Quote Of the Day: Downtown Brooklyn ‘Back To The Future,’ M. Markowitz

By on August 31, 2012 6:30 am in Brooklyn History, Commercial Real Estate, Downtown Brooklyn, Shopping, Streets

From The New York Times article, “National Retailers Discover a Brooklyn Mall,” August 28, 2012. (Graphic: Chuck Taylor)

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  • JV

    yay!

  • Mr. Crusty

    I thought it was a positive article on the future of Fulton Mall

  • elemengee

    “What Fulton Street used to be” was a fabulous shopping area. There was no need to go to Manhattan to shop. We had A&S Department Store, Martin’s, Oppenheim Collins, Balch-Price, Loesser’s and Namm on the middle/high end and Mays, Goodwin’s and the “5 and Dime” stores (Woolworth’s, McCrory’s and Kresge’s) on the low end plus all the chain shoe stores, like A.S. Beck. Brooklyn and Fulton Street will never be what they used to be. But that’s OK ’cause we’re looking forward to what Fulton Street will become–it has to be better than what it is now.

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    I lived in Flatlands in the 1950’s before moving to LI. I remember taking the bus to Fulton Street to shop at A&S (now Macys).
    Shopping at A&S was a big deal in our family as we were not people of means. To us, A&S was considered “high end”.
    I have a picture taken with my sister and Santa at A&S. She died last year. It is one of the few pictures ever taken of us when we were small children.
    I have only fond memories of Fulton Street sixty years ago.

  • nabeguy

    I love the resurgence of the Fulton Street area. I loved going there as a kid and getting my Back-To-School and Easter outfits, with a stop-off at the China Bowl for lunch. But I’m dismayed that that the focus of this renaissance seems aimed at excluding both the low and middle that Marty mentions. Brooklyn can do better than that.

  • Wiley E.

    @nabeguy. I totally agree with you.

  • Mr. Crusty

    @nabeguy “But I’m dismayed that that the focus of this renaissance seems aimed at excluding both the low and middle that Marty mentions. Brooklyn can do better than that.”

    What you talking about? You think TJ Maxx, Raymoure & Flanigan, the Gap, The Shake Shack and the rest of the proposed retail establishments exclude the “middle” as you say? I don’t think the rich and famous are browsing in Raymoure and Flanigan, do you?

    I also don’t understand you saying something like “Brooklyn can do better”. What do you mean? You make it sound like there should be some central government planning as to what establishments should move to Fulton Street. This is the free market. All these new stores made the business decision that locating on Fulton Street would be profitable for them based on the demographics that they will serve. That’s how it works. I hope you are not suggesting that some government bureaucrat should be able to pick and choose which businesses locate to Fulton Street.

    I think the changes are great and I’m looking forward to the new evolving Fulton Street

  • nabeguy

    Mr. Crusty, maybe if you’d wipe some of that crust out of your eyes, you’d be able to read between the lines and understand what I was saying. Look at Fulton Street now and then look at the stores that you cite…Raymour & Flanagan, T.J. Maxx. They may be a step up, but a lot of people that now shop there will be stepping out. Enjoy your new “evolved” Fulton Street.

  • Mr. Crusty

    Stepping out? You are right, I don’t have a clue as to what you are saying. If you mean that the people that are looking for cheap wig and 99 cent stores will decrease while middle income shoppers increase? This is a bad thing in your eyes? If so then we fundamentally disagree and I do plan to enjoy a more diverse Fulton Street where all demographics can find something to bring them them to the area. Exactly what the Borough President was saying in the above quote.