Well, wouldn’t you know it, but yet another real estate office has closed. We’re not sure how long ago it happened, since such things kind of pass beneath our notice at this point, but the real estate office at 4175 Bedford Avenue has been replaced with something new.
I passed by earlier today and the new sign was up: Sheepshead Bay is getting a new bike shop! As the sign says RideBikeProGear is opening a bicycle show room and test center. As it turns out, RBPG looks like a well-established internet-based business, glancing at the page it looks like it’s been around a long time. The shop is not open yet so we don’t know just how much local service it’s going to provide, but let’s hope it’s a full-fledged bike shop. The area could use more unique businesses, even if they are just an outlet for a website.
On a slightly related topic, one does wonder what brings such a business to Bedford Avenue. While Bedford is one of the longest bicycle paths in the city it’s not exactly the safest or most scenic. Maybe the owner is from Sheepshead Bay, or perhaps this is the start of a new trend, where web businesses and dot-coms open offices in more affordable commercial areas outside Manhattan. Either way, RideBikeProGear is more than welcome here. If we can have a scuba shop, why not a bike shop!
Courtesy of Arthur Borko
True Perfection Kitchen & Bath Designs has opened up at 3102 Avenue U, in the newly named “Ave U Plaza”. Just don’t tell the store owners that the avenue they’re actually on is Gerritsen Avenue, which kicked GerritsenBeach.net into a kiniption.
Courtesy of MarineParker.net
We’ve been getting a lot of e-mails asking if we knew when the planned Walgreens on Avenue U and Bragg Street will open up, so we contacted management to ask. They’ve finally answered us and the plan is to open doors in the middle of March.
As MarineParker.net points out, the Bragg Street location will have a parking lot for 27 cars and landscaping, much like the Coney Island Avenue and Avenue W store. Unlike that store, which was the 7,000th Walgreens in the nation, there is no special grand opening planned. It’ll be a humdrum day with a few managers from the district office to welcome customers.
Months after the location looked furnished, Siberian Health at 1408 Avenue X (between East 14th Street and East 15th Street) is finally open. The sign says Siberian Health will sell organic products and cosmetics, but when we stopped in late last week it wasn’t quite what we expected. Instead of a fully-stocked storefront, it was a large empty space with a few desks. When we talked with an employee, he said it’s the American branch of a Russian-based business. From the looks of things, they either do business-to-business, or use the door-to-door model like Avon. It wasn’t quite clear when we asked the employee. Regardless, good luck, Siberian Health.
Well, the mystery is over regarding Sheepshead Bay Road’s latest restaurant – it ain’t a sushi joint. Or at least we think it’s not a sushi joint.
Signs went up at 1794 Sheepshead Bay Road late last week reading Royal Bay Restaurant, ending a lot of “hmms” and “huhs” over who would occupy the flashy, windowless façade. Still, other than a love of coat d’arms, we don’t have much more information than that.
If you know who owns it, when it opens, or what they serve – shoot us an email!
A new Russian/English day care center in Sheepshead Bay is opening its doors today. Blue’s Clues Academy (2109 Avenue V) promises to educate children in basic reading, writing, and arithmetic; the Three R’s every growing kid needs. Blue’s Clues will also offer instruction in music, arts and crafts, and speech, and will host birthday parties. The manager, Yelena Konnov, said she and owner Michael Levitz are very excited to open today, and are offering rates of around $600 per month for each child.
Blue’s Clues Academy
2109 Avenue V
(718) 676-0420
The Coney Island Avenue Walgreens (at Avenue W) may have opened for business almost a month ago, but they held off on their grand opening until today. After visiting we could see why there was a delay. The event was overloaded (in a good way) with vendors, clowns, soap opera stars, a cappella songsters, snacks, politicians, and the tremendously talented Brooklyn Steppers (oh my!). Get there before the rain, and you may still be able to receive one of the free goodie bags they’ve been giving out. But don’t put anything down for a second – Ray is still fuming over some scoundrel’s successful theft of her potato chips. That thief was a pUTZ!*
*Sheepshead Bites apologizes for any seizures, strokes, or aneurysms caused by our terrible puns. Simultaneously, we deny any responsibility in such an incident.
See photo gallery after the jump.
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After sitting empty for nine months, the former Chock Full o’Nuts location on Ave. U between East 19th Street and Ocean Avenue is occupied again. Healthalicious Food opened up a little more than a week ago selling, you guessed it, health food. Unlike Forces of Nature on Sheepshead Bay Rd., Healthalicious Food is a counter-service restaurant serving healthy diner-style cooked foods. So far, reviews have been good.
Meanwhile, across the street, the former florist on the corner of East 19th and Ave. U has given way to Central Hair Salon, which may just be the six-billionth stylist in Sheepshead Bay.
(Tip and photo courtesy of Arthur B.)
