No, New Retail Space On Former Met Food Site On Smith Street Will Not Be A T.J. Maxx

The former Met Food at 205 Smith Street shortly after its closing in 2015

Newly constructed two story retail space at 205 Smith Street today

From RKF 's listing of 205 Smith Street in Boerum Hill.

Since construction began on a new two-story retail building at 205 Smith Street between Baltic and Warren Streets in Boerum Hill, the community has been speculating on what retailer may be moving in.  The site had formerly been the home of a Met Food Supermarket, which closed its doors in the summer of 2014 when its owner sold the property to retail investors Jackson Group, Aurora Capital Associates and ACHS Management for $18.5 million.

The community had hoped that a new food market would be moving in when the new building was completed, since Met Food, though never a pleasant shopping experience, was the only large supermarket in walking distance for many in the neighborhood.

Those hopes were dashed when the Brooklyn Paper reported in late 2016 that national retailer T.J. Maxx would be taking over both floors of 205 Smith Street. That information, however, was only based on a conversation with construction workers on the site and was never confirmed by the company.

Since a new Marshalls, which, like T.J. Maxx, belongs to TJX Companies, had just opened blocks away on Atlantic Avenue, the information made little sense. Why would the company open two stores so close to each other? 

Just recently, retail real estate firm RKF listed the 16,365 SF space, describing Smith Street as one of "Brooklyn’s most desirable shopping destinations and Cobble Hill is one of the most affluent neighborhoods."

(Of course, everyone knows that 205 Smith Street is in Boerum Hill, but what's a little fib to a real estate agent, right?).

So, no supermarket, no T.J.Maxx. The listing does not offer information on the rent price, but it is bound to be steep.  The new renter will likely be a national chain, since no small retailer may be able to afford the space.
What would you like to see in this space? What does the community really need on Smith Street now?

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Work Finally Underway For Former Met Food Supermarket On Smith Street

Rendering for 205 Smith Street courtesy of A and J Acquisitions

The former Met Food shortly after it closed

205 Smith Street with just erected construction fence

Back in the summer of 2014, the Met Food Supermarket on Smith Street between Baltic and Warren Streets in Boerum Hill closed its doors for good. Though it was once rated one of the five filthiest in Brooklyn, it had served many in the neighborhood and its closing was felt throughout the community.

The 10,000-square-foot one story building that housed the supermarket had been put up for sale by its owner and was bought by retail investors Jackson Group, Aurora Capital Associates and ACHS Management for $18.5 million in May 2014.

The companies plan to take down the existing structure to rebuild a 30 000 sq.f. two-story retail building. Recently, a construction permit to that effect have been approved by New York Department of Buildings.

The permit reads:

Removal of exterior and interior walls as shown on plans, erecting new façade and interior partitions. Also the addition of second floor plumbing and mechanical as per plans. Change of use, egress and occupancy.

Think! Architecture is listed as the design firm.

In the past few days, a fence has gone up around the property and work on 205 Smith Street has begun. Construction workers are currently busy with interior demolition.

Brownstoner reported yesterday that a worker indicated that a new supermarket will be moving in after work is completed.

Though we can all hope that a (reasonably priced) food market will one day occupy this space, the architectural rendering on one of the owners' web page would clearly indicate other plans. It also lists the property as available in 2016.

What type of retailer would you like to see there?

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Met Food Building On Smith Street in Boerum Hill Is For Sale

Reader 'Trumbull Bully' made us aware of the fact that the building housing the Met Food Supermarket at 197 Smith Street between Baltic and Warren Streets is currently on the market. Accoding to Commercial Observer, potential developers have already bid in excess of $20 million for the property.

The 10,000-square-foot one story building, one of the largest on Smith Street, is located in Boerum Hill. Currenlty the property at 197 Smith Street is zoned R6B, with "permits residential and community facility uses to a maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of 2.0. Building heights are limited to 40 feet at the street, with a 50 foot maximum building height after a setback (10 feet on a wide streets, 15 feet on a narrow street."  According to New York City's Department of City Planning, "new development in the proposed R6B district would be required to line up with adjacent structures to maintain the existing street wall characteristics. New multi- family residences must provide one off-street parking space for 50% of dwelling units, which may be waived if 5 or fewer spaces would be required."

The loss of the 1970s simple brick building would not be a big deal, but, as Trumbull points out, the potential loss of yet another 'reasonably priced' supermarket in the neighborhood is a matter of concern, even if that particular store was recently rated one of the five filthiest in Brooklyn .


Let's hope that any new building going up at this location will house a new, improved supermarket on the ground floor.  This neighborhood could certainly use one.

***The post has been revised to indicate that the property was rezoned as  part of the Carroll Gardens Contextual Rezoning by City Planning in 2009. Previously, I had indicated that is was part of the Boerum Hill rezoning, which was approved in 2011.




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When Met Food On Henry Street Was Pilgrim Chapel

Architectural drawings of Pilgrim Chapel

A photo of the 1930's

photo above, Courtesy of Rick Luftglass

Oh, you know how much I love to learn about the history of our Brooklyn neighborhood. 

Reader and friend Rick Luftglass shares my passion. A while back, he sent me some truly interesting information about the Met Food on Henry Street at the corner of Degraw Street. He also passed along a great architectural drawing from the 1870's and an amazing photo of the 1930's

Here is a bit of background info of the chapel from www. nycago.org, a historic organ web site****

The Pilgrim Chapel began as the Columbia Mission, established in 1845 or 1846, when a few active Christians began a Mission in Freeman's Hall at the corner of Amity and Columbia streets in South Brooklyn. The neighborhood was inhabited mostly by foreigners, many of whom were Irish Catholics. As the Sunday-school was established and prospered, a few benevolent gentlemen purchased three lots of ground on Warren Street, between Hicks and Columbia streets. On this ground, a chapel was erected that could accommodate 400 to 500 persons, and it was completed in November 1852, free of debt. The cost of the land and chapel was about $9,000. Over the next few years membership increased and on March 20, 1854, a church was formed. Financial support for the Warren Street Church was provided by Plymouth Congregational Church and the Church of the Pilgrims, in addition to contributions from members. In 1876, the Church of the Pilgrims assumed charge of the mission, and it was renamed Pilgrim Chapel.

On July 10, 1878, the cornerstone was laid for a new building on Henry Street at the corner of Degraw Street. The site consisted of four lots and measured 100 feet square. J. Cleveland Cady (1837-1919), the prominent architect, designed an Italianate-style building with a tall tower that had an exterior of Philadelphia pressed brick trimmed with Belleville stone and terra cotta. The auditorium had a high ceiling with open timbers, and was lighted by a continuous clear-story in which were windows filled with rolled cathedral glass of beautiful designs. There were 15 rooms grouped around the auditorium, all having direct light, ventilation and heat. When the Sunday-school rooms were opened into the auditorium, there was a capacity of 1,200 people. The new Pilgrim Chapel was formally opened on December 15, 1878.

The Church of the Pilgrims merged into Plymouth Congregational Church in 1934, but it has not yet been determined when the Pilgrim Chapel was disbanded.

Rick Luftglass writes: 

Notice that the building structure/shape is exactly the same as it was then – the main church building and the one-story extension on the left, which at the time was the Sunday School and is now the entrance to the Met Food. The only structural difference (that is, aside from the bricking in of the windows and stucco/cement on the 1st floor, which was already done by the 1930 photo) is that today there’s an air conditioner duct where the steeple was. It’s also possible that the steeple was never built, since this was the architectural sketch and the steeple isn’t on the 1930 photo. No way to tell, though.

Also attached are the 1930 photo of the building. The description on the back of the 1930 photo says that it was a garage at the time, and was previously the Oriole Theatre.
Does anyone out there know when the building was turned into a supermarket?

Thanks for sharing these facts and photos with everyone, Rick!


*****Sources used by www. nycago.org :
"A New Church in Brooklyn," The New York Times (Dec. 16, 1878).

Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Specifications (Feb. 18, 1911) of E. & G. G. Hook & Hastings organ, Op. 915 (1878); courtesy Larry Trupiano.

Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.

"Pilgrim Chapel Anniversary," The New York Times (Dec. 11, 1893).

Stiles, Henry Reed. History of the City of Brooklyn: Including the Old Town and Village of Brooklyn, the Town of Bushwick, and the Village and City of Williamsburgh. Brooklyn: pub. by subscription, 1863.

Van Pelt, William T., comp. The Hook Opus List, 1829-1916 in Facsimile. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1991.

Photos:

American Architect and Building News (Nov. 2, 1878): original plan of Pilgrim Chapel by J. Cleveland Cady.

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