Park Slope Businesses: What Opened & Closed Last Month

Another busy few weeks for businesses in the neighborhood, with several new openings, closures, and spaces moving to new locations. Here’s a look back on what’s happened in over the past month:

NOW OPEN: New Apple Tree
156 7th Avenue at Garfield

The small grocery New Apple Tree and the adjacent New Apple Tree Flowers calls back the name of the business that was there one iteration back — Apple Tree — but which many neighbors continued to refer to it as even after it was renamed Garfield Farm Market, which was the space that closed last summer. Good spot for nice, reasonably priced bouquets and for last-minute grocery items, including fresh fruits and vegetables.

NOW OPEN: Al Seabu
383 5th Avenue, between 6th and 7th Streets

The new restaurant was redone since Chip Shop closed in December, and it’s a bright, casual space that friends and families will enjoy sitting down to a meal at — though they are also offering delivery. If you’ve never tried Malaysian food, but you’re a fan of the wide variety or cuisines from around Asia that we’ve already got in the neighborhood, you’ll find some hints of those here, and a lot more.

NOW OPEN: The Estaminet
107A 7th Avenue at President Street

The new cafe opened in the corner space that was previously home to Spectacles. They’re serving up fresh juices and both sweet and savory crepes in addition to espresso drinks, and if you’re lucky, you can snag a seat on the sidewalk to enjoy them in the sun.

NOW OPEN: Simple Nails
83 7th Avenue, between Berkeley and Union

One of the two nail salons to open this year basically across the street from each other — the first, Latoue Nail Spa II, opened at 92 7th Avenue in March, and this one quickly followed in the former Subway/former Leaf N Bean space, though we haven’t had a chance to stop in to check out this newest one yet (hence the old photo). Anyone been?

NOW OPEN: Area Yoga
45 5th Avenue at Bergen

Owner Loretta Gendville decided to close Area Kids at this location because of shifting neighborhood needs, figuring “this portion of the neighborhood with all of the new development could use a yoga studio more than a kids store.” They’ve currently got an opening special , where you can get three months of unlimited yoga (at this location only) for $150.

NOW OPEN: Papi’s Grill
161 7th Avenue, between Garfield and 1st

They’re open and serving a menu of tacos, tortas, huaraches, weekend tamales, and more in the space that was most recently home to  Piccola Uva, which consolidated with its sister space Tutta Pasta across the street.

NOW OPEN: Baba’s Pierogies
295 3rd Avenue, between 1st and Carroll

A pair of Brooklyn natives has learned the secrets behind a grandmother’s tricky pierogi recipe, and they’ve made them their own, serving up mac and cheese versions right alongside traditional sauerkraut ones, both of which go great with a few beers.

NOW CLOSED: H&L Nail Spa
244A 5th Avenue, between President and Carroll

After several new nail salons openings in the past year, Park Slope may have reached the saturation point, as this six-year-old salon has now closed. Their sister location across the street, Shanghai Spa, 241 5th Avenue, remains open however, and is honoring H&L loyalty cards.

NOW CLOSED: Lisa Polansky
121 7th Avenue between Carroll and President

The clothing and shoe store whose name a lot of people probably didn’t know (no sign announced it) closed after 40 years in business, following the owner’s business retirement announcement last fall. The 1,000-square-foot space is still listed for rent.

NOW CLOSED: Bubblez
347 5th Avenue, between 4th and 5th Streets

The toy store closed after about four years in the space, leaving us without a handy spot to have almost directly across from JJ Byrne for those times you may have need a ball or something else to extend the playground fun a bit.

MOVING: Warren Lewis Sotheby’s
From 123A 7th Avenue to 89 7th Avenue on the corner of Union Street

The real estate office recently put its space on the market, and announced it will be taking over the former corner home to Prospect Gardens Pharmacy, which closed in March after several decades in the neighborhood.

MOVED: Tofu on 5th
From 226 7th Avenue to 384 5th Avenue, on the corner of 6th Street

Tofu on 7th, a solid choice for Szechuan take-out and delivery, moved and changed its name, reportedly because of a rent hike at the old space. They take over the former home of Shamisen, a Japanese restaurant that never quite seemed to gain much of a following, but are still offering sushi made by those folks.

MOVED: Lulu’s Then & Now
From 75A 5th Avenue to 187 4th Avenue, near Sackett

The larger, 1,800-square-foot space means more room for products, but also a cool addition for those lamenting the loss of the family-friendly Two Moon down the road — a Playspace for kids ages 6 months to 3.5 years filled with toys and a library.

We’ll have a roundup soon featuring businesses that should be opening in the near future! But if you notice anything we missed that opened or closed in the past month, let us know in the comments below. And as always, if you see some changes in businesses in the neighborhood, shoot us tips at editor@bklyner.com.