Retail on Oh No DoBro

Discount Grocery Store LIDL opens its doors in Downtown Brooklyn

Thu, 29 May 2025 12:44:12 +0000

The new Lidl grocery store at 490 Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn opened its doors on Friday, May 23rd, 2025. It feels like it happened in the blink of an eye—or maybe everything seems fast in the dark shadow of the slow-moving slug that is the never-finished 9 Dekalb.

I popped into the store the other day to check out the new location and snap some pictures. Here are some first impressions:

Prices are great, making this store a welcome edition to the neighborhood
Selection is mid—this isn’t the type of grocery store that will have every specific item you’re looking for. However, you should be able to find most categories of items you need, just not necessarily specific brands.
The store was full of shoppers on the Saturday I popped by. People are excited it’s now here!
It’s larger than you might expect from the outside. It’s definitely a full-sized grocery store
The produce section was full of fresh-looking items.

I did not do a side-by-side price comparison for specific items that can be found at competing nearby stores. So I can’t speak to the specifics of the “discount” claims. But overall it did seem to be priced competitively for the neighborhood.

I’ll definitely be curious to see how Lidl stacks up against the upcoming Fresh Grocer opening right across the street.

What’s the opposite of a Food Desert? A Food Oasis? Because that’s exactly what Downtown Brooklyn has become.

I’ll drop a few more photos at the end of this post to help celebrate the store’s opening.

Albee Square getting even more food options with new Fresh Grocer

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 13:03:33 +0000

Remembering DoBro’s many department stores

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:33:48 +0000

As an ode to the soon-to-be-closing Macy’s on Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn, Brownstoner has a wonderful article describing the history of “dazzling emporiums” that once lined these streets.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg honored with statue in City Point

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 17:13:41 +0000

The legend herself is now immortalized at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn. You should pop in and see it next time you’re in the area.

I must say, the location of the statue is pretty cool. It’s right inside the entrance to City Point from Flatbush. It’s one of the lesser-used entrances, north of the typical Trader Joes entrance. But you can see it easily from the street as you’re walking past.

DoBro getting $10M influx of cash

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 21:10:00 +0000

We did it! We won! Apparently.

From the BKReader:

Downtown Brooklyn was awarded $10 million grant as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), which aims to transform downtown neighborhoods into vibrant communities where New Yorkers want to live and work.

Keep it coming: Katz’s Deli launching subscription service

Wed, 30 May 2018 20:46:07 +0000

Jason Tesauro of The Middletown Press reports:

As part of its 130th anniversary, Katz’s announced on Tuesday that its first-ever subscription service will start in June…Subscription boxes (from $1,500 for a full year, or $450 for 3 months) are tied to the seasons and feature enough food for 4-6 people, plus Katz schwag. A July Griller Package is heavy on sausages, ‘kraut, mustards, and a Katz’s ballcap for backyard living. The January Warmer Package includes six quarts of three different soups (matzoh ball, split pea, chicken noodle), plus knishes and a sweatshirt. A Sweets Package in May includes babkas, rugelaches, black-and-white cookies, and a chocolate egg cream-scented candle for Mom.

Local Businesses Take the Bait in Underage Alcohol Sting

Sat, 12 May 2018 12:56:57 +0000

The New York State Liquor Authority recently sent underage decoys to retail establishments holding liquor licenses to ferret out those that illegally sell to underage persons. The underage decoys went to 756 businesses where they attempted to buy alcoholic beverages.

Of the 756 businesses State-wide, 200 sold alcoholic beverages to the underage decoys, including a few in Downtown Brooklyn. The Downtown Brooklyn offenders included a 7 Eleven at 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension, the Brooklyn Deli at 115 Willoughby Street, and Khim’s Millennium Market at 111 Lawrence Street.

Fancy Soap Shop Rain to Open in City Point for Your Self-Care Needs

Mon, 07 May 2018 11:53:49 +0000

Rain, a sustainable South African soap and skincare shop comes to City Point Brooklyn.

Soon you’ll be able to get all the artisanal soaps your heart desires at City Point. Rain, an au naturale soap, skincare, and fragrance company is opening up their first Brooklyn storefront in July.

Discounts at Dekalb Market Hall for National Small Business Week

Wed, 02 May 2018 13:41:43 +0000

We’re smack dab in the middle of National Small Business Week, which spans April 29th through May 5th this year. To celebrate, our favorite local food court, Dekalb Market Hall, has several vendors offering discounts.

Vendors with sales include Cuzin’s Duzin and Paella Shack, with many others also participating in the ten-percent discount promotion. There’s no doubt you’ll be able to find something to fit your tastes and mood down there.

Dépanneur to Open This Summer

Tue, 01 May 2018 17:18:42 +0000

Dépanneur is known for their savory weekly special sandwiches. Photo via Instagram.com/depanneurbklyn/

There’s been some activity at 300 Livingston Street. The French general store has begun building out their newest location (part of the retail component of 33 Bond Street). Calling themselves “a better bodega,” Dépanneur will be a welcomed addition to the Downtown Brooklyn lunch circuit. They’ve gained popularity in Williamsburg (their first location) and Clinton Hill with unique weekly sandwich specials that they announce on social media.

Retail rent prices are soaring in Downtown Brooklyn

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 20:34:12 +0000

From The Raw Deal, regarding retail rents going up up up in Brooklyn:

Downtown Brooklyn’s Fulton Mall from Boerum Place to Flatbush Avenue remained the most expensive strip with average asking rent of $359 per square foot, up 10 percent from a year earlier.

I doubt anyone is surprised. With the sheer number of chain stores in our zip code, how could the rent not be that ridiculous? Not that I was expecting any mom-and-pop stores in the neighborhood.

Chelsea Piers Fitness coming to Downtown Brooklyn

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 17:02:17 +0000

We’re getting a fancy gym. Chelsea Piers Fitness is coming to Downtown Brooklyn. The “showroom” is now open for new members. I heard through the rumor mill that “founding member” prices are about $150 per month, and that price will go up once the gym actually opens. That puts this gym in roughly the same category as Crunch, Equinox, or (RIP) David Barton.

What will DoBro look like in ten years?

Sat, 14 Apr 2018 17:07:10 +0000

The Bridge, on the plethora of chain stores opening in NYC (emphasis ours):

Last year, Brooklyn saw the biggest percentage increase in the number of chain stores of all the city’s boroughs, with 1,587 locations, a 3.1% increase from the previous year, according to a December report from Center for an Urban Future. The greatest concentration of these stores is in zip code 11201 (Brooklyn Heights/Downtown Brooklyn), which has 145 national retailer locations including City Point’s Target, Fulton Street’s H&M, and Sephora on Joralemon Street.

A couple of award-winning buildings in our hood

Fri, 13 Apr 2018 21:33:53 +0000

The Urban Land Institute New York (ULI NY) award ceremony was on April 10th, and a few of our very own buildings were among the winners (emphasis theirs):

Some of this year’s winners from Brooklyn included Dumbo-based Two Trees Development, which nabbed the Excellence in Market-Rate Housing Development award for their breathtaking 300 Ashland building, which is already being regarded as iconic as part of the BAM Cultural District.