New Neighbor(?): Penelope’s Playspace

By on May 7, 2007 10:55 am in Brooklyn Heights

Given the fact that a (not so) merry prankster has already tagged the “Flower Mart” location at 60 Henry Street as being the future home of a “cigar bar“, pardon us for being skeptical about the latest “coming soon” posted there for “Penelope’s Playspace”. We’ve emailed the addy on the poster, and hope to get an answer soon.

UPDATE: While we haven’t received a response yet, it’s clear to us that this is another hoax. First the email address — “penolopesplayspace@gmail.com”. Any clear headed business person would find a correctly spelled address.

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  • nabeguy

    It looks legit enough…but they’re going to have a tough go of it. While I hate to sound negative, the landlords and managment company (Solin) are a nasty combination of greedy and indifferent. They seem hell-bent on collecting as much rent as possible with a minimum amount of maintenance. Yes, I know they’re probably spending a fortune on repointing the building but that’s a city requirement. In the meantime, the front of the Cranlyn Building looks like a tenement! Are they ever going to repair that broken column? And the front of the empty bodega is literally crumbling on a daily basis. For a building that bills itself as luxury rentals, it’s become a blight equal to the StG in the 80’s-90’s

  • JL

    Looking forward to reading PP’s reply. (uggh, PP’s, a great place for kids :)).

    Like nabeguy pointed out, I don’t know if a place like that described above could afford to pay the rent. I honestly think a cigar/wine bar would have a better chance. Nevertheless, I think the best bet for that spot would be a mexican restaurant since there are none in the northern heights (even burritoville would suffice). (Unless I am missing one)

  • nabeguy

    JL, the restaurant before PigNout happened to be Mexican and THAT couldn’t make it either! The fact is the only kind of business that could afford the rent that’s being asked would be a restaurant with very high turnover. However, the spaces themselves are so small that it’s a complete catch-22 situation. The only one that seems to be thriving is the Great Wall, and it’s family run by people who are complete slaves to the place, which is the sacrifice most people are unwilling to make.

  • JL

    Thanks nabeguy, I had no idea. What a shame. Still hoping for some good mexican in the Northern Heights. Maybe a fresh fish market would work (I think the meat market on Clark does alright)? (Just throwing out random ideas, I will stop now).

  • BP

    I went by to look for the sign and I couldn’t find it.

    Nabeguy, do you know what the asking rent is?

  • jenny

    Where on Clark is the meat market? What do they offer?

  • JL

    Jenny, Clark between Henry and Hicks. Near the entrance to the 2/3. It is called Heights Meat or something similar.

  • Arthur_G

    meat lasts a lot, lot longer than fish though.

    aged sirloin sounds appealing. aged tilapia does not.

    i can only imagine what the insurance on a kid’s playspace is…

  • BP

    Didn’t PigNOut really bill itself more as BBQ than Mexican?
    3800 for 500 ft?!? What is this, Montague? Actually, then it would be more like 8000.

  • jenny

    Why did Pigin Out close?

  • Here too long

    Pig N’Out closed because the people were rude & food was mediocre. For example, my only time there was with my 4-year-old. We ordered a kid’s hotdog. What we got was so charcoal-broiled that it was black and nasty looking – and it wasn’t a regular hotdog, it was super-super spicy. No 4-year-old would have eaten this, and no one over 4 would have accepted this burned, charred piece of food. I tried to return it & they wouldn’t make another one. I put a hex on them… just like I did to City Market Café when they made me mad … 3 weeks later, boom! They’re gone, too. Beware… lol

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com Claude Scales

    Here too long – was it you who put a hex on the Manhattan-bound 2 and 3 trains this morning?

  • nabeguy

    Since businesses on this strip turn over so fast, it’s hard to keep up with it. PNO was thrown out by the Marshall , presumeably for defaulting on their rent. Before them was a Mexican burrito place that the owner poured a lot of money into, but also couldn’t make a go of it and I believe was also evicted. As for the newstand space, they bailed one step in advance of the eviction notice. That space had been a newstand for about 20 years before that with a series of different owners (anyone remember Molly and Stu?) I used to play pinball (yes, pre-PacMan) in the back of the joint when I was a kid.

  • Sydney

    I think a bakery/cupcake shop would do really well. Obviously, stuff would have to be baked off premises, however, BH needs a good bakery.

  • nabeguy

    Oh, BTW, the sign had been torn down as of yesterday afternoon, so a hoax it was!

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com Claude Scales

    Maybe we should have a contest – design the funniest fake sign to tape on the door there.

  • nabeguy

    How about a Mexican BBQ restaurant for kids? Jump ropes and ropa viejo for everone!

  • yo

    i’ve got my fingers crossed for a bank!!!!

  • yo

    how about a pet store?

  • nabeguy

    Completely off the subject, but since Yo (or was it Ma, or do I hear a cello?) raised the issue of a pet store, does anybody else think that the neighborhood has gone to the dogs? I can’t ever remember there being so many around. Of course, I happen to live on Middagh St, which is a direct route to the Squibb Hill dog run, so that may be why I’m seeing )and cleaning up) after more of them.

  • sue

    I remember Molly and Stu — the place was called Scotties and I spent many an afternoon and quarter there playing pinball and video games.

  • http://www.brooklyndojo.com Brian

    Did you try correcting the “typo” and emailing again?

    Otherwise, that’s a pretty elaborate hoax. Such fun!

    Let the contest begin!

    Keep in mind that some of those kids activities are available at Brooklyn Dojo (kids yoga, themed birthday parties, music class, art and language (Japanese) classes) in addition to karate.

    Yes, I am the owner of Brooklyn Dojo. (Fink said I could post the plug as long as I made that clear.)

  • Arthur_G

    do you really think anyone with any business sense would try to open a playspace in the heights? maybe noodle pudding should rent it out on weekends as a waiting space since all anyone seems to write about – food wise – is there insipid pasta and occassionally inspired seafood.

  • lifer

    I totally remember the newstand…hours and hours of Joust…I would walk all the way up from Cobble Hill (when you are a pre teen thats far) to play..

  • nabeguy

    Hey, it sounds like maybe the place should be revived as a pinball parlor! Lifer and Sue can cut the ribbon!

  • Miriam

    they used to rent pornos at that place!