith Street for a while, so I don't know exactly how long the sign has up. (Does anyone know?)
The storefront at the corner of 9th Street, was until recently the home of an Uncle Louie G's Ice cream store. It never attracted much business, maybe in part because the building at # 478 has to be one of the ugliest new additions to Carroll Gardens.
The 2007 'step-ladder' building was designed by Brooklyn architect Henry Radusky, of Bricolage Designs. Back then, Brownstoner called it "butt-ugly and " a "Bricolage Piece o'Crap". I couldn't agree more. Maybe the glow of Il Cuntuccio's brick oven fire will give this austere-looking building a wee bit of warmth.
Oh, and if you want to own this Carroll Gardens' unique piece of ugliness, you can currently buy the entire building for $2,099,999 here.
Or you can save and buy it for $100,000 cheaper here.

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