Kensington Stables Is Safe With A Brand New Owner

KENSINGTON – The historic Kensington Stables is safe– it has been sold to the president of the GBX-Gowanus Bay Terminal, John Quadrozzi Jr.

Kensington Stables, built in the 1930s, is one of the few remaining stables in New York City and is the only one that serves Prospect Park.

Quadrozzi Jr. bought the stables in December but declined to give his name until after the deal closed at the beginning of March, Crain’s New York reported. In February of last year, the stables went on an auction block after declaring bankruptcy. But Council Member Brad Lander of District 39, representing neighborhoods such as Cobble Hill, Gowanus, Park Slope, and Kensington, publicly pleaded with potential bidders to preserve the “longtime community institution” and vowed to oppose any rezoning that did not preserve a stable at the site.

In April of last year, local politicians got together to save the Kensington Stables from condo developers. Lander had reallocated more than $1 million to help the city buying the stables, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams also funneled more than $500,000 to chip in toward the $2 million price tag.

Luckily for Brooklynites and lovers of the Kensington Stables, Quadrozzi decided to buy the stables, and keep the horses for at least five years. He was revealed to be a longtime stable customer, telling Crain’s that he used to take his two children riding in Prospect Park when they were young. He was initially working with the original owners to help rescue the stables, and when that didn’t work, he jumped in and they “wound up doing it together.”

The stables former manager, Walker Blankenship, will have a stake in the business and will be in charge of horse care. Quadrozzi’s daughter, who is 19 years old, will also have a part.

According to Crain’s, the facility is being renamed Prospect Park Stable and will operate it under the name Brooklyn Equine.