For want of a nail…
According to Clinton Hill Blog, a Bigelow Chemists-style place called Teleos Apothecary is opening in the neighborhood soon. There’s a kerfuffle in the comments section about whether an organic, holistic health care place is what the neighborhood really needs. What I’ve always wondered about Fort Greene and Clinton Hill is (1) why do we have multiples of certain luxury businesses, such as bagel places (now 3), boutique wine shops (3, with a 4th coming soon), doggie stores (2, down from 3), and hair/nail salons (at least 6 I can think of effortlessly) when there are plenty of more basic shops that would be welcome here; and (2) why don’t the existing practical businesses (grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores) step up their game to keep up with the changing demographics of the neighborhood?
Really, I’m asking. Can someone tell me? This holistic health care spot, for example — it’s a pharmacy. It’s a pharmacy selling organic goods, herbs, and homeopathic remedies, but it’s still a pharmacy (just one that won’t fill your Western doctor’s prescriptions, apparently). The owner of this new holistic place says she doesn’t intend to sell anything with “synthetic” ingredients, but even Bigelow and Ansonia in Greenwich Village aren’t that pure — they got rent to pay. Can this neighborhood sustain a Elephant-style pharmacy? Likewise to the guy thinking of opening an all-green cleaning supplies store: His neighborhood competition is Karrot, the Mets and Associated, Greene Farm, Target, and Fresh Direct, not to mention other nearby stores also dedicated to green products. Sometimes I think people are reading too many New York Times articles to garner ideas for their business plans.
On the other hand, existing local businesses certainly deserve the competition. Customer service is notoriously bad in NYC, especially in Brooklyn, and some Fort Greene/Clinton Hill retailers and restaurants have behaved like they have captive consumers for too long. Why don’t Greene Pharmacy, Prospect Drugs, Behren’s Pharmacy, Fine Care Pharmacy, or Myrtle Pharmacy simply start selling homeopathic remedies and hire a staff member who knows something about them? Why doesn’t Beezu actually sell basic and commonly needed children’s clothing and toys instead of, like, the same five overpriced things (in different colors, mind) by the same three suppliers? Why don’t the Mets and Associated improve their fruit and cheese sections? Perhaps I shouldn’t question; after all, they’re committing some of the major business mistakes, and yet their doors are still open, so obviously they’re servicing somebody just fine.
In any case, I for one don’t mind the principles of retail experience finally coming to the neighborhood, as long as it trickles down from the frivolous places I’ll browse but rarely buy in to the stores I actually need on a day-to-day basis.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:59 am
AGREED! Especially concerning the grocery stores. Small changes would make a big difference.