Freddy's: Where's It Gonna Be?
As previously mentioned, the owners of Freddy’s have accepted a small payment from Forest City Ratner to move to a new space at 4th Avenue and Union Street. We scoped out the intersection and there only seem to be two possible spaces for Freddy’s to move into. One is 4th Avenue entrance of Maria’s Mexican…
As previously mentioned, the owners of Freddy’s have accepted a small payment from Forest City Ratner to move to a new space at 4th Avenue and Union Street. We scoped out the intersection and there only seem to be two possible spaces for Freddy’s to move into. One is 4th Avenue entrance of Maria’s Mexican Bistro (which is now only operating out of 669 Union Street, around the corner). The other is the grated space at 228 4th Avenue, which is located between two delis and definitely had some lights on inside when we snapped this photo. Any thoughts on which of these places (or perhaps another nearby space) is the bar’s most likely new home?
Freddy’s Finds Amnesty in Park Slope [Brownstoner] GMAP
Freddy’s Gets Eviction Notice from Bruce [Brownstoner]
Freddy’s Bar: Heads Roll in Survival Fight [Brownstoner]
Swung by the party last night, rumor was that the negotiations broke down for the spot on 4th Ave and Union.
maria’s seems logical, since there’s already a bar there. they’re welcome in my book, and they’re joining a growing little cluster of bars on this neck of 4th.
By BSD on April 29, 2010 2:51 PM
In the real world, the term for walking away with money when you were going to have to walk regardless is “prudent”.
Freddy’s could have maintained integrity by refusing to accept anything from someone they earlier castigated as a “rat,” but chose instead to take his money.
Now, that may be prudent, but it’s not exactly honorable, and the sell-out residue lingers strongly.
In the real world, the term for walking away with money when you were going to have to walk regardless is “prudent”.
Freddy’s, welcome, you’ll be a few blocks down from me and I’ll be there.
“Freddy’s didn’t take “hush money” and Freddy’s didn’t sell out. The state took their lease.”
They took relocation money from Ratner after ridiculing him on behalf of their “cause.”
In the real world, there’s a phrase for that: sell out.
it will be maria’s
the amount is 6 figures
the “sellout” stuff is rather emo
Still, inquiring minds wanna know…how much did they get? Was it atleast a decent amount? Or was it just enough to flick them off their shoulder and not deal with them anymore?
Hey, it’s amazing what gets printed these days. Freddy’s actually took a very large payment from the evil Ratner organization. It is important to know that standing and fighting a corrupt backroom deal like Atlantic Yards can end in bloodying the nose of the bad guys, with not too much harm finally befalling those who fight.
The owner of Freddy’s, like Dan Goldstein, rejected any kind of “gag order” restriction on his first amendment rights to speak. People who sold out were the people who sold their right to criticize the project. Freddy’s did not sell out. They were facing down the sheriff coming to arrest their patrons in a final show-down that would have included a large number of angry tea party folks, possibly even armed, from upstate. Anger is justified: since Kelo and now Atlantic Yards, nobody in New York State really owns their homes or leases anymore. A political insider like Ratner can take whatever he wants until the law is changed.
What would you do if your government said it’s time for you to give up your place for a very rich guy? I think these guys fought the good fight –and fought it for years. Hopefully this will help others who will, out of the blue, face this same problem increasingly in New York State.
I hope Freddy’s reopens very soon. Their staff has been through a lot, and they are facing unemployment until the bar re-opens. They did not ask for this fight. And the owners, management, staff, and even patrons of the bar have fought the evil thing for nearly 7 years. That’s more fighting for what’s right than most of us will have an opportunity to do in our lifetimes. Let’s hope any and all of the rest of us stand tall, fight the good fight, and either win or inflict high financial penalties, as Freddy’s and Goldstein did, on our enemies, should such a fight come to us.
God bless Brooklyn, and God bless Freddy’s and the Prospect Heights eminent domain defenders for standing up to Marty, Bloomy, Schumer, Pataki, Paterson, and the other elected clowns who sold their borough out so a corrupt billionaire could have his little billionaire way. There will always be lies, misinformation, and even fatigue to deal with in this kind of fight. Freddy’s fought admirably and extracted a high penalty AFTER their lease had been stolen. And that’s only good.
I’ll drink to that any day! (well, after 6 p.m., anyway.) May what happened to them never happen to you. And if it does, may you rise to the occasion and bloody the beast as they have.
brokeland- don’t hold your breath. I think they have a ways to go before they get over themselves 🙂