WholeFoods

"I'm in love with you and I feel fine..."

Bedford will feel very crowded.

Both streets are one way streets.

It's going to be a mess there.

Correction Bedford and N4.

Truth,

How are you?

is it in bklyn?

>Correction Bedford and N4.

Ah, the N4 wing at Bedford Women's Correctional. Not a good place.

Yes it's in Brooklyn.

Is that facility in Columbia County?

How about the new Whole Foods opening up on 57th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan? I think it's a great location and both the store and neighborhood will benefit. It will serve not only midtown but the entire Upper East Side. It's slated to open this Summer.

"Bedford ave is congested and WH will only add to it. How do you feel?"

I feel that anyone whose primary consideration is how easy it is for cars to get around, especially in denser areas of the City, should move somewhere else.

It's Williamsburg, Brooklyn. That corner area is dense enough, is the point.

I'm good mutombo. We live in the same boro now I see. Have you done anything with your backyard yet?
Tomorrow is spring (again).

jordyn,

WOW, you can't do better than that?

mutombo owns a house in that neighborhood. As a homeowner/property taxpayer he has other issues that are his primary consideration.

Truth,

The backyard is untouched, LOL. Are you enjoying the boro?

This weather is great!

I dont think its a case of anyones primary consideration, the point is more that the area is already congested and there will be a ton of people driving from all over Queens/Brooklyn/etc to shop at this WF. They'll be looking for free parking so driving round and round the area. There will be paid parking, but unless WF's subsidises it wont be anyones primary option. Its a great idea to have a WF's in Williamsburg, its a great step towards connecting the needs of the current residents with the amenities available. I would think the solution will be to alleviate the traffic issues in other ways, remove parking on Bedford, and/or redirect much of the through traffic to other less busy roads such as Berry, Driggs, Kent, etc, possibly by blocking off each end of Bedford from having direct access, making it a road to simply service business needs in that area, or for residents. If there are little or no changes to the infrastructure then the new WF's is going to be an issue, buts its in their interest to ensure easy access so I'm sure they will work with the CB to upgrade the surrounding area. All a step in the right direction for a developing and improving neighborhood.

Yes indeed. I'm sitting down at Shore Road park. Beautiful.

good ideas, Northside.

Northsidepiers2,

I appreciate your addition. A WF is great for the neighborhood, but vehicle and pedestrian traffic is going to be a greater challenge for the neighborhood when WF opens. At no point I am saying this project should not happen, but traffic is horrendous in the neighborhood. A plan needs to be implemented when WF have their grand opening.

Shore Road Park is nice!

Oh yeah, mutombo. Quiet and peaceful. No stinky horse droppings. Just looking at the water and boats,sky and the bridge.

Northside, I'm not as convinced that there will be a "ton of people driving from all over Queens/Brooklyn" to shop at this WF. There are other options in their neighborhoods that are just as good, not to mention the fact that they're used to them. I still prefer Fairway to WF, and it's undoubtedly more convenient for anyone in south Brooklyn to get to (esp with the parking situation there). And let's not forget the massive WF being built in Gowanus (also with parking).

As for effecting traffic changes - I don't see them blocking off Bedford either. Residents of the surrounding streets would not be happy with that, and I imagine other businesses on Bedford wouldn't be the biggest fans either (not unlike what happened when they tried those summertime pedestrian mall experiments).

All in all, this is a relatively small WF compared to most of their stores, and I suspect it will do quite well with locals but not much else. The only concern is deliveries, as this is the first WF I can think of where the surrounding streets are so narrow, but I'm sure they've done their due diligence there.

Maybe not a ton but nearby neighborhoods'residents will drive there. It's crowded. The deliveries will tie up traffic. They can't due dilli themselves out of that situation.

bjw: You are back in the double-hidden comment basement of se.
Send se an e-mail. Either you are in the grey or not. You shouldn't be double-click grey.
It's only fair.

bjw2103,

The narrow streets, you said it best. While I like WF coming to the neighborhood, I would like to shop at a supermarket that has free parking for customers. I am convinced, most who live in W'burg will shop at WF there than on 14th St. I assume on Friday and Saturday the automobiles will be out in full-swing. But, it appears most people buy groceries for a day or few days at a time. Also, I prefer Fairway to WF. Bedford should not be blocked off as it's a main drag. I'm pointing out a concern, and wanted feedback from those who are familiar with the area.

Truth, that view sounds beautiful. How is the adjustment from Manhattan to Brooklyn coming along?

Agreed that there are other options, but people will still come a distance to shop at a WF’s whether you prefer Fairway or not. There will be a lot of people willing to make the journey, I see numerous people on the L train carrying WF groceries back from the city. Also, there aren’t many good options in the surrounding areas, unless you count the C-towns, etc, which are no competition.

Another point on the WF’s is that I think the way of Tops is only down from here. They will have this WF’s, the new “gourmet” market on Kent and N5th and the relatively ok Food Town right over the block from the WF’s planned site. No one will be forced to shop at Tops so I see that place going under over the next few years…maybe they should have spent some money on making that place half way decent/hygienic/well priced/etc/etc/etc.

Northside, those people on the L taking WF groceries back are north Brooklyn residents, no? They'll be closer to this WF, so either no train shlepping, or they'll just be going the other way. I don't think any other line will bring people to this WF - the J and G are just too far away to be convenient (esp when carrying groceries).

Options in the neighborhood are sprouting rather quickly: Foodtown on North 3rd, the organic grocery store opening up in the Edge, as you mentioned, plus a whole bunch of well-stocked, larger deli-type places (Sunac, Khim's, etc.) that I like quite a bit. Agree that this is bad news for Tops, but I don't mind that place as much as some. I imagine I'll still go to Fairway, but this thing will be so close, so I'll at least give it a shot. It's 2 years away though, best guess.

That small market across the street from the slated WF is moving to another location remaining in W'burg. bjw2103 remember, if people are in the neighborhood picking up a bag or two of groceries will not be burdensome. My main concern is: Bedford Ave and N4 is congested and the WF will add to it. I would like to see the supermarket closer to the waterfront including a parking lot, like Fairway and Ikea.

what would be really nice would be a reasonably priced, casual, family-friendly restaurant with non-exotic ingredients, where at least one person is wearing pants loose enough not to cause testicular ischemia

BJW, they are north Brookyn residents, my point is that if people are willing to take the subway back to manhattan for WF's then there will be others willing to travel for the new WF's, be that by subway, bus, foot, car (hence the increase in congestion), skateboard (the hipsters love a good skateboard to the shops) or by any other means. There will be an increase in people in the area, that is guaranteed but not necessarily a bad thing.

Rivas, I think there is a mcdonalds in Greenpoint, failing that there are lots and lots of the places you describe in and around the port authority/madison square garden area back in Manhattan...

rivas: lol. Bay Ridge for good restaurants. Lots of family restaurants.

Northside: More cars, more pedestrians = potential for accidents,fenderbenders...

mutombo: It's different in a good way: quiet,clean,fresh sea air...I don't need to adjust.

bjw: You are now back out of the double-hidden comments basement of se. It looks like you have been totally sprung from the grey zone.
Thank me later bjw.

rivas, hilarious. I think Teddy's almost qualifies, but the clientele there can vary.

Northside, I guess I just assumed they shopped at the Union Sq WF because it's right on the L, so an easy commute. For anyone to do the same at the Williamsburg WF, well why wouldn't they just go to Union Sq instead? I'd be shocked if a significant amount of people came by car to go to this particular WF I guess. But maybe I'm wrong.

Truth, don't think I was ever in the grey zone, sorry.

bjw: Your comment is now back in the grey zone. Not only that: all of the other grey zone comments open up to regular black type and size. Your comment is still small and grey.
Check it out on another computer, don't post just look.

"BJW, they are north Brookyn residents, my point is that if people are willing to take the subway back to manhattan for WF's then there will be others willing to travel for the new WF's, be that by subway, bus, foot, car (hence the increase in congestion), skateboard (the hipsters love a good skateboard to the shops) or by any other means."

I'm not following your logic.

Whole Foods at Union Square is a straight shot, 3/4 subway stops away from one's destination in Williamsburg. How would it be more convenient to go to a more remote location inside Williamsburg via bus or car?

(And that skateboard comment is just beyond stupid.)

Northsidepiers2- i don't take my family to mcdonalds or to port authority, not locales i would consider family friendly, but thanks for the advice from the glass tower.

Rivas, youre welcome, although I would think the happy meals are very family friendly and would surely fit all of your criteria..."reasonably priced, casual, family-friendly restaurant with non-exotic ingredients, where at least one person is wearing pants loose enough not to cause testicular ischemia", you can leave the better restaurants for those in glass towers who wont have to listen to your comments.

Matt, it is inevitable that people will travel to this store, that is my logic

I feel there is a little community on here that thinks it knows everything, I doubt very much is really known.

"Matt, it is inevitable that people will travel to this store, that is my logic"

I highly doubt that it would be "inevitable" that people would choose to take two buses and a 16-block walk rather than a quick four-stop hop on the subway.

I can add one restaurant to the BAy Ridge list if they are still open, Aero.
Excellent italian food. But it's been 10 years since Ive been.
My dear friend who owned Mangia y Bevi in Hells Kitchen used to drag me there to give you an idea what another italian thought of the restaurant.

Sorry...Areo not Aero

Can one hear anything in a glass tower anyway? With all that wind?

"I feel there is a little community on here that thinks it knows everything, I doubt very much is really known."
you are a piece of work

People from nearby areas will come to shop by bus and subway and then call a car-service to go home. Car-service is big in Brooklyn.

bjw: I'm at the manicurist getting a $16 great pedicure. After, I will sit and sip iced tea on the back deck here. It's very nice.
Anyway, I don't know why but you are out of the grey zone now after being in there and when grey-zoners log in they can see all of the grey zone comments. Yours was still hidden and I had to unhide it. Really.
The guys won't tell you this.

A civil war within N. Williamsburg. Glass tower residents vs. non-glass tower residents.

Commence the stone gathering.

"People from nearby areas will come to shop by bus and subway and then call a car-service to go home. Car-service is big in Brooklyn."

Actually, they won't, as long as the Union Square Whole Foods is a straighter, quicker (and cheaper) shot (unless there are car services that can compete with a $2.25 subway fare).

Matt: The subway home with bags of groceries is not worth the $2.25.

The reason Brooklynites take car service is they call when they are getting ready to leave (or they call and make a reservation) for pick-up.
Then the car-service arrives and they get to load their bags of groceries into the car/trunk.
Then they get in the car and relax while they are driven home. That's straight and quick.

Car service to nearby neighborhoods isn't much more than the $2.25. Throw in a buck tip or 2 bucks if the driver helps you load it in and out when you get home. Some will even carry bags up your outdoor steps to your door.

In Bay Ridge there is a car service that charges $1-2 for local drives in the neighborhood,3 bucks for surrounding areas.

I don't drive. I live in Brooklyn now. If I want to shop at WF I'm not taking the subway from/to Manhattan. With bags of groceries, yet.

I'll wait until I go out to dinner there in Williamsburg and then go to shop at WF there. Car service home.

bjw: I'm not on my computer. Before I logged in, I could see your comments you were out of the grey zone. Now I just logged in and your comment switched to a hidden grey zone comment.
If I want to read it, I have to unhide it.
se doesn't want me to read you without extra effort. I don't know why.

mutombo; there is a nice market that opened on 4th Ave./92nd street. They don't have a parking lot (and most bigger stores and businesses have parking lots: banks,Staples...).
They have valet parking (they rent space in other lots).
Same with restaurants. Valet parking.

So quite a few people have told me that they shop at the new smaller market instead of the new FoodTown because they like to have the valet service to load in their groceries.

Really Matt how many bags of groceries can you carry? 2 shopping bags--one for each hand.
In the winter cold,in the summer heat the subway: Walking to it, riding it to the WF stop without bags is O.K. Returning home with bags: Nyet.

Even two bags is a hassle on the subway, where are you going to put them? Both on your lap?
One on the seat next to you? That's illegal and a you can get a fine for doing it.
On the floor--it's dirty and then you pick it up again and bring it home. Do you put it on the table?!
Unpack the groceries in the hall?

Even when I lived in Manhattan I was able to walk to the WF but I could only carry 2 shopping bags out of there. 2 light bags. Then I had to walk it out to the curb and get it into a cab. Just fruit and yogurt and a few other things. Most people buy meat. Heavy, man.