By COLlive reporter
A vital part of living in Brooklyn is having a parking space. An equal amount of time can be spent by residents and visitors searching for parking as their time spent driving to their destination.
Parking availability was indeed one of the things people asked about when hearing the news about the new upscale Crown Heights supermarket The Marketplace on E New York Avenue when it first opened in the end of 2012.
Located on a mostly residential block, cornering Kingston Avenue and lined with homes and a few apartment buildings, some claimed that the lack of parking would deter customers.
But that didn’t happen – and certainly won’t be an issue now.
“We have built a strong customer base,” says store manager Shloimy Gelbstein. “Parking might have taken a few extra minutes, yet people found it was worth it to enjoy our shopping experience that Crown Heights has not had earlier.”
“And, we have been offering valet parking for the time being as well,” he says.
Nevertheless, owner Itzik Benabou went forward to purchase 2 properties at 576 E New York Avenue, across the street, to build a parking lot to better serve customers.
Currently in construction, it will be able to hold up to 15 mid-size vehicles and will be free – a similar arrangement Benabou has with his nearby supermarket Empire Kosher on Empire Boulevard.
The new parking lot will be open during store hours and is expected to be completed in a month’s time, Gelbstein said.
The store, opened a few months ago, offer groceries, produce, and gourmet deli items along with an in-store bakery and sushi take-out.
For more information and weekly specials, visit their Facebook page: facebook.com/chmarketplace
I think they should keep the valet parking. its the biggest draw
That is nothing. It’s a big problem with the lot at Empire Kosher as it is so small. I thought the big lot on the corner of kingston and ENY was for parking. That definitely would have been more practical!
hope parking goes up fast. i love to shop there
the parking lot at Empire Kosher, when full, can be very unsafe because people just come inside or block the entrance/exit even if they have no spot and it creates real safety hazards
it said it is under construction
Went there to day but found no parking anywhere, so had to make my way to Empire kosher instead 🙁
Mr Benabou is a jewel in the crown of chesed in our community.
My HaShem continue to bless him and his family.
crown heights is just beautiful! the views are incredible!
Love, Love Market place! What a pleasure to shop!!!
its always a pleasure to shop in
what does living in an igloo mean? no one was saying anything mean, it was just curiosity of how city zones things. Many people in Boro Park have been trying for decades to make parking lots on 13th avenue and they city does not allow it.
Zoned – you live in an igloo I bet. Can’t you say something nice?
ok anyhows HEY COL that’s great news – this is THE place to go to if you like Pomegranate style shopping and boy a big percentage in CH like that a lot!
We have become a better hood to live in and Itzhik has helped in big ways. I wish him luck and good move on the parking although I always find a space somehow.
this will definitely be a big boon for business at the marketplace. love shopping there. it’s so peaceful – you feel away from the hecticness of everything. the only reason i don’t go more often is because of the parking. soon that won’t be an issue!
I wonder how they get zoned for this considering most of the block is residential and considering they what is next door to the parking lot. (I say that for safety reasons …)
Hopefully this one can be built with a separate entrance and exit, unlike the one at Empire Kosher, so that cars coming in aren’t held up waiting for people going out.
Yitzchak Benabou, you’ve done a wonderful service for Crown Heights… May your store flourish and expand even more. Very clean and spotless.
now were getting somewhere