Just Months After Opening, Carroll Gardens Market Closes

Carroll Gardens Market, the large deli at 303 Court Street at the corner of De Graw Street, just closed its doors. A peek into the store revealed that all the shelves have been emptied.

Carroll Gardens Market had opened this past August and it was rumored that it was being taken over by the Mastellone's family who had run a successful old-fashioned, family-owned Italian deli/ superette at the same location for many years.

The original Mastellone's closed in the fall of 2013. Shortly afterwards, it was taken over by Billy Solmaz, who also runs Pacific Green, a popular Cobble Hill store at 303 Court Street at Pacific Street. It had been reported that Solmaz was being forced out of his Cobble Hill location at 151 Court Street by his landlord, because national retailer J.Crew had penned a ten year lease for the space. Strangely, Pacific Green is still very much open to this day, but Solmaz closed his new store at 303 Court Street this past April, just six months after opening it.

When Carroll Gardens Market opened n August 2014, many in the neighborhood were happy to hear that the Mastellone's family was involved once more. However, the store seemed badly run and it just did not feel inviting.

Too bad! In a neighborhood once filled with wonderful Italian delis, we now have a shortage of them. I think many of us had hoped that Carroll Gardens market could have been a worthy successor to Mastellone's.




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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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