The Kensington Word: Meet Joe Martin, A Bartender At Hamilton’s
From new transplants hailing from places across the city, country and globe to residents whose families have lived in Kensington for generations, our neighborhood is home to an amazingly diverse collection of people. This interview is part of our The Kensington Word series, in which we’ll get to know some of our wonderful neighbors who make Kensington what it is today. For this week, we interviewed Joe Martin, a bartender at Hamilton’s (2826 Fort Hamilton Parkway).
How long have you lived in the neighborhood? I have lived here for almost three years.
Where did you live prior to here? I grew up in Bayside, Queens and lived in other locales in Queens until I was about 20. I moved to Park Slope in 1991. The first place I lived in was on 4th Avenue and Union Street, a very rough area at the time. For the next 20 years, I lived in various places in Park Slope.
What prompted the move to our neighborhood? I started working at Hamilton’s the day it opened, and then moved to the neighborhood. I have gotten to know and like the neighborhood people that I have met through my job at the bar. This neighborhood feels familiar and reminds me of growing up in Queens. I don’t miss Park Slope one bit.
Where did you work before Hamilton’s? I owned three video stores in Brooklyn for 15 years called Reel Life. The final store was in Park Slope, and Georgia (one of the owners of Hamilton’s) was a customer. A short time after the store closed my wife ran into Georgia in the sandbox at the playground in Prospect Park, and when she learned I was looking for a job, she thought I would be a great fit at her new bar. I had no prior bartending experience, but my father owned a bar when I was growing up in Queens, and beer is one of my passions, so the whole thing was kind of second nature to me.
What do you like about the neighborhood? It’s a great community; I have made many close friends here. I didn’t feel that way about Park Slope. This neighborhood is a mix of old Brooklynites and new transplants, and I enjoy interacting with both. It feels like a small town existing in one of the biggest cities in the world. My wife is very involved in the neighborhood. She is on the executive board of the PTA of P.S. 130 and a member of the community garden. Every time we leave the house, we run into people we know. There are a lot of great businesses here or about to open — the new Austrian restaurant, Batata, Steeplechase, Wheated, and Le Paddock. I admire the creativity of the people who are behind these establishments.
[pullquote]This neighborhood is a mix of old Brooklynites and new transplants, and I enjoy interacting with both. It feels like a small town existing in one of the biggest cities in the world.[/pullquote]
What is missing in our neighborhood? As a father, I think a good toy store is sorely needed.
Are you settled here or just passing through? I feel more settled here than any neighborhood I have lived in before.
Do you have favorite restaurants in the neighborhood? I love the Terrace Coffee Shop and Wheated. At Wheated, I love the Brighton Beach pizza.
What is the neighborhood’s best kept secret? The playgrounds — there are a million of them. If you walk on East 5th Street towards Windsor Terrace there are these amazing hidden playgrounds.
We live in a very diverse neighborhood, how meaningful is that to you? I love that my son, who attends P.S. 130, has a very diverse class. It’s amazing to grow up in a neighborhood where diversity is not discussed; these kids are just your fellow classmates. My son does not consider such things as race, sexual identity, or religion. It’s very different from how I grew up.
What do you think of Brooklyn’s newfound popularity? It’s a double-edged sword. It’s such an interesting place to live, and I’m so inspired and awed by my neighbors. However, at the same time, once your “secret” neighborhood is out, it becomes less feasible for all to enjoy. When I opened my first video store in Williamsburg, you felt like it was a “new frontier.” It was one of the first businesses on the street, and now when I go there I don’t recognize what has become of that block. Who could have looked into their crystal ball and seen what Brooklyn would become?
What do you like about your job? The people. I’ve made friends here that I will have my whole life. It’s very gratifying to be a part of their lives on a regular basis, and I love curating our beer selection to their tastes. I try to tailor it to this neighborhood — unpretentious, but still well crafted. I don’t want to give people a lecture about beer, I just want them to find something that they enjoy. Personally, I love IPAs, bitter and hoppy beers like Bells Two-Hearted and Ommegang Nirvana.
[pullquote]I love curating our beer selection to their tastes. I try to tailor it to this neighborhood — unpretentious, but still well crafted.[/pullquote]
Do you feel that as a bartender, you sometimes have to play the role of therapist? Yes, and I even felt that way when I owned my video stores. People come out of their homes to talk. They pour their hearts out to me. I think I’m a pretty good listener, and I like to engage with people.
Does Hamilton’s have a specialty drink? We don’t have a hard liquor license because we are in close proximity to a school and a church, so we make our cocktails with Soju, a Korean spirit. Legally speaking, at least according to the state liquor authority, it’s treated like a saki, but in actuality it’s distilled and is much closer to a mild vodka. Our most popular drink is our Jalapeno Guava Soju Margarita.
What led you to open your video stores? I’ve always loved movies, and I had amassed a huge collection of videos at home. I was working as a graphic designer and not really enjoying the work. I was in Williamsburg one day and saw that, although there were video stores, there wasn’t one that carried avant-garde, foreign, and eclectic films. I opened my first store with my own video collection which consisted of a lot of European horror films, film noir, and obscure foreign titles.
Do you have favorite directors? That list has changed throughout my life, but usually includes the directors Hitchcock, John Ford, and Kurosawa.
Do you have favorite films? The movies that made the greatest impression on me growing up were Frankenstein with Boris Karloff and The Exorcist.
What movies from this year have you enjoyed? “Gone Girl” is an impeccably well-made film. In my opinion, David Fincher is the go-to guy for beautifully produced films — everything, from the production elements to the performances. You’re going to find few faults in that film.
What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy hanging out with my family. I also like playing music. I’ve been playing in punk rock bands since 1989, the best known of which is Citizens Arrest. We still sometimes play out at festivals and venues around the country when our schedules allow.
If you know someone you’d love to see featured in this series, let us know! You can email us at editor@kensingtonbk.com.