Farmers Diner Getting Serious About PLG

Good news: the word on the street is that things are looking very good for getting a Farmers Diner in PLG. The owners of the Vermont-based restaurant are scouting out commercial properties in the neighborhood. Nothing is official, but things look good enough that we will not hesitate to start patting ourselves on the back. Whatever happens, we should remember to never underestimate the power of collaborative begging.

One of the commercial spaces under consideration is the site formerly known as Mike's International. The space is large enough to make an ample diner but, at $7,000 per month, isn't exactly a bargain. Personally, I'm no fan of the space; the tiny windows covered with bars give it a jail-like feel.

If I were the Farmers Diner owners, I would contact Jim Mamary and get a name from him for an interior designer. Though the food quality at Mamary's restaurants has varied radically, his places always looked good -- unpretentious, homey, comfortable, yet clearly constructed on a budget. Say what you will of Fly Fish -- the kitchen's ability to screw up mac & cheese was legion -- but the place looked great.

(Photos: Paulo C)

Comments

[Jeremy Zilar]

Oh geez, I never really cared for the decor of Mamary's restaurants. Yes, they feel homey, but also under quality. You need a little bit of class in the decor to make you want to value the food above.

Frankly, I feel like his restaurants are over themed, and they don't fit within the context of Brooklyn - nor the neighborhood.

Though, his food never tried to be anything better than, just average. Okay food with cheap ingredients.

[Pete]

You wrote in your August review of Flyfish that "The conversion to a bait shack - aqua baseboards, "gone fishing" signs, a marlin - are awful, borderline embarrassing kitsch."

[carrie]

Ha, that's funny. I had forgotten about that... but I didn't write it; Charles did.

I think the aesthetic issue is a matter of perspective. Are Mamary's places handsome compared to your average Manhattan or Park Slope place? No, they are not. But they are way, way better designed than anything else in our neighborhood -- and that was my point of reference.

[Pete]

I agree with what you wrote ("unpretentious, homey, comfortable, yet clearly constructed on a budget.")

This is also why I see Enduro's through the lens of "comfort food" and not "cuisine" (something I think they succeed at very well). I think Farmers Diner would be wise to pick Mamary's brain as you suggest.

[Jeanne]

At their meeting with some PLG residents the Farmer's Diner folks talked about how they put a cap on the amount of money they spend on decor. I think they got this aspect of opening a restaurant covered. What they really need help with is getting PLG landlords to become more realistic about the rents they are asking. These ridiculous rent prices are driving away potential new business here. Several restaurant owners have inquired into that Mike's International space.

[Murray Dwertman]

In regards to rents. The Landlords at the Lincoln Flatbush intersectionhave begun using Bissen Retail, a retail brokerage firm telling these landlord that they can get way more than market rate, which has caused a lot of these properties sit on the market a long time. They wanted $2000 a month for the 200 sq/ft space on Lincoln directly acoss from Enduro that was previously "Not Just Computers."