Openings & Closings Around Brooklyn
Opening Soon:
Churutto Ramen
8500 18th Avenue
The Old Sea Breeze fish market spot on the corner of 85th and 18th Avenue is turning into a Ramen joint. They have a location on the Upper East Side in Manhattan that offers ramen and poke bowls, and filed for a liquor license on May 3rd. More soon.
Pokeworks Williamsburg
Opening on June 7th, the Williamsburg outpost of Pokeworks will be located on Bedford Avenue between North 7th and 8th. This spot serves up poke bowls, burritos, and salads – all of which are customizable and can be build-your-own. While this spot in Williamsburg is brand new, the chain has over 40 locations across the United States.
Cena Taqueria & Cafe
A Mexican spot is taking over the shuttered Brooklyn Commune spot in Windsor Terrace, and they plan to open right after July 4th holidays. It already looks beautiful on Insta @cenabrooklyn.
Recently Open:
Hype’s Kitchen and Juice Bar
589 Flatbush Avenue (between Midwood and Rutland)
Opened in early May by social media star Majah Hype, this Caribbean spot in Prospect Lefferts Gardens features dishes like roti, jerk chicken, oxtail, and mac and cheese, as well as fresh juices. Majah Hype has over 950,000 followers on Instagram, drawing crowds to the restaurant’s opening. The cozy space features photographs plastered to the walls, televisions, and framed t-shirts.
Gemelli and The Ledge
321 Starr Street, off Cypress Ave
Bushwick can look forward to these new spots, opening on Starr street between Cyprus and Saint Nicholas avenues, by Sea Wolf owner Dan Cipriani. Featuring “two floors, indoor and outdoor spaces, and a few cocktail bars that can only be found by those open to a little exploration”, the multi-level experience opened at the end of May. Each level features a different restaurant, Gemelli on the ground floor, and The Ledge on the second. It’s pretty.
Sushi by Bou
1811A Emmons Avenue
Opened on May 30th in Sheepshead Bay. The restaurant, well-known for its 10-seat counters and 30-minute dining experience, has seven other locations in New York, and one in Miami. Sushi by Bou “brings a high-end Omakase experience to the people in an intimate and speakeasy environment”, with menus starting at $50 for the 30-minute meal.
Yogi Tales Kids at North 3rd Street Market
Yogi Tales opened on June 2nd, billed as “the first-ever live music children’s yoga class”. It will be housed in the North 3rd Street Market, on 3rd between Berry and Wythe. Founders Grant Henry and Evan Nachimson will lead the classes every Sunday morning for children ages 12 months to 8 years. Their goal is to provide them “with a fun balance of yoga and music that is engaging, educational and entertaining”.
Pasta Shop
731 4th Avenue (between 23rd and 24th streets)
This South Slope Italian eatery is located on 4th Avenue. Open since early May, they specialize in “ONLY fresh pasta”, according to their website. The menu also features their homemade sauces, including classics like Bolognese and Frutti di Mare. The spot is BYOB or wine, and shows their pastas on display in a glass deli-case.
Ankara
4106 18th Avenue (between East 3rd and East 4th streets)
This casual Turkish spot in Kensington, opened in early May, and has remained open seven days a week, serving up shawarmas and other halal eats to local residents.
PRESS Modern Massage in Bushwick
2 Saint Nicholas Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
The newest outpost in the PRESS family, this Bushwick location at 2 Saint Nicholas Avenue is ready to “have the backs of L-train riders facing stressful slowdowns”. This woman-owned, modern massage company has been around since 2008, with locations in three other Brooklyn neighborhoods, and features treatments for menstrual, pregnancy, and other pains.
Mama Tried
787 3rd Avenue at 27th street
This new Sunset Park cocktail bar has only been in the neighborhood since March 8, but is already attracting residents with their bright pink neon sign. As of last week, they announced via their Instagram (@mamatriedbk) that food would now be coming to the spot, through a partnership with Salt Tooth, the pop-up catering and consulting company. Further reviews speak highly of “innovative cocktails” and a growing wine and beer list. Bonus? They have a free jukebox.
Mo’s Original
435 Rogers Avenue (between Lincoln road and Maple street)
This new Prospect Lefferts Gardens spot is serving up several different styles of ramen. The space is clean and fresh, with wooden tables and stools and tile wall details.
Rooted NYC
135 Kent Avenue (at North 6th)
The modern plant company, Rooted NYC, has opened an outpost on Kent avenue for a summer pop-up. The company is “dedicated to connecting people to nature, one houseplant at a time,” and will be partnering with the lifestyle brand Staycation, among others, to give Brooklyners the chance to “explore and celebrate the art of de-stressing at home”.
Jiangnan Pancake
1818 86th Street (between 19th and 18th Avenues)
This recently opened Bensonhurst location features Chinese pancakes, noodles, and soups.
Bishop Wells
1206 Nostrand Avenue (at Hawthorne)
This Prospect Lefferts Gardens spot has been serving up specialty sandwiches since late April. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day from 8:00am to 10:00pm. Their menu features bowls and salads, in addition to the artisanal sandwiches.
Change in Ownership:
Castello Plan:
1213 Cortelyou Road, between Argyle and Westminster
This Ditmas Park bar changed hands on April 15th this year when it was acquired by Taj Singh. Castello Plan serves up small plates and a drinks in a cozy, rustic setting with brick accent walls and muted lighting. Singh “plans on making some ongoing improvements, including revamping the outdoor space, elevating the brunch and regular menu and adding barista coffee service”.
Closings:
Smith Canteen
343 Smith Street
The well-loved Carroll Gardens coffee shop is set to close on the 30th of June. The shop has been there since 2011, and featured coffees, small bites, and pastries. Owner of Smith Canteen and editor of Cherry Bombe, Kerry Diamond, announced the closing on her Instagram earlier last week, saying “It was an incredibly hard decision because I love the Canteen and have put my heart and soul into it for the past year as the sole owner. But I had to be honest with myself that I just don’t have the bandwidth required to take this very special place on this magical corner in Carroll Gardens where it deserves to go. Even though the past year has kicked my ass and exhausted me, I’m grateful for every minute of it”.
Mamma Lucia’s, an old school Italian spot that served Ditmas Park for decades closed on Foster Avenue at E17th street in May. The location has been taken over by the owners of Sycamore and The Farm on Adderley. More soon.