It was mentioned in the comments of a previous post, and I can personally confirm it: A Ricky's "beauty shop" will be taking over the space formerly occupied by Tapestry on Montague. Yes, no longer will you have to trek all the way to Manhattan for some glitter and your favorite flavored lube. They have been looking for "high-profile, high trafficked" locations in NYC (and South Beach!) for a while now, and I guess they are large enough to afford the ridiculously high rent.
For those unfamiliar with the chain, Ricky's describes itself as an "edgy, ultra-hip 'beauty shop' specializing in unique fashion accessories, cosmetics, and beauty supplies", but everyone knows all the real fun is in the back room behind the beads. What do you think, will this make Montague fabulous?
I’ve already heard one older woman telling me it I’ll have to shield my toddler’s eyes when we walk past. Pfft. I love Rickys!
Word. Time to shake up the neighborhood.
Yes! Bklyn Heights needs a place to buy freaky deke stuff. I currently have to go into the City to buy my whips and chains.
Looking good….feeling good! I heart Ricky’s. At least it’s not another eye glass store.
I’m glad to see that some chains are willing to confront and challenge the demographics of the neighborhood. This should certainly send a ripple down the heart of the Cue. Anybody have a guess as to what might ensue? Patricia Fields perhaps?
Babes In Toyland.
Or Toys in Babeland. But seriously, is anyone concerned about how this may effect the mix of retail on Montague? I’m not saying that Ricky’s is going to open the floodgates to XXX porno and tattoo parlors, but is it the right fit? I suppose if it isn’t, it too will go bye-bye, so Iguess time will tell.
There is a blurb on the Ricky’s Web site:
“The hot-pink-and-shimmery green awning and the pop music pumping inside are dead giveaways that these aren’t your ordinary drugstores.” NY Magazine.
My question is: What does this mean? Is our neighborhood the right demographic for this type of shop? We are not exactly overrun with hipsters and fashionistas . . . more like stockbrokers and lawyers and ladies who lunch.
That smell of hair gel, lube and incense is the wind of change.
Is that where that smell was coming from? I thought it was low tide on the river. As I said, time will tell. No doubt, the neighborhood is in for big and long overdue changes, but how many of them will stick is yet to be determined.
Ha! thanks nabeguy, I always confuse the two. I think the store could do well if the neighborhood as a whole is trending younger, not to mention all the families with teenagers and soon-to-be-teenagers, or all the people who venture to and from the Promenade. Ricky’s is fairly innocuous.
Beware when you lop porno and tattoo parlours together, my friend. We are located in Brooklyn Heights and boast clients like court officers, policemen, Firefighters, teachers and even a vice principal of a local pulic school(not to mention LOCAL musicians and artists, and law students,local business owners, grandmas,etc). We serve the Broooklyn Heights area better than most the retail up there on Montague, wether it be cultural, or giving a the public a sense of Brooklyn pride moreso than any of the “upscale” businesses that serve the people that work there but dont live here do…Sorry, nabe guy you hit a nerve. I am born and raised Cobble Hill, and always found Heights residents snooty from the 70′s on, i’m trying to get over it…forgive me….i’m not saying Montague would benefit from a Tattoo “studio”(as we like to call it these days), i just dont think Tattoo shops go hand in hand with Porno shops…sorry to go offtrack, carry on…Suerte©Owner- Brooklyn Tattoo (did you see that one coming, Homer ?)
Well said, Suerte. I just caught that now, I’ve been rehearsing for tonight’s Live Band Karoke at Magnetic Field.
Rickys is cosmetron porn and i for one welcome it! Have at it. I doubt the sight of hair pins, novelty flip flops and lip gloss is gonna sully our streets. It’s about time. And hey – most of my friends have tattoos. Not me – i’m just stoked for all the lip gloss and pumpiing pop music …
I hear you, Tattoo. Though I’ve only been in the neighborhood a few years, I too sense some major snot factor in the heights. (I grew up on LI, so I have a well-calibrated snooty alarm.)
I strongly suspect that Heights residents are neither more nor less likely than people in other neirborhoods to dig this stuff, though some would just rather pretend otherwise, even if it means a short subway ride.
I think the xxx-factor of Ricky’s may be overstated (by them and others). I remember loving it there when I was a teenager and I was into all things having to do with make-up and crap. I think it’s going to be big with the after school crowd.
Despite the buttoned-up preppy veneer, underneath, there’s more depravity, wife swapping, swinging, and general deviance than one might expect in the Heights.
BN — I smell an entire blog dedicated to such “news”.
I don’t have a problem with Ricky’s but the loud colors are offensive to me and my eyes. Its not out of place in the east v but in BH it is a tad out of synch but hey we have the sleepy’s store which hurts my eyes just as much in its brightness and tackiness.
I just wish there would be a little more coordination between the businesses (e.g. tasteful and similar colored awnings). It would give it more of a small neighborhood feel like that little strip of retail on hicks between remsen and montague.
People bitching about this need to get a life. This is good. We need some different things here. Or would you like another eye glass store/ bank/ real estate agency/ laundromat? Maybe one day Brooklyn Heights will actually be cool. Imagine that.
Wow, didn’t realize that line would generate such a visceral response. To Suerte, my apologies for the poorly-thought-out comparison that I made…I don’t have any objection to tattoo studios. I was just cullling up an image of 6th Avenue in the Village by the old Waverly theater, where they happen to sit side by side (right next to the notorious KFC
(ratstautrant). Sorry for the offense. Personally, I think you’d probably do quite well in BH. In fact, I’d consider it an honor to be your first customer…my tat would be RTKYMS (remember to keep your mouth shut!)
No worries Nabe, However, I believe Homer would be first in line with his shiny new “BHB” tattoo i have been trying to sell him on….chest or knuckles?….i’m working on him…cheers-Suerte
BT, LOL! HF, go for the chest…then you wouldn’t have to use initials!
Maybe a kakamamie first.
Ricky’s has great cheap mascara, which is good since you should throw yours away every 60 days. And it will save me from having to trek to Mall-hattan for hair products.
This is great news!!!
Sam, since you seem determined to reduce this blog to your own personal WWF smackdown, let’s get ready to rumble. I’ll be glad to start
1. Referencing BH as there clearly indicates that your not from here. So riddle me this, Batman. Why waste your time on a blog concerning a neighborhood that you don’t live in?
2. Do you think for a nanosecond that I plonk down over 9 grand a year in real estate taxes to subsidize your outsider vision of what this neighborhood needs?
Simply, if you don’t find this area to your liking, don’t bother coming here. However, if you enjoy the views from the Promenade, and like the quiet tree-lined streets, then please come any time you like. But please don’t try to turn a neighborhood that you don’t live in into your own personal playground.
This is SOOOOO exciting. No more shopping at CVS/Rite Aid for their awful hair and skin products when I don’t want to trek into the city! Hooray! For those naysayers, I really recommend that you check it out. Ricky’s has a lot of high end hair and skin lines that are impossible to find without going to Manhattan or Park Slope. Also, it’s a blast to go there around Halloween–they have a great costume selection. To all of the people harping about Ricky’s sex products–it’s really not all you’re making it to be. There are very few products, and what they offer appears to be VERY low quality/high toxicity plastic, and you probably shouldn’t put it anywhere near your body. For that stuff, trek over to Toys in Babeland in SoHo.
May TIB should open a Heights store.
Bah…now THAT would be taking it to far, lol.
Perfect timing – I was about to do a big purge of my cosmetics closet (yes – I said closet). Between Ricky’s and Korres, watch out – Montague might be cool.
I am happy that Ricky’s is coming to the neighborhood. My husband and I have been raised in this neighborhood in the 80′s. It has gone through a major change. I love Ricky’s and I agree, to many real estate places to walk by. I think the store will do well!!!