The Franchises Are Coming! The Franchises Are Coming! (To 7th Avenue)
At the beginning of each month, we provide an opportunity for our readers to view a list of restaurant and cafe openings and closings. In addition, we provide a “What’s Coming Soon” section.
Recently, we’ve renamed that section “What’s Opening Soon (or not so soon) and What’s Confusing,” as a series of places have languished in that section for some time.
This week, Juice Press and Chipotle make their debut on 7th Avenue — somewhat of a departure from the independent or small business owner establishments that are more common in our neighborhood.
Of course, these two openings are certainly not the first franchises which have set up shop. Starbucks boasts two stores in our area: 164 7th Avenue and 164 Park Place. Two out of the six Connecticut Muffin stores are local as well: 171 7th Avenue in the heart of Park Slope and Windsor Terrace’s spot at 206 Prospect Park West. And of course, there are more.
The storefront at 185 7th Avenue (between 1st and 2nd Streets) — previously the Met Foodmarket which closed in October 2014 — will open its doors as Chipotle on Thursday, June 30. DNAinfo reports “[b]uilding owner Reyad Farraj, who grew up in Park Slope and has five kids, said he rented the spot to Chipotle in part because of the company’s commitment to making food ‘with integrity.'”
There’s probably little need to introduce you to the menu at what has become a ubiquitous chain. As a refresher, you can familiarize yourself with their nutrition calculator to count those calories.
While the e.coli outbreak frightened customers in 2015, the CDC declared the outbreak over in February.
Juice Press, the smaller franchise with the big product price tags opened up at 207 7th Avenue (at 3rd Street) on Saturday, June 25. Brooklyn has two other locations in Brooklyn Heights and Williamsburg. The franchise now has almost 30 stores and plans further expansion. Juice Press replaces Yogurtland, which closed May 2015.
An employee outside was handing out samples last weekend, and the place was doing brisk business. In addition to smoothies, cleanses, “super foods,” salads, desserts, soups, and the requisite kale chips, the franchise offers a “Guru Smoothie.”
While you may think the smoothie price is a bit steep at $15, you should know that it was originally $18. According to Grub Street, “[o]wner Marcus Antebi explained that he had initially ‘padded’ the price to make sure he didn’t lose money on the expensive-ingredient-laden smoothie. Once it launched, ‘I figured out the cost per unit and was able to lower the price.'” That report was from 2011, and Juice Press seems to be faring well with the $3 per “Guru” price cut.
The new store offers some free “bookmarks” which suggest that dairy could compromise a man’s virility. And the term MILF uses a less familiar acronym than what the general populace tends to use: “Mothers Interested In Learning Food.”
It’s too early to determine how these two franchises will do. With P.S. 321 almost directly across the street from Chipotle, it may just get an infusion of hungry students when they return to school in the Fall.
[poll id=”14″]