The windows are papered over, and a sign on the door confirms that Banana Republic is leaving the neighborhood. We’ve got the Banana Republic factory store (bargains galore!) on Fulton Mall, but a the loss of a reasonably priced option for decent clothing (even if it is a national chain) is not, in this writer’s opinion, a good thing for Montague Street.
On April 19, Montague Street merchants reflected in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on the preponderance of empty storefronts on our neighborhood’s high street. Said Enrico Palazio, whose family bought Key Food in 1982:
“The vacant shop fronts are bad for Montague Street. That goes for any neighborhood. I’d rather those places have tenants, but Montague Street is only for people that can afford it now. It’s tough for the mom-and-pop stores…Montague Street isn’t as great as it used to be…Montague Street growing up was the ‘it’ street. That’s where you wanted to be.”
I’ll go ahead and open that can of worms…what would you like to see go in that space? And how do you feel about the departure of the Banana Republic store?
