Brooklyn’s Largest Eastern European Market Has Opened To Never Close

Sheepshead Bay – The much-anticipated NetCost Market on Ocean Avenue just south of Voorhies opened yesterday. This is the first 24/7 grocery store concept for NetCost Market chain, which has a number of stores across southern Brooklyn and beyond, serving mostly the large Eastern European and former Soviet Union diaspora settled nearby.

Where else will you be able to get buckwheat in bulk and rice to make Uzbek plov specifically, say at 2 am on a Tuesday?

It warmed my Latvian heart to see the dairy aisle, offering excellent selections of domestic and imported butter, Kefir, sour cream, farmer’s cheese, .. basically milk at every stage of processing known to man.

There is a bakery, which also sells their more upscale Gourmanoff brand products, which you can also enjoy in the seating area outside, right next to the flower stand that has a number of tables and benches.

There is a butcher, fresh fish, frozen pelmeni, and Kirby cucumbers and lots of fresh fruit and veggies, including organic varieties.

Then there are the hot food counters, offering everything from smelt, to pancakes, to excellent Оливье salad that every Soviet kid grew up on and will transport you right back in time.

Obviously, for every fresh meat and fish counter, there are those dedicated to the smoked varieties.

This being an ethnic/regional store, the assumption is that you are likely to speak Russian, which may feel welcoming or not, but most everyone will gladly switch to English and help non-natives navigate.

This being the second day, the parking lot was packed, the store was busy and they were still working out a few glitches so when we visited they were only accepting cash (conveniently, there is a bank next door). If you cannot resist buying a lot, they do deliver within 2 miles of the store; and do get the loyalty card for some good discounts.

The store is located at 3100 Ocean Avenue and is open 24/7.