Good and Bad News for PLG Eaters

Bad news first: the odds of The Farmers Diner coming to PLG aren't looking so great at the moment. The owners had planned to sign a lease on the old Mike's International space in June but that didn't happen, and now the real estate broker, Besen, is talking about diving up the approximately 2000 sf space into 4 smaller storefronts to make it more affordable for small businesses.

The rent on that place was $7,000/month; if The Farmers Diner is indeed still planning on coming here, they're likely to seek a smaller space.

I'm told that there will be a update for Farmers Diner fans and supporters at the end of the summer. We'll let you know what we find out.

In happier news, the cafe we mentioned last week sounds like it may help fill the void in the interim. The Homesick Cafe will serve comfort food, including soup, sandwiches, cupcakes (the owners' specialty), and international offerings. The space is very small -- about 350 sf -- but large enough to accommodate a few tables and chairs.

It's slated to open October 1 on Flatbush, just south of Lincoln. In the meantime, you can sample some of the owners' cupcakes at Enduro and K-Dog, where they are currently for sale.

(Photo: Helga Weber)

Comments

[erin]

Noooo! I've been looking forward to the Farmer's Diner. I hope they still set up shop in the area. Their mission is fantastic and I know many people in the neighborhood are really excited about the potential new eatery.

On a brighter note, the Homesick Cafe is a great name and I look forward to trying it this fall.

[plgrez]

is it just me, or does $7K sound unreasonable for the old Mike's space?

[carrie]

It definitely sounds like at lot but the space is very large (2000sf) and, on a per square foot basis, the cost is comparable with other commercial spaces on Flatbush (though many of those spaces are over-priced, yes).

[plgrez]

i have heard that flatbush rents tend to be unreasonable. a byproduct of absentee landlords?

let's hope that homesick is successful, and that they eventually break into the space next door to provide more seating...

[murray dwertman]

From watching the area around Lincoln and Flatbush, it seems as if Bissen Retail has tried to get their hands on any commercial space that a landlord might have available. I once inquired with them about the tiny $200 square foot space that is now the bike shop and at the time wanted $2000 month. I think they are partly the reason that several spaces have sat empty.

[babs]

Besen Retail is the commercial real estate arm of NYC Realty, which manages the buildings at 50 and 64 Lincoln Rd, as well as 10 Midwood and 2125 Beekman Court, for the hedge fund that owns them. The rents they ask were ridiculous, but I think they've become a little more open to working with the community lately, and favoring a tenant with a strong business plan over someone who'll pay a few months of an exorbitant rent and then go bust.