Is Vanderbilt Avenue Cursed?, wrote Grub Street's Chris Crowley Aug. 6, with the subheading, "How Brooklyn’s newest restaurant row became one of the hardest places to do business."
The article was prompted by the closing of the destination restaurant Olmsted, which closed after nearly a decade. “It’s very flattering that people want to celebrate with us,” said owner Greg Baxtrom, “but we fought tooth and nail to be as neighborhood-friendly as possible.”
(I dunno about that, since their web menu comes without prices.)
The
article says that, since Olmsted's 2016 opening, "Vanderbilt has
developed into one of the city’s most visible restaurant rows, filled
with small establishments that aim to punch far above their weight," but
has recently suffered several closings.
Vs. Smith Street and DeKalb Avenue
Some liken Vanderbilt to Smith Street, another restaurant row with a lot of turnover, though Baxtrom wonders why it's different from a more stable restaurant row, on DeKalb Avenue in Fort Greene. Well, one answer, some commenters suggest, is that one-way DeKalb is more charming than wider, two-way Vanderbilt. It's also more charming than one-way Smith Street.
Some blame construction headaches and say new customers from new Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park buildings haven't shown up in force, while others interviewed think it's become more of a family neighborhood, preferring lower price points--even as rents have been skyrocketing.
Here's a quote attributed to one "industry observer": “Why would you pay $15,000 or $20,000 a month on Vanderbilt when you can pay the same for a space in midtown right now?” Well, maybe because fewer people are working in midtown?
More comparisons
One commenter:
I live close to Vanderbilt now and used to live right by the Delkalb restaurant strip. The Dekalb restaurants offer a range of options and price points without feeling too precious or fussy. So many cozy little gems over there, and the Vanderbilt spots just don't have the same feel.
Some people on Instagram suggested that DeKalb, which borders Fort Greene Park, has a different vibe, while others said Vanderbilt's Open Streets offered a great boost.
Is it cursed?
Meanwhile, as one wrote, "Amorina, Ciao Gloria, and a few others seem to have the foot traffic; they are also consistent with what they offer." In other words, maybe Vanderbilt isn't cursed.
The article, one wrote, "feels a bit clickbaity. Firstly, turnover is just a fact of life. Moreover, on a given night any number of cavernous restaurants on Vanderbilt are buzzing; Nourish Thai, Ozakaya, and Zaytoons all come to mind."
All this might change in another decade or two if and when more buildings open along Atlantic Avenue.
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