Grand Street BID Explores Expansion

The Grand Street BID is exploring expansion!

Stakeholders in the adjacent commercial corridors of the BID have expressed interest in receiving our supplemental services to address the changing needs of our community. Currently, the Grand Street BID serves Grand Street, from Union Avenue to Bushwick Avenue. We’re in conversation with business owners, property owners and residents along Metropolitan Ave, Union Ave, Lorimer St, Graham Ave, and Bushwick Ave. to better understand community need and desires. Click here for more information on our potential expansion.

What does this mean? 

The areas outside of the current BID’s boundaries don’t have access to the services we provide on Grand Street, creating an imbalance from one street to another. Expanding the BID and its services would improve the quality of life along the commercial corridors in Williamsburg through advocacy and community connections. An expanded BID will help create a more defined sense of community identity that is representative of the diverse residents and businesses in our neighborhood.

We have formed a steering committee comprised of stakeholders from both the current BID and the adjacent commercial corridors. The committee meets monthly and is tasked with gaining a strong understanding of current conditions and helping to define a collective vision for the future of the neighborhood. Through conversations with stakeholders within the current BID and in the proposed expansion area, we’ve learned more about the desire for BID services in adjacent commercial corridors (map pictured below) and are continuing to learn about the needs of our neighborhood.

We can’t do this without you! 

Do you live, work, own property, or run a business in Williamsburg? Click here to tell us about your concerns with the neighborhood and your priorities for needed services in the community. The Grand Street BID will use survey results to determine community needs and its new service area. Don’t wait for change; shape the future of our community!

A map of the Grand Street BID and its potential expansion area.

Tell Your Stories About Grand Street!

The NYC Department of Information and Record Services presents the fourth season of the Neighborhood Stories Project. Their mission is to provide the public with access to historical and contemporary records.

Neighborhood Stories is an oral history project that aims to document New York City’s rich history and the changing nature of its neighborhoods through the personal memories and experience of its residents. The stories will be gathered and permanently preserved in the records of the NYC Municipal Archives. The project empowers New Yorkers of all backgrounds to document their own historical narratives of life in the city.

We know members of our community have stories to tell about our district and East Williamsburg over the years. We hope for the narratives of our neighbors to be represented in this city-wide project to capture the rich history of our neighborhood, and to be preserved permanently for generations to come to enjoy and learn from.

It’s easy to participate! Contributors can record their memories in the comfort of home, via a simple virtual format. If you or someone you know from the Grand Street and East Williamsburg neighborhood has stories to tell click here for full instructions on how to get involved. Please reach and let us know if you chose to participate. As the project develops we will continue to share the stories collected about our district on our website and social media so that we can spread the word. We can’t wait hear all your amazing narratives.

Grand Local Mixer

We’re excited to host the Grand Local Mixer. Come out for the happy hour mixer on Thursday, June 16th at The Clonard bar, 506 Grand Street, starting at 4:30PM. It’s been a while since we’ve all been able to meet in person, and we’re excited to host a mixer for our businesses, property owners, and neighbors to gather and connect. Snacks and your first two drinks are on us. We can’t wait to see you all there!

Please RSVP here if you plan to attend.

Superior Elevation Finds New Home at 616 Grand Street

It’s about to get groovy with the opening of Superior Elevation Records. After leaving their location of almost 7 years in Bushwick, this well established record shop is settling into their new home at 616 Grand Street. The popular music hub has completely transformed this space. With an open plan, new geometric tiling, a comfy seating area, and awesome backyard, its the place to be!

Owner Tom Noble has been selling records for over 20 years originally starting out in Milwaukee, WI before bringing his expertise to Brooklyn. Excited about the move, Tom says “I've always loved Grand St, and always felt like I truly haven't spent enough time mining the various bars and restaurants that could be found in mass numbers in that area.” With an already strong following, the store is sure to be a hit with a whole market in East Williamsburg to tap into.

Help us to welcome the Superior Elevation community to Grand Street! Stay tuned for information and upcoming events.

Beyond the Storefronts: Creatives on Grand Street

Behind Grand Street’s vibrant storefronts, many individuals and groups run their own creative businesses. Without a typical storefront, these Grand Street businesses go unnoticed by foot traffic along the street. We want to take this opportunity to highlight a few artists who live and work on Grand Street.

Amberink

Amber Nicole

Amber Nicole is the founder of Amber Ink Creative Studio, a small photography business located on the upper floors of the behemoth of a building that is 750 Grand Street. Amber also works alongside the head photographer of the space, Timothy Ireland of Ireland Studios, while producing her own creative endeavors.

A long-time New Yorker, and seasoned photographer, Amber is eager to draw clients from the surrounding Williamsburg neighborhood. Her passions lie in set building and building creative environments and experiences for her clients. More recently, she has started to experiment with mobile sets that she has brought as a pop-up to McCarren Park and Central Park. Amber’s unique approach to the photographic experience goes far beyond typical head shots or posed fashion sets. With a wide range of clients who span distances geographically, the new goal is to attract more local people, and create beautiful images and experiences for fellow Brooklynites.

Check out Amber’s work here, and follow her on instagram @_amberink_.

Owley

Owley is a group of local filmmakers and documentarians based on Grand Street, who have collaborated with the BID on multiple projects. Their most recent video with the BID was award winning, “Alor a Azucenas el Perfume del Bario”, documenting the creation of our most prominent mural, bringing a little piece of Puerto Rican culture to Grand Street. Other projects include Chris Jehly X 98 Bushwick: “Internal View”(2019) and Grand Street - All Flavors of Life (2019). These videos are respectively about artist Chris Jehly’s mural work and an overview of businesses and culture on Grand Street. This past winter, Owley created a beautiful montage of the big New York City snowstorm on Grand Street and in the East Williamsburg neighborhood. You can check it out here.

Owley’s community-oriented work brings a beautiful expression of life on Grand Street as well as individuals and communities beyond. We’re so excited to see their future productions! Be sure to follow them on instagram at @ow.ley to see their extensive body of work.

Francesca Romana Caputo

Francesca is a resident of Grand Street, and also one of our Board Members! An Italian native, Francesca moved to the US and is an interior architect specializing in restaurant design, retail and commercial projects. She has been helping the hospitality and lifestyle industry dream big since 2004, with designs that seamlessly weave together a client’s vision, the genius loci (spirit of the place), and the brand’s culture into something entirely new.

Interior design of Black City Cafe in Baku, Azerbaijan. Sourced from francescaromanaraputo.com

She has been living in Brooklyn for over 9 years and working in Hospitality Design for over 15 years. As a creative, her projects span internationally, and her thoughtful design allows her clients visions to go above and beyond. Be sure to check out her design work on her website! On the side, she also creates beautiful custom cards that she markets on the Instagram account, @nanicards.

As a member of the Grand Street community, Francesca is just as thoughtful and involved. She is always communicating with us about ways that we can achieve our mission and make our neighborhood the best that it can be.

Timothy Ireland

Sourced from Irelandstudios.com

Another creative in 750 Grand Street, Timothy Ireland is the founder and CEO or Ireland Studios a creative agency specializing in content strategy and creation through photography and video. His stunning product and commercial photography is featured in a variety of magazines, websites, and other media platforms. With major clients such as TRESEMME, Clinique, Samsung, Mercedes his knack for brand recognition and creative marketing is apparent.

Timothy also runs Kid Focus Photography, a children and family focused photography studio. Check out Timothy’s work here, and follow him on instagram at

Wade and Leta

Wade Jefree and Leta Sobierajski are a dynamic duo of artists residing on Grand Street. As a pair, they create bright and eclectic artwork and provide creative services for an impressive list of clients. Known for their abstract, colorful installations, branding schemes, and photography, their “quirky” designs spread life and creativity throughout their art direction.

Wade is a designer and art director is from Australia; and Leta, a graphic designer from Upstate New York. Together, the couple spans mediums to collaboratively create their art, and have fun while doing it! Their diverse portfolio of projects and services spans from major branding campaigns, to a series of self portraits or installations such as their contribution to the Seaport District Sea Sculptures at the South Street Seaport. Additionally, they’ve spoken and presented their work at a variety conferences around the world and continue to spread life and color through their work every day.

Be sure to check out their amazing work on their website and follow them on instagram @wadeandleta @wadejeffree @letasobierajski

Wade and Leta with their Seaport District Sea Sculptures Installation. Sourced from wadeandleta.com

Behind the Scenes at Blinky's

Blinky’s Bar is coming soon at 609 Grand Street! This new neighborhood hangout is taking over the location of Noorman’s Kil, a long-time Grand Street establishment. New owners, Rhoades Hughes and Jose Valenzuela, have transformed the space into a warm and inviting atmosphere, ready to welcome the Grand Street community through its doors. This behind the scenes, sneak peak of the time, work, and love these guys put in to their new space will get you excited to sip and snack with them at the upcoming opening!

Rhoades and Jose have been friends since 2004, and for a period of time both lived in the Grand Street neighborhood where they became regulars at Noorman’s Kil. They often expressed interest in one day buying the bar. Then, this past year amidst the pandemic, the time came and the two partners negotiated a transfer of ownership, upon which Blinky’s was born.

Booths and interior decor were hand crafted by Blinky’s owners and team, with repurposed materials from the old bar.

Backyard space is big and beautiful! The team is continuing to get it up and running before they open.

Blinky’s is a unique space. Designed and built by the owners with the help of friends and family, the interiors are constructed with wood and materials from the preceding bar. New upholstery was sourced from their neighbors at Estilo Upholstery across the street.

A collaborative effort, the team let the space dictate the design as they built it. They successfully achieved a simple and light setting, transforming the storefront to be more open and inviting. When you enter, the soft blue paneling and seating is warm and enticing, and is complimented by the wooden booths, bar top, and painted shelving. Impressive reuse of old materials on the interior is not only sustainable, but an exemplary practice of preservation and conservation in light of the 100+ year old building the bar resides in.

Blinky’s time capsule cleverly hidden within the bar’s infrastructure. Let them know what else they should add!

Clearly a special place, the team building process behind the creation of Blinky’s dictates the community oriented feel fostered by the new ownership. The new bar will offer a variety of drinks, some snacks, and good vibes. There is also a spacious backyard perfect for socially distanced gathering! Although the exact opening date is only tentatively in the beginning of December, due to the evolving regulations surrounding the pandemic, the team is there every day getting things ready. Stop by to say hello! The door is always open.

Who is Blinky you ask? She’s Rhoades’ cat.

Adopt-a-Tree on Grand Street

Help keep our neighborhood green this summer

Walker’s Low Catmints between Graham Ave and Humboldt Street.

It’s not easy being green for the trees and flowering plants on Grand Street. That’s why the BID, through partnerships with The Horticultural Society of New York and Council Member Antonio Reynoso, works to bring new greenery to the corridor and care for our budding plants. However, given all the uncertainty we currently face in tandem with many of our neighbors expressing interest in taking part in a community project, we’re introducing our Adopt-a-Tree program. Our goal is to ensure that even if we were to face funding challenges in the near future, our growing greenery will stay green.

Our Adopt-a-Tree program is simply an ask that you water the tree pit in front of your building whenever possible. To participate, fill out this form so we can match you with a tree pit that will be yours to water. We’ll pencil you in to care for your assigned tree pit and you’ll be responsible for watering the tree and flowers. Anybody who likes to can participate—whether you are a business, a building owner, a resident, or you work in the area.

Perennials newly planted by the Hort in May 2019.

There are over 85 tree pits in our district (on just 6 blocks!)—and the process of planting perennials has been years in the making. It started two years ago when the BID received funding from Borough President Eric Adams to place tree guards in our previously unprotected tree pits. With each new tree guard installed, the BID is able to team with The Hort to plant perennials native to Brooklyn. Over the past two years, with additional funding support from Council Member Reynoso, the BID has been able to install over 60 tree guards—with plans to protect all of our trees in the near future.

Our collection of Brooklyn-native perennials includes “Purple Tears” switchgrass and “Wood’s Blue” asters. These choices were intentional to bring Brooklyn wildflowers back to our streetscape, but even as native flowers it can be difficult to survive the city summer. Sidewalk heat, pollution, litter, and our beloved neighborhood dogs misusing the pits can inhibit growth and require plantings to be tended with extra care.

Our trees do tremendous work in combating some of the above factors—the trees within the Grand Street BID district alone save the City over $5000 a year draining water, removing smog, and conserving energy. Pin Oaks, Japanese Zelkovas, Kentucky Coffeetrees, and Swamp White Oaks all find a home on Grand Street—and many of our trees are young and newly planted. Similar to our perennials, it can be difficult for a young tree to make it on a city commercial corridor.

So we’re asking for your help. Fill out this quick form—and we’ll reach out via email some more detailed instructions for your assigned tree pit. We’re asking for nothing more than a weekly watering that will make a substantial difference. Share this form with anyone you know who may be interested—we’re looking for the help of our entire community.

For questions, please reach out to info@grandstreetbk.org and follow @grandstreetbid for updates.

Open for business during COVID-19 (Last Updated June 2020)

This guide was last updated June 2020 and is no longer being updated. To check a business opening, contact the business in question.

Takeout + delivery is still available at many local businesses

Following the NY State shutdown of non-essential businesses beginning March 22 at 8pm—only pharmacies, grocery stores, and gas stations are advised to remain open for service at this time. Capacity at any business is additionally limited to 50 people. However, restaurants and bars are able to provide food for delivery and takeout, with a new addition of allowing businesses with liquor licenses to provide takeout alcoholic beverages. That includes beer, ready-to-go cocktails + wine. See which businesses are open, offering take out, or temporarily closed.

*Make sure to call the business directly to place your order to ensure 100% of profit goes to the business*

*Buy gift cards to help businesses stay afloat in the short run*

4th Down Sports Bar — GoFundMe.

99 Lucky Family Discount Co. - Open as usual

Absolute Power Fitness — All memberships will be suspended and not charged.

Aburi Sushi — Open for pickup and delivery

Ahn Housewares — Open as usual.

Ammazzacaffe — “Order delivery or take out directly through the restaurant and our staff will bring it to your door! (No third party commissions all revenue and tips will go back to us & our lovely staff) We thank you for your support to local businesses during this hard time!” Call 929 250 2875 or order online. Pre-made cocktails, spirits, amaro, wine 30% off available. Meal kits and homemade pasta and sauces also available for at home prep. 6pm - 9:30pm. Go fund me.

Bahia Restaurant — Open for takeout and delivery Monday-Friday 11am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-8pm

Beard Barberia — Available for house calls (with antivirus protective gear) and sells gift cards.

BK Jani — Open for delivery and takeout. Tues-Fri 5-10pm; S-S 12-10pm.

BK Pilates — Hosting live stream classes. Buy gift cards.

Blue Angel Wines — Open for pickup and delivery from 1-8pm.

Blink Thai — Open for pickup and delivery daily 12-10pm.

Boost Mobile - Open as usual.

Bravo Supermarket — Open M-Sat 8am-10pm; Sun 8am-9pm.

Brooklyn Dental Professionals — Open as usual.

Brooklyn Frame Shop - Open by appointment only

Brooklyn Framers — Open by appointment only

Brooklyn Standard Deli — Open as usual 7am to 10pm.

Burnside — GoFundMe for staff.

Bushwick Country Club — Check Instagram for special open hours. Go fund me.

Carneval — Cocktails to go and new delivery menu available Tu-Sat 2-10pm, Sun 12-8pm.

Chase Bank - ATM 24hrs. Branch open for teller transactions only Mon-Sat 9:30am- 4pm.

Chongkho — Open for delivery on uber eats + grubhub and takeout. For takeout call (929) 276-3190.

CraftBeer & Smoke Shop — Open and delivers.

Crown Grill & Salad - Open for delivery and takeout.

Crystal Lake Brooklyn — Open at window for to-go drinks from 2 - 9pm. GoFundMe for staff. Gift cards available via email at crystallakebk@gmail.com.

Dar 525 — Open for regular delivery and takeout. Call 347-422-0401.

Desy’s Clam Bar — Open for delivery and takeout Wednesday - Sunday, 9am-9pm.

Dr. Pervez, Pediatrician - Open as usual.

Dr. Rico — Open as usual and online

Dunkin’ — Open as usual

E Graphics - Open as usual.

Eleva Coffee — Online shop open.

Empire Locksmith — Open as usual.

Estilo — Open as usual.

Farmer Deli — Open as usual.

Flores Del Valle — Open as usual.

Fly E-Bike - Open as usual.

Grand Deli and Grocery - Open as usual.

Grand Electronics - Open as usual.

Grand Freedom Market & Deli - Open as usual.

Grand Gourmet Deli — Open as usual.

Grand Morelos — Open 7am - 8pm.

Grand Seafood - Open Mon-Sat until 7pm.

Grand Street Business Center — Open as usual

Grand Street Laundry — Thurs-Tues 8am-7pm

Groomers & Pomade — Closed. House calls available text 718-844-2905.

H & R Block — Remote service, call 718-302-1491 to get started.

Haab — Open for takeout and delivery.

Hour Rose — Temporarily closed. Gift cards available online.

Huckleberry — Open for takeout Fri-Sun 2-8pm.

Ikura Sushi — Open as usual.

Indian Kitchen — Open for takeout and delivery.

Key Food — Open 7am-9pm daily with 7-8am reserved for seniors.

King Kog — Open Monday-Friday, 12-7pm. “Here to help with all your service and bicycle needs. We can even help you shop via FaceTime. Please respect our hygiene and social distancing practices - let’s help each other stay healthy and safe.”

La Nacional — Open as usual.

La Taqueria — Open as usual.

Landline — “Please help us make it through this mess by investing in Barry Bonds. A $50 bond gets you $55 in drinks, with bigger discounts for bigger bonds.” Check Instagram for online trivia on Wednesdays.

Lady Jay’s — Tip servers on venmo @Lady_Jays.

Laundry Taxi — Open as usual.

Lee’s Furniture — Open as usual.

Liberty Tax - Text 212-439-7002.

Lily Thai — Open for delivery and takeout.

Los Tacos McOndo — Open for delivery and takeout until 12am.

Los Primos Restaurant — Open for delivery and takeout.

Mad for Chicken — Open for delivery and takeout 12-8pm.

Mama Pho — Open for delivery and takeout.

Mar Brokerage — Open as usual

Masa Empanadas - Open for delivery and takeout Tues-Sun 3-9pm.

McDonald’s — Open for delivery and takeout. Delivery through uber eats, grubhub, and door dash.

New Apolo — Open for takeout and delivery

New York Eye Care - Open as usual.

Nieves Latin Dance Studio — GoFundMe.

Noorman’s Kil — Gift Cards via GoFundMe.

Orange Tree —Open as usual.

Ozzie’s Fresh Market — Open 8am-8pm. Limiting the number of people allowed in the store.

Papa Johns — Open for delivery and takeout.

Pastrami Masters - Open for delivery and takeout.

Pay-O-Matic (Western Union) - Open M-F 9am-5pm.

Porto Rico — Open as usual. Free shipping within NYC on orders of $50 or more.

QT King Smoke Shop — Open for pickup

Qwick Pack and Ship — Open M-F 9am-7pm, Sat 10am-4pm.

Raggedy Threads — Online shop open.

Richie’s Liquor - Open as usual.

Rome to Brooklyn Pizza — “if you would like a contact free delivery please instruct our staff as such. If you know of anyone that can’t leave their home or is in need of food during this difficult period, please DM us the details and we’ll send them pizza on us. Rome to Brooklyn will also be donating 5 pies every day to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center ER to doctors and nurses. If you would like to purchase and donate to them as well please visit our website at www.rometobrooklynpizza.com.” 718-269-3239 or order online.

Ryujin — Open for delivery and takeout.

Second Chance Saloon — Open for takeout drinks Thur-Sun 3-9pm.

Singas Pizza - Open for takeout and delivery.

Sisto Pharmacy - Open Monday to Friday 9:30- 5pm. Saturday 10 to 3pm. Sunday closed.

Stringray Divers — Open Monday to Saturday 12 - 4pm.

Sunflower Pipes — Open Wed-Sun 1-7pm, Sun 4-7pm.

Super 99 Cent — Open as usual.

Sweet Barks — Open as usual.

T Mobile — Open Mon-Sat 11am-6pm; Sun 12-6pm.

Taco Edition — Open for delivery and takeout M-F 12-9pm; S-S 3-9pm.

Taj Kabab — Open for delivery and takeout.

Tea Time — Open as usual.

The Big Whiskey — Closed. GoFundMe for staff.

The Saint Austere — Closed. GoFundMe.

The Sandwich Shop — Open for delivery and takeout daily 11am-8pm.

Thip Osha — Open for delivery and takeout.

To the World Farm — Open 8am-4pm daily.

Tofu Box — Open for takeout and delivery.

TriBeCa Pediatrics — Open by appointment only.

United Pharmacy — Open M-F 10am-6:30pm.

United Taekwondo — Online classes available.

Vanguard Kitchen —Open as usual.

Verizon — Open as usual.

Victorino Laundromat — Open 8am-8pm daily.

Walk in Medical Clinic - Pediatrist only.

Williamsburg Animal Clinic - Open as usual.

Willburg Cafe - Open for delivery and takeout Th-F 11am-9pm; Sa-Su 10am-9pm.

Willy B Crossfit — Remote classes, diet plans, + workouts via private facebook group.

Yadea E Bike — Open as usual.

Yang’s Liquor — Open as usual.

Yemen Deli — Open as usual.

Yong Xin Tan Laundromat — Open daily 10am-6:30pm.

Yummy Extensions - Online shop open.

Bar Hop for St. Patrick's Day on Grand Street

Grand Street has hosted a St. Patrick’s Day neighborhood pub crawl annually for 9 years

Last year’s pub crawl at Redd’s Tavern.

Let’s face it, St. Patrick’s Day in Manhattan is cramped, overpriced, and full of strangers. So, 9 years ago on Grand Street we decided to offer the opposite—the Brooklyn alternative. Join us in the evening on March 17th at 14 of our bars, taverns, and pubs from 5-10pm for unique drink specials from $4 cocktails to free food and cheap whiskey + beer combos.

The lineup this year includes our neighborhood loyal dives Bushwick Country Club + the Second Chance Saloon and newcomers like Landline + Carneval all taking part. The one thing to be certain is that there will be a gem of a special at each spot on your hop.

The highlights, beverage wise—which is what really counts—include Redd’s Tavern with $4 cocktails + $3 shots and the special frozen Irish coffee from Lady Jay’s ($8). Noorman’s Kil which is famous as one of NYC’s best whiskey bars is an ideal location and has a Narragansett & Tyrconnell Irish Single Malt combo ($8) for the night.

As far as eats—Noorman’s Kil and their $2 Tuesday grilled cheeses should be a priority visit, as should Bushwick Country Club for pickle back shots and free hot dogs, and Carneval for empanadas ($5). The Big Whiskey is also serving Irish kitchen specialties for the occasion like a corned beef sandwich ($10) and Reuben ($12).

While this is the 9th year of a St. Patrick’s Day event on Grand Street, the BID will be out on the street + in the bars to keep things fresh. We’ll be handing out party favors at each location while traveling with our special guest Haireola Grande (@haireolagrande) bringing the party spirit of the holiday to you.

Here are the participants and specials for St. Patrick’s Day*:

Burnside (506 Grand) — $4 whiskey shots // $6 Jameson shots & can of lager combo

Carneval (507 Grand) — $5 beer + shot // $5 mixed drinks // $5 empanadas

Redd's Tavern (511 Grand) — $3 well shots // $5 beer & shot combos // $4 cocktail special

The Big Whiskey (524 Grand) — $10 Irish car bomb // $10 Irish coffee // $10 beer + shot // Irish kitchen Specialties (menu)

Huckleberry Bar (588 Grand) — $8 select beer + Jameson combo // $20 buckets (5) of white claw

Noorman's Kil (609 Grand) — $2 grilled cheeses // $8 Narragansett + shot of Tyrconnell Irish Single Malt

Bushwick Country Club (618 Grand) —  $8 frozen vodka thin mint cookie slushy // $8 stout + shot of whiskey // $6 pickle back // free hotdogs

Lady Jay's (633 Grand) — $8 frozen Irish coffee

Crystal Lake Brooklyn (647 Grand) — $6 Harpoon Craic Irish lager draft // $5 Bushmills shots // $5 Brooklyn Lager // $2 off Jameson Caskmates

The Second Chance Saloon (659 Grand) — $10 Jameson shot + Guinness pint combo

4th Down Sports Bar (750 Grand) — $5 shots of Jameson // $5 Guinness

Landline (790 Grand) — $10 Miller High Life champagne bottle + well shot

*Tip not included, only from 5 - 10 pm on March 17th.

Eleva Coffee re-opens with new interior + menu

The shop is now open after making significant interior renovations

Eleva Coffee’s first full-service location just got a whole new look. Eleva is back with more than just a coffee shop. With a training lab, a fulfillment center for online and wholesale business in the back, and expanded seating along with a refined menu up front, Eleva has redesigned itself so that neighbors can grab breakfast, sit down to lunch, or relax over a warm latte.

In the new menu there’s something for everyone: coffee and a doughnut combo for $5, avocado toast or a homemade hummus for the healthy eater, hot pressed sandwiches, plus fresh cookies and pastries from Nick + Sons. The food comes with credentials as well, chef Raffaello Van Couten operates two Williamsburg favorites: Midnights and Claudia’s. Enjoy it all in a lounge inspired space with new couches and tables for some mindful time alone or a casual spot to meet a friend.

Read about Eleva’s initial opening back in May—where their focus has remained with giving back to the communities that grow their coffee—and read about our pop-up with Eleva from the spring.

You can also see owners Raffaello and Emilio in our video promoting small business owners on Grand Street below.

NY State Plastic Bag Ban takes effect March 1

The New York State Bag Waste Reduction Act prohibits the distribution
of plastic carryout bags by retailers in New York State

Effective at the beginning of March, NY State has banned many retail stores from using or providing plastic bags for customer transactions. There are however notable exceptions to the new legislation for businesses such as carry out food orders, bags for pharmaceutical prescriptions, and more. To get clear on what the bag ban means and how it may effect you or your business, read the information compiled below.*

For Businesses:

Businesses that are not exempt from the law are required to provide paper bags to consumers and must charge a 5 cent paper bag fee per bag. SNAP and WIC recipients are exempt from this fee. Businesses must show the transaction of the paper bags clearly on receipts and shall state the number of bags provided to the customer. The paper carryout bag reduction fee must be reported and paid to the state commissioner of taxation and finance on a quarterly basis.
 
Q: Which retailers are no longer allowed to provide plastic bags?
A: Any business required to collect tax will no longer be able to provide plastic carryout bags. This includes but is not limited to: clothing stores, convenience stores, drug stores, green carts, grocery stores, hardware stores, liquor stores, office supply stores, pharmacies, and food service establishments located within the above stores.
 
Q: What does the term "plastic carryout bag" mean? Does this include all plastic bags?
A: As provided in proposed Part 351 draft regulations 'Plastic carryout bag' means any film plastic bag, other than an exempt bag, that is provided to a customer by a person required to collect tax to be used by the customer to carry tangible personal property, regardless of whether such person required to collect tax sells any tangible personal property or service to the customer, and regardless of whether any tangible personal property or service sold is exempt from tax under Article 28 of the New York State Tax Law.
 
Q: What is an "exempt bag"?
A: Provided by a restaurant, tavern, or similar food service establishment, as defined in the state sanitary code, to carry out or deliver food; Used as a garment bag, such as those used by a dry cleaner or laundry service; Used solely to contain or wrap uncooked meat, fish, seafood, poultry, or other unwrapped food, flower, or plant items; Used by a customer solely to package items from bulk containers, including fruits, vegetables, grains, candy, small hardware items (such as nuts, bolts, and screws), live fish, or live insects; Used solely to contain food sliced or prepared to order; Used solely to contain a newspaper for delivery to a subscriber; Sold in bulk quantities to a consumer at the point of sale that were specifically prepackaged; in a manner to allow for bulk sale (for example, quantities of bags prepackaged in individual pre-sealed boxes) or prepackaged in individual boxes or containers for sale to a customer; Sold as a trash bag; Sold as a food storage bag, such as those in snack, sandwich, quart, and gallon sizes; Provided by a pharmacy to carry prescription drugs. If an item or circumstance falls under the exempt bag list then it is not affected by the ban.
 
Businesses affected by the plastic bag ban and paper carryout bag reduction fee should make preparations as soon as possible. Order paper bags, prepare to have reusable bags available for sale, and make sure your receipts reflect the paper bag fee correctly. Information about fee reporting is available from the NYS Department and Tax and Finance.

The law goes into effect March 1st, 2020. There is no grace period. The first offense for noncompliance will be a warning, but a second offense will be a monetary fine.

For shoppers:

In transactions not involving exempt bags, businesses will either provide you paper bags with a fee of 5 cents per bag or you can bring your own reusable bag at no cost. WIC and SNAP recipients will not be charged a fee for using paper bags.

Please direct questions to NYS DEC at 518-402-8706

More information can be found here from the NY DEC.

Gothamist has also provided a guide for navigating the ban.

* Information compiled by Jerome-Gun Hill BID.

Rome to Brooklyn Pizza opens at 755 Grand Street

The pizza spot was opened by Brooklyn native + acclaimed chef Aurel Xhepexhiu

Image of a panzerotti from @rometobrooklyn

The drought of a pizza spot on Grand Street is over. Rome to Brooklyn Pizza & Panzerotti opened at the end of January with a full menu of Italian style eats—and most importantly an array of absolutely delicious pizza flavors.

Owner and chef Aurel Xhepexhiu has been in the pizza business since he was a teenager and has over 20 years of experience at some of NYC’s most famous spots. Aurel’s experience ranges from Manhattan institutions like Artichoke Pizza and Brooklyn Pizza Masters to the more local Williamsburg Pizza, but Rome to Brooklyn Pizza is a homecoming for the chef. Originally from Bushwick, Aurel is proud to bring his acclaimed food—which has received a 8.5 rating from Barstool—closer to his home neighborhood.

At Rome to Brooklyn you can find just about any type of slice you’re looking for such as vodka sauce, prosciutto arugula, and blueberry + pancetta. But the menu is also diverse in its offerings beyond the traditional specialty pizza slices. Rome to Brooklyn is flexible for diets as you can pre-order cauliflower pizza with cauliflower cheese in plain, margherita, grandma, and specialty styles as well as vegan pies either small or large. Dessert is on the menu too, RTB has nutella and rasperry pizza, like this heart shaped Valentine’s Day pizza, and zeppoles with nutella and strawberry. The panzerottis, however, are what truly set Rome to Brooklyn apart. Traditionally served in the Puglia region of Italty as a popular street food, a panzerotti is a fried calzone stuffed with different meats and cheeses.

Look out for Rome to Brooklyn in our next edition of Summer Restaurant Week on Grand Street, but try it for yourself in the meantime at 755 Grand Street open until 11pm. The follow @rometobrooklynpizza for regularly hunger-inducing shots of pizza on your feed.

Make pizza and dance! Swing by to say hello to the crew and try the best slice in town. 🕺💃🏻🕺💃🏻🕺 * * * * #goodtimez #happy #pizza #rome #brooklyn #newyorktimesfood #dance #rainwontstopus #thrillist #infatuation #pepperonipizza #cheflife #chef #williamsburg #bushwick #brooklynkid #barstoolsports #dancemonkey

101 Likes, 11 Comments - RometoBrooklynpizza (@rometobrooklynpizza) on Instagram: "Make pizza and dance! Swing by to say hello to the crew and try the best slice in town. 🕺💃🏻🕺💃🏻🕺 * *..."

Grand Street's Guide to Winter Restaurant Week

Breaking down the best of 45 courses on Grand Street from Feb 18 to March 1

Restaurant Week is back on Grand Street for its 7th Winter Edition from February 18th to March 1st. 15 of the best eats in Williamsburg are offering 3 course prix fixe dinners (5 - 10pm) at discounted rates from $12 to $35 as Brooklyn’s annual answer to Manhattan’s pricier Restaurant Week. All along 6 blocks, it might be difficult to choose where to go or decide where new to try. Well here’s your answer as to why you should visit each participating restaurant on Grand Street and what you can order for the best experience. Each of the following restaurants has special event menus, so just ask for a Restaurant Week menu if you don’t see one.*

As always, take a picture of your dinner and post with #DineonGrand for a chance to win $50 to a Grand Street BID restaurant of your choice.

Follow @grandstreetbid for the most up to date information on the event.

Mainstay Must Experiences

Bahia Restaurant—$25

690 Grand Street — menu

It all starts with pupusas. If you’ve never had one, Bahia owners Luis and Felix say to think of them as like the “tacos of El Salvador”. The prix fixe menu at Bahia starts with 2 pupusas of your choice, a salad, or tamal de pollo. We, of course, recommend some of the best pupusas in NYC. Plenty of options for dinner, but our favorite is the Carne Asada: grilled boneless choice shell steak. You get two sides with the entree of your choice from a few options like mixed vegetables, rice, and roasted potatoes. Flan is for dessert and your meal is paired with a glass of delicious red or white sangria.

A hometown favorite, Bahia has been a dedicated community member of Grand Street for 20 years. In 2019, the restaurant doubled down on their dedication to the neighborhood with a complete interior and exterior renovation in order to stay ahead in a changing Williamsburg market. It’s not just about looks though, Bahia is confident that once you’ve had their pupusas and try a glass of their homemade sangria you are certain to return for more. Photo at top of article.

Los Primos—$25

704 Grand Street — menu

With 31 years of experience cooking on Grand Street, Los Primos has proven they have the chops to remain a hit. Despite their long history on Grand Street, they’re relatively new to our Restaurant Week. On joining, Christian who’s father owns the restaurant said, “being here for a while, it was like, let’s ride along with you guys and join the holiday – join the Grand Street BID in this journey” -Bkylner.

For your starter, go with nachos: chicken, ground beef, or cheese—your choice. Fried pork chops are a best seller and also on the Restaurant Week menu, so we recommend you take advantage. But the steak with onions and pork mofongo are also favorites. Finish the night with cheesecake (but the tres leches and flan are good choices as well).

If you visit on Sunday, take advantage paella deal at Los Primos for $10—offered every week.

Grand Morelos—$20

727 Grand Street — menu

Another Grand Street staple, Grand Morelos has been with the neighborhood day and night for decades—literally. The 24/7 diner & bakery has seen us all at our finest and not-so-fine hours. The Grand Morelos bakery is also one of the better kept secrets of our food scene, so take advantage. Guacamole is our go-to appetizer, but we also recommend the cheese quesadillas if you’re extra hungry. Hanger steak fajitas for your entree will fill you if the app didn’t, but try to save room for the Oreo cheesecake. Impossible chocoflan and tres leches cakes are your other options for Restaurant Week dessert. Once you’ve fallen in love with Grand Morelos stop back in for affordable cookies & doughnuts from the bakery and amazing iced coffee (not just by diner standards) any time you want - literally.

Biggest Discount

Indian Kitchen—$12 to $36

739 Grand Street — menu

Restaurant Week is made for sharing. Indian Kitchen wants you to bring your friends to max out on the deal. With 3 people Indian Kitchen provides a vegetable and meat appetizer, three entrees, two orders of naan, and Kheer (rice pudding) for dessert. On a typical night all of that could cost over $60—so make sure Indian Kitchen is one of your top spots for this event.

Fine Dining Experience

All pasta at Ammazzacaffè is made in-house

Ammazzacaffè—$35

702 Grand Street — menu

Winner of this year’s coveted Bib Gourmand title from Micheline Guide, Ammazzacaffè has already built its reputation for affordable fine dining at its best. Take advantage of Ammazza’s Tartare crostino with sea trout, caponata verde, and umeboshi as an appetizers. For your entree, try the Reginette—pork shoulder ragu—which Michelin called “Italian cuisine in all its glory”. Finish the night with buttermilk pannacotta with cherry and hazelnut for the perfect date or special night out on Grand Street.

If the food isn’t enough, visiting Ammazza offers a bit of historical experience. Their location at 702 Grand Street was the childhood home of Betty Smith, inspiring her classic A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. RSVP.

Best Quick Bite

Churros from Taco Edition

Taco Edition—$19

800 Grand Street — menu

A longtime participant in Restaurant Week, Taco Edition is one of our favorite spots for lunch or a quick afternoon bite. Even though the service is fast and the environment is seat yourself-casual, during Restaurant Week you’ll get a lot more than a 5 minute snack. Start with the jalapeño popper balls, move on to the chilaquiles verde with eggs, and finish with the yummy churros you see to the left.

New Faces on the Block:

Ham & cheese empanadas from Masa

Masa Empanadas—$12

804 Grand Street — menu

Masa Empanadas opened from the same owners of Piccoli to Go—remaining dedicated to the neighborhood and providing quick eats empanadas, salads, and pizza. Masa is offering two combos for deals featuring the range of their menu:

1. 2 dinner empanadas—see options here (spicy crab not included); 1 dessert empanada—banana nutella or apple cinnamon; and a salad—caesar kale or Italian vinaigrette arugula

2. 1 pizza—classic, spicy chorizo, or 4 cheese; a salad; and a drink

Our favorite empanadas are ham & cheese, corn, and apple cinnamon. All three pizza options are good but we tend to stick to the classic and the kale caesar is our salad of choice.

Chongkho—$20

562 Grand Street — menu

Butterfly pea lemonade and Thai iced tea

Chongkho opened in August with an eccentric gate mural by well-known artist JPO and serving Thai home cooking. A family owned restaurant, Chongkho offers a warm dine-in environment with welcoming service.

The chicken curry puffs are an appetizer to die for, followed by either drunken noodles or red curry for the main course. The Thai iced tea is truly a standout and Chongkho is preparing a crêpe specially made for Restaurant Week as an option for dessert.

Bright colored decorations and drinks reflect the up-beat atmosphere in Carneval

Carneval—$25

507 Grand Street — menu

Carneval also opened in August featuring specialty cocktails and Latin-inspired cuisine. Owner Mike Cruz grew up just blocks from the restaurant and has created a go-to spot for Williamsburg natives and newcomers alike. A mural of a carnival-themed festively packed J train along the back wall of the restaurant demonstrates Mike’s inspiration and commemorates the Latin heritage of our neighborhood. Carneval is also regularly host to performances and hosted their own toy drive for the holidays.

Most Filling

Ryujin—$25

513 Grand Street — menu

Something about the ramen from Ryujin leaves us stuffed after every bowl. Now add an appetizer and dessert to the mix to really make the most of a 3 course dinner. Keep it light with your app so go with the Japanese pickles or the fried shishito peppers. You can choose from 8 different options of ramen bowl, but our favorite is the spicy miso bowl. Finally, the meal is paired with either beer, sake, or ice cream. The jury is out here so we’ll leave that choice to you.

Most Controversial

Mad for Chicken—$20

617 Grand Street — menu

Boneless or bone-in? Luckily both genres of wing are on the menu. The chicken at MFC is shipped in daily from a farm in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania and the wings are coated with a unique sauce of soy, garlic, and various fruits. On the appetizer menu, the standouts are the small crab salad or the truffle/ Parmesan fries. We recommend the 10pc wings (with or without bones—your choice) for entree, but kimchi fried rice and kimchi quesadillas are available for non-wing lovers. For a drink you can choose between any draft beer, a glass of sangria, or a soda on the house.

Favorite Mom & Pop

The Sandwich Shop—$20.75

658 Grand Street — menu

The cozy lunch and dinner spot has brought high-quality deli style sandwiches to Grand Street since 2013. The space also feels like a deli, with just a few stools around the bar to dine-in, so get there before they fill up.

Valued members of the community, the Shop has collected and donated over 200 lbs of food in our annual Holiday Food Drives. You can also find The Sandwich Shop in the Wall Street Journal from our last Restaurant Week. All sandwiches, bowls, and wraps are available—but the best bang for your buck is the turkey double decker sandwich to go along with the combo of a beer and bag of chips.

Best Cocktail

Crystal Lake Brooklyn—$20

647 Grand Street — menu

Antique lounge area at Crystal Lake. Photo courtesy of Crystal Lake Brooklyn & JD Hall Photo

The bar is best known for its antique bar and large back space which regularly hosts comedy shows and similar type events. Teaming up with Tacos Lokos 4Ever, Crystal Lake has the best drink and food combination in the event. The entree is a pair of tacos with the meat of your choice or veggies with a side of rice and beans. The cocktails provide the biggest discount and your choices are a cucumber vodka ricky, rose vodka spritz, watermelon gimlet, or the Zebra-Rita.

Most Options

Thip Osha—$25

795 Grand Street — menu

Roasted duck noodle soup from Thip Osha typically costs $16

A cozy Thai spot nearby the Grand Street L station. You may have already tried Thip Osha at Taste of Williamsburg & Greenpoint this past summer. Altogether, there are exactly 50 options on the prix fixe menu at Thip, so there is surely something that will please everyone from curry to noodles to fried rice. Out of all of those choices, our favorites are the crispy chicken wings with red chili sauce to start, roasted duck noodle soup, and banana sticky rice for dessert.

Best Late Night

Los Tacos-McOndo—$28

502 Grand Street — menu

The chic bar and taqueria is a cool spot for late night dinners, dates, and eats after a night out. Open until 3am on the weekends and at least 1am on every other night, Los Tacos is one of the most high quality late night restaurants in Brooklyn. The nachos are absolute standouts at Los Tacos, and you can choose them either as a starter (mini nachos) or as an entree. We recommend at least one of those in your mix. The queso fundido is also very good, but if you’re limiting carbs you can choose the Mexican steak to go with the nachos. Churros with fruit are for dessert, with mango and chili powder as the primary flavors. Note that Los Tacos is cash only.

*Dine-in meals only. After 5pm and no later than 10pm. Tax and tip not included in price. Price is per person and cannot be shared. Event discounts are in effect from Feb 18 to March 1. Restaurants may be closed any time during the event period at their discretion. Price and participants subject to change. Contact info@grandstreetbk.org with questions.

Join our team—Now seeking Neighborhood 360° Fellow applicants

The BID was selected as a fellow host site by the NYC Department of Small Business Services

The BID hosted a tour of the district for the 2019 class of Times Square Alliance fellows this past summer

The Grand Street BID has been selected by the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) as a host site for the 2020-21 class of Neighborhood 360° Fellows. That means that we are now looking for applicants to our join our team this summer through the SBS training program.

Neighborhood 360° Fellows help community-based organizations complete commercial revitalization projects and connect local stakeholders to City resources. The fellows are paid by SBS and are full-time community development professionals, community organizers, or planners. The goal of the program is to build a network of leaders prepared with commercial revitalization expertise and experience in New York City neighborhoods. The fellow will work in our office as an integral member of our team from June 2020 through March 2021 while also being a member of the Neighborhood 360° Fellows cohort, attending SBS hosted talks, training and group learning sessions throughout the fellowship.

With the Grand Street BID—the fellow will be primarily tasked with improving the BID’s outreach to residents, merchants, and property owners while improving the services the organization provides. More information about the project can be found in the Grand Street host project guidelines.

Fellows should be NYC residents within 90 days of starting, have a year of experience in community outreach or organizing, and have an interest in development of the Grand Street community. See the SBS fellow guidelines here. This is an opportunity for emerging professionals or anyone looking to enter the world of non-profits, urban planning, or community development. However, Fellows who typically have the best experiences are familiar with their host neighborhood—so local applicants are especially encouraged to apply.

Applications are open now and will close on March 8th—applications must be submitted directly NYC Department of Small Business Services. The first round of interviews will be conducted in April. Join our team and gain critical, hands-on experience working for a community-based organization.

Want to learn more? Join SBS for an upcoming webinar on February 5th or 13th. Details and RSVP here. Or join SBS in person for a meet and greet Feb 25th.

SBS Commissioner Gregg Bishop speaking with a Fellow cohort.

Grand Street featured in NYC BID trends report

The report featured the BID’s work curating art in the district and views of the neighborhood

The Department of Small Business Services released its annual trends report on the impact of BID’s in NYC in an effort to shed light on the work of business improvement districts in 76 neighborhoods citywide. The report features data tracking how BIDs are operating to promote retail corridors and shares highlights of accomplishments from individual BIDs. Among those highlighted was the Grand Street BID’s work commissioning various art murals throughout the neighborhood—most specifically “Olor a Azucenas, el Perfume del Barrio” by Don Rimx at 609 Grand Street.

On the project—the NYC SBS wrote “Grand Street recently completed a large-scale mural, which represents the small business community and serves as an homage to the Puerto Rican heritage of the neighborhood. The mural depicts a well-known flower vendor in San Juan but is meant to represent all local merchants. The BID worked with Don Rimx, a local Puerto Rican artist, and interviewed community members to inform the design. They also coordinated support of the property owner and secured funding from [NYC Council]”.

The report also features data points of the work of BIDs across Brooklyn and citywide. Collectively, the 23 Brooklyn BIDs invested $15.7 million into neighborhoods and collected 924,000 bags of litter. Read the full report for more details on how BID’s are keeping NYC neighborhoods clean, safe, and active.

“BIDs create vibrant, clean, and safe districts that improve neighborhoods and commercial corridors by investing back into their communities,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “This report highlights the long-standing partnership between the City and BIDs, working together to build a stronger New York.” 

Here in Williamsburg, this past summer’s mural project is part of an ongoing effort in the Grand Street Neighborhood Initiative to beautify the streetscape of Grand Street for residents and attract visitors to patron our shops. As part of the same project, the BID commissioned several documentaries through Owley and curated murals on the gates at Grand Seafood (98 Bushwick Ave). See our full collection in the art gallery page of our website.