Lower Montague Gets Summer Street Vendor

By on June 17, 2012 8:26 am in Food, Shopping, Streets

In the decade-plus that I’ve lived in Brooklyn Heights, I never recall seeing a street vendor on the lower side of Montague Street. On Saturday, a licensed vendor had set up shop at the corner of Montague and Montague Terrace, near the Promenade.

Said seller tells BHB that if business is brisk, he will be there weekends throughout the summer, selling cold drinks, New York hotdogs and sausage. Nice.

(Photo: Chuck Taylor)

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  • AL

    Chuck – NOT nice!

  • Publius

    Eyesore.

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    Bad idea.

  • bronx kid

    About time!

  • Elmer Fudd

    No, this is not the first time a street vendor has been in that area. It has happened in past years. Hot Dogs, sodas, pretzels.

  • Promenade Princess

    So completely predictable. I knew the SNOBS would be the first to react. So sorry the River Cafe isn’t setting up on the Promenade for you.

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    Promenade Princess,
    I think it’s a bad idea and I am far from being a SNOB.
    I grew up in East Flatush and doubt whether I ever encountered anyone who might be considered a snob. Oh, maybe the people who could afford to send their kids to day camp in the summer. We were quite envious of them.
    Having said that, why not put the concession right on the promenade itself?
    This used to be a quiet residential neighborhood and some of us would like to keep it that way.

  • BH’er

    ah, just what this end of the block has been lacking… to bad he doesn’t have a big, diesel generator!

    now, we can debate which is more toxic: BQE exhaust or the industrial chemicals packed inside the hot dog skin

  • Heights Guy

    that is ridiculous. who the heck needs a stinky cart with the distinct odor of burned spoiled chicken fat wafting through the nabe. I also saw a vendor recently releiving himself into a bag behind the cart. Anyone say Hep A… Disgusting food, served by disgusting people to disgusting people.

  • still here

    I thought BH was a no cart zone? Oh, well. I saw a shiska-cart on Columbia Heights and Clark last week – what a surprise. Once you have had one of these outside your window or front of your home, you’ll change you mind, Chuck. Soon there will be many.

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    Heights Guy,
    You made my point and then some.
    What next? A big top? Circus animals? Clowns? Cotton Candy?
    What I would like to know is who authorized this? Why now?
    Is there no peace for neighborhood residents who work long, hard hours? Imagine sitting in your living room on the weekend and having the smell of hot dogs, etc. wafting through your windows as you try to read a book or the newspaper. Take a nap maybe?
    I suppose that’s too much to ask.

  • lori

    I don’t think he had a permit to be on that corner! which is why he was no longer there later in the day.

  • Miss Montague

    How come nobody else has any complaints about the drummer inside 57 Montague?? It’s driving me crazy!

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    lori,
    After all my ranting and raving, that would be good news!

  • elemengee

    Do you really want to eat a hot dog that’s been sitting in hot water for hours and handled by an unknown person??? Maybe you know better but will your kids. I don’t think so.

  • north heights res

    I’d take one of those carts outside my building over the endless stream of Fresh Direct trucks that spew unbearable noise and exhaust into my apartment multiple times daily.

  • Gerry

    This guy has no place on Montague Terrace he is gone and will not be back.

    And if your need a hot dog so much then have him set up on the Promenade and NOT on Montague Terrace.

    This is a lot of bull I have worked very hard to be able to afford to live on Montague Terrace and i do not need a hot dog vendor out side my window so he can make a few bucks.

    When and if this slob comes back I wil have him ejected – again by the NYPD he has no legal permit and he never will

  • Gerry

    And lower Montague Street is at Court Street and upper Montague Street is at the Promenade near Montague Terrace what bone head calls this spot lower Montague Street?

  • AEB

    No one will choose the cart fare expecting haute anything. I heartily agree with Chuck and others who support the cart.

    The point is, it provides a dollop of STREET LIFE, sorely need in this neck of the woods.

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    AEB,
    So, there’s not enough “street life” for you on Court St. or Montague Street?

  • Brooklyn Tea

    There goes the neighborhood!

  • guesswhat

    guess what…

    i hear someone is developing a neighborhood blog for the heights that has info and not opinions.

  • PromGal

    Ours is a quiet residential neighborhood. This is not the place to live fir people looking for “street life”
    Residential streets are not zoned for commerce. With it’s lovely tree lined streets this historic landmarked district is desirable for Tge peace and quiet and respite it offers from the noise, crowds, commerce, and filth of the city.
    Does anyone really believe that an historic neighborhood with houses valued at $3-12 million dollars is the place for street vendors and a carnival atmosphere?
    And what about the owner operated food stores and restaurants some bloggers here pretend to ” know personally” and support? Any idea of the impact on these small businesses?
    Are the same people wishing for fine dining establishments really going to eat food from a cart that has been sitting outside under questionable conditions?

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    PromGal,
    Well said!

  • http://Frenchbull Frenchbull

    Go Prom Gal

  • Mr. Crusty

    Well yes and no prom girl. The length of Montague street is a commercial street as well and the main means of access to the Promenade which belongs to everyone, residents and non residents alike despite what some on here might believe. And yes living in NY might mean that you paid several million dollars for your home and have to put up with a food cart a block away. Deal with it. Or not. No one is forced to live anywhere. We all make our choices. You can not make BH some private enclave divorced from city life..

    Also this snobbish attack on street vendor food is precious. Aren’t we so special that we don’t eat with the riff raff and only indulge in fine dinning? Give me a break. Sometimes there is nothing I’d rather have than a “dirty dog” from one of the thousands of street vendors that probably sell millions of them during the week in NY. I’ve veen doing that for the better part of 50 years and as of het have had no issues while i have gotten food poisoning at supposedly fine dining restauraunts on more than one occassion.

    Again, you don’t want to indulge in street food fine but don’t attack those that aren’t such delicate little flowers that they worry about the food being handled by “unknown people”.

    Also don’t think street food vendors take away from the restaurants in the area. I don’t think someone looking to eat is deciding between Armando’s or the hot dog guy.

    This is NYC. You want to live in some gated community where you can control every aspect within a mile of your home you are in the wrong place.

  • Mr. Crusty

    Heigts Guy, “Disgusting food, served by disgusting people to disgusting people.”

    No, no snobbery here, move along.

    And then some wonder why service people don’t always have a smile on their face when they are bagging their groceries. You don’t think that they know some of you harbor such feelings. I’ll tell you what is disgusting HG, take a look in the mirror.

  • AEB

    Thank you, Mr. Crusty and amen! The will to absolute neighborhood homogeneity, such that a single street vendor operating outside of perceived commercial zoning sets off a flurry of objection, reveals a depressing degree of provincialism.

    BH should feel a part of NYC, not like an example of frozen Disney-like historicism. We love the beauty of our neighborhood, but it must also live and breathe as part of the urban world in which it’s located.

  • Big Dave

    Move the vendor to the esplanade and no problemo. Nothin’ like an NYC cart dog with the works!

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    Big Dave,
    Exactly!

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