Anyone Know Anything About A Robbery At Investors Bank On Court Street?

On Wednesday evening, I received a note from reader Jessica that there were quite a few police cars in front of the Investors Bank at 431 Court Street between 3rd and 4th Place and that the bank had been blocked off with caution tape. She was wondering if there had been a robbery.
Yesterday, I received the following email from reader Sasha:
"I was wondering if you'd heard anything about what I THINK was a robbery at the Investor's Bank on Court Street yesterday. I saw police putting up crime scene tape outside and overheard some men from the neighborhood talking about how someone wasn't hurt (I didn't catch her name) and that he (or they) apparently came in five minutes before closing. I tried Googling, but it hasn't brought up any news."

Does anyone know what happened on Wednesday evening? Investors Bank opened at this location in November 2013.

***UPDATE***
Yesterday, reader Ed confirmed on PMFA's Facebook page that the incident reported above definitely involved a robbery.  He wrote:
"It was Wednesday around 6pm. One man in a ski mask. There were only 3 or 4 bank employees there; no security guard. Emilia's salon next door has a camera on the outside, and the police are looking at the images, but he didn't take off the mask right away so they don't have any facial image."



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New Investors Bank Sign On Court Street Keeping Neighbors Awake

During the Day: The new Investors Bank sign on Court Street between 3rd and 4th Place

and at night, below

(photo taken by L.)

The new Investors Bank branch that is replacing Good Food at 431 Court Street hasn't even opened its doors yet, but is already causing controversy.
Over the week-end, I received the following email from a reader:
"I'm not sure if you have seen the nightmare sign that was put up in the old Good Food place on Court Street?Investors Bank put up a hideous sign. Please someone needs to address this sign that is out of context. This is atrocious."

I promised the reader that I would check it out.  So yesterday afternoon, I grabbed my camera and shot the photos above.  There is no doubt that the bright green sign is rather obnoxious, especially the canopy which extends over the sidewalk. 

While I was pointing my camera at the building, a young lady approached me to inquire if I was taking pictures of the sign.  When I told her 'yes', she told me that both the sign and the canopy were lit up all night long and that the brightness had kept her and her neighbors awake since it had been installed a few days ago.  She had already spoken to the bank's contractor about the sign and was told that quite a few people had complained about it.  So she started a petition to present to Investor's Bank.

The petition reads:

November 13 

Carroll Gardens residents are concerned by the amount of light pollution coming from the new store front, Investors Bank, on Court Street between 3rd and 4th Place.  There is also opposition to the bright awning that extends into the street.  The new business has not used nearby financial businesses and banks as a model for its design. The other businesses do not disrupt the residential atmosphere that is highly valued here. 

We, the signed residents of Carroll Gardens and its Brooklyn neighbors, are requesting that Investors Bank: 

1) remove its awning 

2) Dim its lights. 

We are requesting this in the spirit of Investors Bank's willingness to become a part of the neighborhood instead of standing out in a way that is unattractive and disruptive to the neighbors.

Obviously, Investors Bank, a New Jersey-based financial institution, has little sensibility for our brownstone neighborhood. Let's hope that they wise up quickly and realize that this sign and the bright lights are not appropriate for Brownstone Brooklyn.

Below is a photo of the petition. I will update the post to include a link if it is put online. In the meantime, here is the contact information to the bank's New Jersey headquarters.

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While Some Still Missing Good Food, New Investors Bank On Court Street Coming Along

Many in Carroll Gardens were sad when the owners of Good Food on Court Street, Mike and Allegrino Sale announced in April of this year that they would close their Italian Superette at 431 Court Street between 3rd and 4th Place.
Good Food had been supplying the neighborhood with fresh mozzarella, Italian sausages, olives, fresh meat for over 85 years. The business first belonged to the Bruno brothers, relatives of NY City Office Of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Bruno. The Brunos ran the business until one of the brothers was attacked while on his way to make a deposit at a local bank.
That's when the Sale Brothers bought the supermarket and the building. Together, they have managed the store for 35 years.

They would have continued running the business, but when Investors Bank, a New Jersey-based financial institution, approached them and offered to rent the storefront, the brothers saw an opportunity to retire.

One can hardly blame the brothers, but their superette and deli is truly missed by many in the neighborhood. The prices were decent compared to some of the fancier, newer stores in the neighborhood, and the meat and produce were always super fresh. Most importantly, the Sale Brothers still took phone orders and offered free delivery on small purchases to many elderly home-bound Carroll Gardeners.

As many are still pining for Good Food's fresh mozzarella, the work on the new Investors bank branch is in full swing. Yesterday, a huge steal beam for the back addition was delivered.
The branch should be open very soon.

As for the Sale Brothers, they seem to be enjoying their retirement. On a sunny day, they can still be found in front of the Van Westerhout Cittadini Molesi Social Club Social Club at Court and Fourth Place.

For photos of the former Good Foods, click here.


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