Ikea, a Big-Box Trailblazer in the 'Hook?
A new Real Deal article takes a look at how the impending arrival of Ikea is going to affect real estate values in Red Hook and notes that some see the Swedish retailer’s opening as a possible indicator of things to come: Namely, more big-box stores. “A lot of owners right now are waiting to…
A new Real Deal article takes a look at how the impending arrival of Ikea is going to affect real estate values in Red Hook and notes that some see the Swedish retailer’s opening as a possible indicator of things to come: Namely, more big-box stores. “A lot of owners right now are waiting to see what happens with Ikea,” says Landon McGaw, the Red Hook sales director for Massey Knakal Realty. “I think there’s tremendous opportunity in big-box retail that would make the neighborhood a weekend shopping mecca. Some smaller business owners, like the Good Fork’s Ben Schneider, believe that Ikea will bring more customers to their establishments and eventually lure more big-boxes. What that means for the future of possible residential conversions like 160 Imlay Street remains to be seen.
Ikea’s Design for Red Hook [The Real Deal] GMAP
Man on the Street: How’re You Feeling About IKEA? [Brownstoner]
Red Hook IKEA: Planning at its Worst? [Brownstoner]
ditto on the transportation issue. i can’t believe they never got that trolley thing off the ground. at least they could set up a few more bus lines. i guess it’s possible tho that the existence of Ikea will get the city to respond. maybe.
Eat at home. Shop at Ikea.com.
Most people are not taking public transportation to IKEA, the real reason is to buy furniture, which is pretty cumbersome and heavy to take back home on a subway or bus.
I think car services will do very well, like they do at the Atlantic Mall taking shoppers home with their wares.
There are plenty of neighborhoods wanting of better subway access and service. Will an IKEA be a good enough reason to spend hundreds of millions to further line their pockets with cash?
I doubt it will do much for the small, local restaurants. What is the likelihood that after driving there, dealing with the crowds at the store and packing your purchase into your car that you’ll want to drive to another part of the neighborhood – or even walk – to sit down for lunch?
If there was better subway access and people were walking to Ikea, I’d say it would help. But once people are in their cars they aren’t likely to make multiple stops. (Unless the Ikea parking lot becomes a neighborhood parking lot.)
10.54, I’m not trying to be a jerk, but the projects cut off almost every street that runs south into red hook (between columbia and clinton). A light rail would almost have to stick to columbia/van brunt, since clinton near the BQE is pretty impassible.
Every time I hear someone pronounce or write an IKEA product name (FLÄRKE) I think of the Swedish meatball chef from the Muppets.
Do love the meatballs with that gravy and berry sauce though.
“Why would you eat at a furniture store?” Because you have (happily) spent so many consecutive hours there that you need a meal (and the chance to sit down) mid-way.
What Red Hook needs most is a mass transit system that connects it to downtown brooklyn. I propose a light rail that is built within the existing tunnel at court and atlantic and than turning south and running over the BQE trench along Hicks Street, which can than run into Red Hook. The Mayor’s proposal of building housing over the BQE trench is ridiculous.
Love it. Bring it on.