« Community Board 3 Meeting | Home | Haunted Houses of Bed-Stuy 10/30 »
Dr. Strangehate or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Hate Fresh Direct
By The Changeling | October 30, 2007
A dark shadow partially covers an evil Fresh Direct truck as it heads north on Marcy delivering food to the deserving in Williamsburg and other neighborhoods that are not Bed-Stuy.
Fresh Direct has decided that many of us in Bed-Stuy are not worthy of their food. In fact they’ve decided to hand pick which buildings and blocks they will visit. My fellow Bed-Stuy blogger, Flood, the author of the new and interesting blog Lambent, Vast and Ruthless just recently found this out. Check out the blog’s post on Fresh Direct discrimination.
When I was living in Chelsea, I would order from Fresh Direct and I never assumed that they were so selective about their customers. Now that I live in Bed-Stuy, I’ve learned the harsh truth.
I went to the Fresh Direct website and tried a couple of addresses and it turns out that while they avoid most of 11206 like the plague, they DO deliver to the Mynt. That’s 756 Myrtle, and that is Bed-Stuy. Put that address into the delivery info. section and watch all of those delivery times pop up like mushrooms. LIKE WILD CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS (which are $12.99/8 oz. pack at Fresh Direct in case you’re wondering). Now try this: put in another address in the 11206 area code (make sure it isn’t in Bushwick–they like the folks over there) and see what you get. It’s probably a “Sorry, Fresh Direct doesn’t deliver to that address.” The Bed-Stuy area of the 11206 code is on the “No Deliveries” list!
I have seriously considered ordering from Fresh Direct and giving them an address in the Mynt building. In an Elaine Benes move, I would sneak over to the building and hide in a janitor’s closet on the first floor, and when the delivery man shows up I would just walk out of the supply closet with a “Oh, I see my arugula and gouda have arrived!” Better yet, I could probably just sneak into the cold storage area and wait for my delivery there.
The question is, should we want to be customers of a business that clearly doesn’t want us as customers? I’m sure several of you are, like me, outside of the Restoration Plaza Foodtown delivery zone, and the few C-Towns, Key Foods and Pioneer grocery stores scattered about aren’t cutting it for you. We could surely use the convenience of Fresh Direct delivery, and I’m sure many folks would certainly pay any amount just to have their groceries arrive at their doors, so why has Fresh Direct chosen to discriminate against us? Why would they not serve communities that lack decent grocery stores? It seems like they would market themselves heavily to the hapless individual who moves into a neighborhood months (or years) before the first latte arrives. What can we do to get a decent grocer (Fresh Direct or otherwise) to service our area?
October 30th, 2007 at 9:01 am
I have been aware of this issue as well and was hoping that it was simply a case of FD expanding and eventually bucking up to include all of us in Bed-Stuy. This post irks me because now I am aware that they actually DO deliver to Bed-Stuy, as long as you live in a building they deem worthy?????
I love Bed-Stuy but my only issue is the grocery shopping. I don’t need Citarel or Balducci’s, I’d settle for getting some decent arugula, some decent fruit, and boneless chicken breasts all in the same store. Is that too much to ask?
I hate you Fresh Direct. (shakes fist at sky)
October 30th, 2007 at 9:21 am
There was grocery shopping before Fresh Direct, and its really not that dire to be a customer of theirs. To answer your question, no, I dont believe you should be hankering to be a customer of a store who clearly doesnt want your business. I agree it its a “loss” of convenience (considering you’re from another neighborhood lol), but realistically, why would you want to give them money? So, when they finally do get on the Bed-Stuy bandwagon and deem us “acceptable”, are you going to rush and be a happy customer? And then send the message that you support their MO? You live in the Stuy now. “Do or Die” is a crazy phrase but associated with our hood for a reason. Because no one wanted anything to do with the neighborhood, you literally did it yourself, or…So now its important for us to have a quality grocery store, closeby, who delivers. Now that banks have lifted the stigma associated with investing in this hood, its possible to open a store. We should be focusing on the idea of “doing it ourselves”: people starting new businesses who support this area and have a vested interest in the area..or us as the underserved getting together to start a co-op or some such group effort. In the meantime we make do,shopping a bit at a time at farmers markets, joining the Bed-Stuy CSA, or taking the cart and walking to the nearest grocery…it can be done. Forget Fresh Direct. Also, why in the name of convenience would we be willing to support a company who doesnt even pay fair wages to their employees? Who forces overtime and has a healthcare plan that their average worker can not even afford? Who doesn’t supporting local farmers? It doesnt make sense on many levels. Seems to me they’ve done us a favor. (And lets not even start on the MYNT,which is being touted by brokers as being in Clinton Hill…)
October 30th, 2007 at 10:41 am
I live in the Burg and I use fresh direct because I have two boys under the age of 4 and it’s hard to go to the supermarket with them. BUT, we are looking to buy a house in Do Or Die, LOL, and I wondered if they delivered there…Thanks for writing about this issue…I am going to stop ordering from them…..
October 30th, 2007 at 11:07 am
i’ve long been angry at fresh direct for not delivering to bed stuy. and no, when they decide that bed stuy as a community is worthy of giving them our money, i will not patronize them. they are not worthy of my support.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:23 am
I currently live in Washington Heights where there are no decent grocery stores. However, the Fairway way down in Harlem allegedly delivers up here. Does the Fairway in Red Hook deliver to Bed-Stuy? It isn’t as convenient as ordering online, but it’s better than shopping at C-Town , supporting a lame company like Fresh Direct, or hauling your food from Whole Foods and Trader Joes like I do.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Of course, FoodTown has an online delivery service. Not sure what their reach is, but they DO deliver to South Stuy.
October 30th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
What you smoking? you moved to bedstuy. quit complaining.
October 30th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
FD goes through this a lot and their stated policy is that they deliver if they get a certain volume of requests. So request delivery. Every newly gentrifying nabe assumes that FD is shunning them but I doubt that’s the case. FD just needs a sufficient volume of clients in a given area to meet their profit goals and they’ll start delivery anywhere if it’s profitable. The bad guy is capitalism not some kind of prejudice.
October 30th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Totally outrageous and unacceptable behaviour from Fresh Direct.
I will never purchase from them again. like ever.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Dan, I’d buy your argument if FD wasn’t delivering to a specific building on Myrtle, but not anywhere else around that building.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
If it’s any consolation, we in Crown Heights don’t get Fresh Direct either. I should take Dan’s advice and request.
October 30th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Thank you for that PENETRATING INSIGHT, MyNameis.
Susanne, I did request via their website several times during my first year in Bed-Stuy and I didn’t even get an email response.
October 30th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Fresh Direct just started delivering to us over in the 11226 area code (Flatbush and parts of Ditmas Park) just a few months ago.
October 30th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I used to order from Fresh Direct when I was in Clinton Hill, and I wasn’t really that impressed. They made a lot of mistakes, and their food wasn’t THAT fresh. Now that I live in Bed Stuy, I’m annoyed that they don’t deliver here, but thankfully I have a car, so on a scale from 1-10, I’m only a 3 in terms of how annoyed I feel. Again, Foodtown delivers, and I have used them in the past. I found them to be professional, prompt, and honest. Just one person’s experience, I realize. And, BTW, I’m happy to petition FreshDirect, if we really agree there is a need to have them here.
October 30th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
The obvious problem is that there are just too many Negroes in Bed Stuy. Fresh Direct is afraid! Granted, they will come in for needy Whiteys in little Whitey oases like the Mynt, but only after months of careful clandestine observation.
Just look at their trucks: WHITE!
Cliff’s Notes:
Do or Die: SORRY! NO SLACK FOR THE BLACKS!
Whitey Enclave: HERE COMES DA TRUCKS!
October 30th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Why don’t you go to your local grocers and tell them to stock your arugula? If you support your local stores they will supply you the same way FD will if there are enough customers.
They have made specific deals with specific buildings in many neighborhoods. Apts. in such buildings are sold and rented with this as a feature just like a communal gym or doorman service. The people there get their deliveries grouped together, the buildings have loading docks and walk-in fridges so all orders can be dropped off together efficiently from the same truck. That way if works for FD and the customers - but probably not for the drivers who may not get tipped if they don’t hand boxes over to each apt individually.
October 30th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
I live in williamsburg and don’t get fresh direct. they will deliver two blocks to the east and a few blocks to the south, but not where we live. WTF?
October 30th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Fresh Direct sucks for so many reasons, why focus on this reason?
The food is outrageously overpackaged and therefore expensive, and their terrible practices as employers have already been addressed.
October 30th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Here in Bay Ridge there are NO good grocery stores…at ALL! Non car owners can’t happily trudge off to Fairway or the soon to be Whole Paycheck either. I used to live in Sheepshead Bay and really miss that Stop N Shop… I guess people round here just don’t cook as there are so many restaurants.
October 30th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
I live in ditmas park and it took forever to get fresh direct to my house… they were delivering two blocks away for what seemed like ages before they moved up the street. Some of my neighbors still complain because the cut off is rather indiscriminate - it seems - but I suppose they have to draw the line somewhere; I wouldn’t mind at all if someone wanted to use my address and pick up their groceries from here… Maybe someone would do the same for you.
October 30th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I have been going on fresh direct and requesting service to bed-stuy for four years. They said when they had 1000 requests they would deliver. Maybe it is true - who knows… but I say we keep requesting and cause a stink and it will happen. What about starting to call headquarters and suggesting we think it is a race issue and we are going to the Post - that will get them to jump.
October 30th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Thats crazy– I live 5 doors from the Mynt and after reading your blog I checked and nope, Fresh Direct can’t do the distance.
October 30th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
is there any other service that might come to the area. I’m sure some mom and pop places might consider delivering but the selection may suffer. anyone know anything about any good foodstores in the area that might delivery and don’t close at 7:30 p.m.!
October 30th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
I would probably succomb to the convenience of Fresh Direct if they delivered here, so I’m actually glad that they don’t. In addition to the discrimination and unfair labor practices (which I didn’t know about), they also idle their trucks and destroy the environment with gasoline and loads of cardboard boxes. I say let’s try to improve the stores we have and encourage new ones to come in so we can buy local. I get a lot of my fruits and vegetables from the Lewis Ave. Farmer’s Market. Basically, I buy groceries in lots of different locations, whenever I have the opportunity. But for those who do want to support the FD evil empire, I heard that a woman on Bainbridge St. takes orders from people in the neighborhood and drives to their warehouse — on Long Island somewhere? — to pick up the groceries. She charges $10 a pop.
October 30th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
I have tried the Fresh Direct petitioning to no avail. I even used the delivery service of a woman who would pick up for me from the LIC pick-up location. It worked well and I can’t remember why I stopped. I guess I got annoyed at the unfairness of it all. What pissed me off futher was when I discovered a FD truck parked all hours of the night on Jefferson. Turned out one of the delivery guys lived in the nabe. Insult to injury.
October 30th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
I live in PLG and. . . surprise, surprise, Fresh Direct delivers here! Given our neighborhood demographics, I’d be reluctant to say that the nondelivery issue is race based. Plenty of us Black folks ovah here! Plus, in my experience, the FD drivers that they send here are all folk of color. Don’t recall ever even seeing a white FD driver come to our hood.
I do think FD’s delivery policy honestly does have something to do with volume of requests. (Which may also have something to do with a digital/cultural divide: in historically low income nabes of color, grocery shopping on the internet ain’t exactly the norm). I also think that one person at one address asking 50 times, is not the same as 100 people at 10/20 nearby addresses in a zip code, asking for delivery. (But I also don’t believe you need a 1000 individual requests in the nabe to get responses either). Could it be possible that the Mynt organized and flooded FD with requests for delivery –enough to make it worth it to them or respond?
October 30th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Hey, thanks for this post. I thought it was just me! After trying multiple combinations of zip codes and house numbers I gave up. What’s wrong with my block, that Fresh Direct won’t deliver here!?? That really pisses me off to know it’s NOT an expansion problem - but rather and exclusion one.
~Nina
October 30th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
The mere fact that you bloggers are wasting your valuable times promoting Fresh Direct is ridiculous.
Been in Bed-Stuy my whole life. This community has been thriving long before a fresh direct or a sushi bar.
It’s so ridiculous, you can’t afford Clinton Hill or the Slope, so you settle for the Stuy (and no one calls it Do or Die)…stop coming in my hood (yes I said my hood) trying to negate the hard ground work that was laid for your fresh direct asses!
SideNote: No one held a sign up begging you to move to Bed-Stuy!
October 30th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Um…. look around people - there aren’t only white people at the Mynt - they are everywhere in Bed-Sty - I know, I’m one of them and guess what? They don’t deliver to me EITHER!!!! Why is everyone always so quick to throw down the race card?!?!?!?!?! Besides - they are overpriced and there food often arrives not-so-fresh - (got a friend who doesn’t live “in the hood” who ordered from them once and then switched to Shop-Rite - who is much better at it and doesn’t make mistakes, alledgedly - you’ll live - so will I - plus, a bit of exercise never killed anyone… just watch where you walk!
October 30th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Bed Stuy’s Finest, who cares if you’ve been in the Stuy your whole life? Really. Who cares? That is not relevant to this conversation, OK?
And as for your being happy without decent grocers or decent sushi, please remember that just because you’re happy living like a refugee doesn’t mean that the rest of us have to be.
October 31st, 2007 at 12:42 am
agree with Bed Stuy’s Finest. chill out. before you know it you’ll be talking about how when YOU moved to bed-stuy, you couldn’t even get decent arugula. instead of sitting in your apt. blogging about fresh direct why don’t you go outside and figure out what your neighborhood does have to offer.
October 31st, 2007 at 1:24 am
think…, I have gone outside and figured out all BS has to offer. Be my guest and check out the rest of my blog. Maybe you should *think* before you type.
October 31st, 2007 at 1:31 am
And another thing while I’m at it. Your moniker implies that one should “think of all of the starving children who don’t have fresh direct.” That is the equivalent of making a downward social comparison. Comparing yourself to those less fortunate is good for your well-being on the one hand because it makes you feel better about yourself. The downside to this is that downward social comparisons don’t encourage you to make any improvements or strive for anything better. As long as you can say, “At least I’m better off than [INSERT PERSON TO BE PITIED HERE]” then you have no reason to want better.
October 31st, 2007 at 4:48 am
Yuppie tragedies.
Does anybody rememember what it was like in this city 5 years ago?
You walked to the supermarket, got your groceries and took them home. Yuppie conveniences like getting your food dropped off at your door is not a necessity. People have been buying and cooking food in Bed Stuy for a few years now, well before you moved there. Just because you came to New York 3 years ago and suddenly discovered Bed-Stuy doesn’t mean it should follow along with your idea of all the trimmings of what fancy, elegant, exciting New York is.
Oh, but you want the cache of living in the dangerous/trendy hood don’t you now?
This is a City with more important things to deal with, stop moving into established communities and then complaining that it isn’t like a sitcom.
Grow a pair and find something productive to do.
Or move somewhere else. Then the people who’ve lived there for years don’t have to worry about being driven out by overzealous real estate agents.
And no hard feelings, if you like the neighborhood, cool. But contribute something, buy local, stop bitching that it isn’t The Upper East Side.
Fresh Direct doesn’t deliver……gimme a break.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:23 am
I remember NYC 11 years ago and I used to go to several markets to get groceries. All of the markets were in my neighborhood, they were tiny and they were only a few blocks from one another. I was still in school at that time so I had a flexible schedule and could visit several places to procure food and other necessities for the week. Then a few years after I arrived the markets started renovating and making serious improvements and then a few years after that the first Whole Foods arrived in my neighborhood. I’ll admit that I got used to the new and improved grocery store with a wider selection of decent-looking food. I was happy that I didn’t have to do “the rounds” each week. One stop shopping was nice. It was like having the benefits of the suburbs without actually having to live there.
It’s really more than just being unable to get something fancy smancy, nyc1982. The fact is that sometimes you have to go to 3 different supermarkets (all of them in the hood and none of them near one another) just to get your average groceries. As some commenters have mentioned before me, with a full-time job and lots of demands, it’s really difficult to make the grocery store rounds. Unlike many Brooklynites, I don’t have a car (that’s by choice) so I can’t drive my chariot up to the Associated and then swing by the Bravo and then roll into the Foodtown in one afternoon.
When I moved here, that was one of the conveniences I gave up–and I understood this when I moved here. But I don’t think I have to give up wanting what I believe is an improvement for this area just because things weren’t like this ’round here before. I don’t understand why a few vociferous people are arguing against our wanting improvements for a neighborhood.
Spare me the NYC has more important things to deal with line. This is a quality of life issue and it is important to many people, not just in this neighborhood, but in neighborhoods in Brooklyn.
October 31st, 2007 at 7:55 am
I live in Crown Heights and we can’t get delivery here. We’ve been asking for three years. It’s not because I love FD. I don’t for all the reasons stated in other posts. It’s because the Met and Key Foods in my hood sell the crappiest produce for the same price as the good supermarkets. I don’t have a car and it’s diffiuclt to travel to Brooklyn Heights or Park Slope to get decent groceries. Maybe Key Foods and the Met should smarten up and solidify a good customer base by selling decent quality food before others move in and offer it.
October 31st, 2007 at 8:15 am
if it makes you all feel better — Fresh Direct also doesn’t deliver to Bronxville (but they do to other westchester locales) & it’s filled with white people.
If people in Bed-Stuy or Crown Heights or whereever continue to request their service they will begin delivering there. As for FD’s decision to deliver to the Mynt — to me it sounds like a smart business move — you all have to remember that the grocery business operates on extremely low margins and that it’s a business not some socialist entitity out to serve the greater good. They actually have to make money in order to continue their business.
But then I guess most people on this blog business is considered evil — I’m sure the gov’t could to a swell job delivering fresh groceries in an efficient manner.
Viva Fresh Direct — I think they’re awesome!
October 31st, 2007 at 8:42 am
Wait, some of you actually think Fresh Direct has some kind of race- or income-based policy? You think they’d prefer to miss out on customers rather than serve certain buildings?
I am SURE there’s a better explanation as to what’s going on and I would be SHOCKED if FD was actively missing out on potential customers because of some kind of geographic bias.
October 31st, 2007 at 9:06 am
If I were to subscribe to the arguments put forth by folks like nyc1982 and Bed Stuy’s Finest then there should be absolutely no change and the neighborhood stays exactly as it is/was and the idea of promoting well-stocked grocery stores (not simply Fresh Direct, just in general) is somehow a threat to the integrity of Bed-Stuy? I disagree and I don’t see it as “yuppifying” or whiney, quite the opposite in fact. It’s recognizing a need and creating room for it to grow. Take Fresh Direct out of the equation… is a big grocery store with a good selection and fair prices a bad thing? Would the community not benefit from it? Black, white, brown, yellow, purple? Will Bed-Stuy have gone down the proverbial crapper if that happens?
If you’re happy with wilted lettuce, potatoes with eyes all over them, and a trek just to get all of the necessary ingredients for dinner so be it. Just because that’s the way it is doesn’t mean that’s the way it has to be. I don’t think that anybody is asking for Starbucks or Whole Foods to move in, you can relax. Your neighborhood is still safe.
October 31st, 2007 at 9:09 am
Changeling, are you calling the people who live in Bedford Stuyvesant for years refugees?
The fact that I am proud of this rich community and what is has to offer, I’m being attacked (pity)
My comment was totally relevant to the conversation. Waste time with Fresh Direct all week long (all year for that matter). I could care less. This blog saddens me at times. I only check in occasionally to see the ignorant comments and an occasional rant from the editor. Call the neighborhood want you like but you must respect the past prior to achieving your future “Fresh Direct Dream”.
October 31st, 2007 at 10:04 am
rather than blog all day, attend community board meetings, community precinct council meetings, block association meetings. Visit your elected officials and vent there.
October 31st, 2007 at 10:31 am
Well, they do have the right to not deliver to an area if there are not enough customers to make it profitable. They are not OBLIGATED to deliver somewhere because of a lack of grocery stores. I honestly don’t think it’s a race issue - although it is a class one, which one could argue can’t really be separated from a race issue… hmm, I guess I just defeated my own defense of FD.
October 31st, 2007 at 10:41 am
Let us campaign for Fresh Direct having fuel efficient eco friendly trucks, so our need for groceries on an individual basis, doesn’t destroy the planet prematurely. 100,000 people getting delivery by a toxin emmitting machine is not the same for the enviroment as us riding our bikes to the PSFC and getting groceries, and exercise in the bargain. Progress is good, but forsight with progress is better.
October 31st, 2007 at 11:09 am
We should expect more in our neighborhood. Times are changing, and people not just the newcomers might appreciate having FD in the area. But yes, they need to know they will get enough orders, and hopefully they will take all the requests seriously especially those that have been requesting for over 4 years.
Instead, can we please talk about all the good places we have to get food. Where is shop rite. Foodtown is good, and has anyone ever been to the African people’s market. Good stuff there.
October 31st, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Okay, okay, I’m dizzy from reading this argument. FD doesn’t deliver here; got that. Just because someone is disappointed shouldn’t make them a target for the “Yuppie Convenience” crap. Am I a Young Urban Professional living in here? YEA. Do I support local business and this community - young and old? Um, yea. Can I afford the Slope or Hill? H*LL YEA. So if my hard working community advocate a** wants some bell peppers and unspoiled tomatoes to cook dinner in my own home (instead of dining in Manhattan) in Bed-Stuy, then I should have it.
I pump my money into this place just like any other hard working neighbor here. I’m sure they would also enjoy some fresh veggies without a 2 hours trek somewhere else.
It’s nice to talk about struggles of years past, but without progression, what’s the fricken point?
FD not delivering here is only part of the issue. The other question I think many of us are asking is WHAT does it take for these chain stores to find a neighborhood worthy. Worthy to be targeted or worthy to considered - two different things in my book. I would hate for grocers not be able to support themselves in our blocks because we all shop outside of it. But at the same time - the bar has been raised. Some of you might think it’s because of the “yuppies” moving in. All I have to say to that is - WHATEVER. There is nothing wrong with wanting better quality. I’m sure there are plenty of folks that have lived here for decades that would LOVE options. They may struggle and troop it because there was no other choice. I’m a believer in choice. SO THERE!
And yes, it goes beyond race. My neighborhood alone is a United Colours of Bennetton commercial. So that aint it!
If FD never delivers here, the hell with em’. I’m still going to want healthy food choices. And that by far IS the issue.
Cheers folks.
Nina
October 31st, 2007 at 12:21 pm
You people really don’t think that it matters if Bed Stuy Finest has been in the neighborhood his entire life? You are probably the same fools who moved in from Wisconsin and are complaining about how the new Stadium will ruin the area. You are the gentrifiers. GO HOME.
October 31st, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Nina, what exactly made you want to move to this area, if you could afford other areas for the SAME type of housing. Did you move to a place close to the few conveniences bedstuy has to offer?
October 31st, 2007 at 12:44 pm
We moved to Bed Stuy because it was a mid point to many things that we love to do, including the ‘A’ train for work. Since alot of our friends lived in park slope and prospect park, these were the first places we looked. The N R Q and B trains were not appealing for a morning commute. And there was nothing new about the neighborhoods. No culture, knew everyone from the bars… bored. Plus I personally LOVED bed-stuy’s brownstones and rich history. I was also fascinated by how much it had changed in a 5-7 year period. I saw Atlantic terminal while driving along Atlantic avenue to the address I got on Craig’s List and said to myself “SOLD!” Then we met a contractor that gave us a sweet deal on a place and we’ve been here ever since.
I love the diversity. I love the culture. I love the people. I love watching the kids go to church on Sundays while I drink my morning coffee. I love the unpretentiousness that I get when walking by to catch a train, pet a dog, and the store. It’s just good peoples. Since we’re planning on having a family soon, this was the best fit. Now I’m part of our block association.
Yea, the Slopes are cute with shops and preppy things to do….but there’s not enough culture or diversity for either one of us. It’s just preppy. Just because I’m technically a “yuppie” doesn’t mean I live like one. I would be bored of myself. LOL
Nina
October 31st, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Nina, thanks for sharing your story. This is very inspiratonal to me. I’m glad you admitted you are a yuppy but didn’t want to live in that type of neighbor. I’m sure you may have received some slack from people in the slope wondering why you moved there and how you could ever think of raising your kids there.
I’m slightly confused, you were driving along Atlantic and then fell in love, looked on craigs list for a house, and found a handy man special (i.e. like these haunted houses? LOL), bought it from a contractor who did the work, and now it one sweet home sweet home?
i went on the house tour this year, and fell in love with the diversity too, and how people take pride in their homes. which part of bedsty are you in. i especially like being close to the a train too either by utica which i know is stuy heights and expensive, or by the a at nostrand. there are some lovely homes around there on halsey and such.
thank you for the comment about those other train lines N,R,Q,B. I’m not sure they are as good as the A and I like a nice easy commute to work to. I’m sure your neighbors are lucky to have someone like you. Did you buy a multi family house I assume (most generally are). what was the renovation like. Some of these haunted houses are tempted to buy if the price is right but a heard horror stories about fixing them up.
thanks again for sharing, it’s great to know that someone who could afford other places is choosing to live here not just because it’s the cheapest place to live.
October 31st, 2007 at 1:38 pm
I am a native NYC’er and I own a home in the neighborhood.
The race baiters need to leave this site.
If you have so little self-respect that you accept that your neighborhood is poorly served by supermarkets, banks, restaurants, et al and you actually enjoy doing business via plexiglass, there is nothing anyone can do to help you.
You need to leave because you are the reason the neighborhood suffered for so long and it won’t get better till you leave.
Get out. You are not wanted. Leave. You make it worse for all of us who want to make things better.
As for contacting local politicians, that is a joke, as they are a joke. They have held offices for decades and hand-pick their relatives and friends to replace them. They could care less about the long-time residents and are only interested in getting as much camera time for themselves for their future political ambitions and changing the names of every street instead of working for true change.
October 31st, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Hi Sally,
You got most of it right. Sorry for confusing you with the fast typing. We’re at the Utica stop on the ‘A’. Live on Hancock btw Stuyvesant and Lewis. Our block association site is http://www.hancock-blockassociation.com. We’re pretty new in the org phase, but the feedback has been positive.
Nina
October 31st, 2007 at 3:46 pm
What’s wrong with wanting fresh quality food from the grocey store in BedStuy?Why should we have to say to Key Foods, may I please have some English Muffins without the mold or some non rotting tomatoes? Shouldn’t they already supply fresh food?
I do support the local framers markets. I think they are wonderful. The culture here is what I love most in BedStuy.Thepeople take time to talk to one another. Whether it be FD or Key Foods I’m all in for the change in quality food in the hood.
Bedstuyfinest,as a life long native do you not think BedStuy deserves better amenties as such? What does respecting the past and prior have to do with wanting fresh food? I don’t think anyone wants a suburban strip mall. Just better choices in food.
peace
October 31st, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Wow. cant believe there’s so many comments about the fresh direct post lol. guess this was a touchy subject. We actually do have grocery stores in the neighborhood people. We can give them suggestions to better serve us. We have the farmers market on Lewis…there are options. We’re not stranded in some deserted land this is dramatic. Whats wrong with the foodtown in restoration? if its too “far”, take a $6 cab ride or petition them to expand their delivery zone. Whats the big deal over fresh direct? Off topic, Sally what are you talking about Bed Stuy being the cheapest place to live? Compared to where? Thats one of the biggest arguments against gentrification, the fact that people are being priced OUT of the neighborhood. Hmm. And keep in mind that at one point, Park Slope was a blighted area as well, and quickly became courted by those fleeing manhattan..and “renewed”..displacing the immigrant as well as low income population who could no longer afford to be there..it was a tough fight to keep what diversification there is now…starting to sound familiar? But now its a place devoid of character and “boring” right,lol..what will bed stuy look like in 5 years I wonder. Newbie2, really? There are plenty of reasons why the neighborhood “suffered” for so long and nowhere on that long list is a love for bulletproof glass. But whats “better” to you, anyway? Whats “true” change, as you put it? If the people you think should go, the undesireables, actually left, then what? Anyway there ARE restaurants here, there ARE shops here, and new ones are opening all the time.And there are banks too; shocking isnt it! But you were waiting for everyone to leave before you actually visited those places, right? Chill everybody. Just because people are not tearing their skin off because FD doesnt come here does not necessarily mean that they want bed stuy to be a ghetto. FD delivery does not equal progress.
October 31st, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Nina:
Hancock - one of my favorite streets! It’s right up there with Jefferson Ave.
Lots of gorgeous brownstones dripping in details on these blocks. You picked a great area, and I’m sure they are happy to have you.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Streetfaerie, what is better for me is a blog without racists who think that second-class citizenship is something that is acceptable or should somehow be preserved. If the undesirables left, we could all then concentrate on making the niehgborhood better. And by better I don’t mean more expensive. We can all be a part of creating a neighborhood with racial and economic diversity.
Yes, there are restaurants and banks in the area but the number and quality - though improving - still underserves the neighborhood. We all deserve better.
And by the way, a neighborhood filled with people who don’t think they deserve better does poorly because its residents don’t fight for what they deserve. That is why Bed-Stuy, in general, suffered. Bulletproof glass is one of many obvious symptoms of a community that needs to be kept at bay because elements of the community can’t control their need to rob the business owners who try to come in and provide a service to the entire community.
Each neighborhood, as a group, can make a decision as to what they want. But residents who accept a substandard quality of life suffer a self-fulfilling phophesy and I don’t want them around.
Would I use FD if they served the neighborhood? I honestly don’t know. I have tried to request service and I got the standard note saying that when there are more requests FD will consider coming to my block. I hated that response from FD but I kept at it, not so much to be able to use it but to have the option to use it. I want that choice and I will never get it if I allow the status quo to continue. The status quo is unacceptable to me and I want it to change.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:34 pm
I also live in Williamsburg and FD will not deliver to my street either. I live west of Graham Ave, so it’s not like I am living in Bushwick, but since I am surrounded by latinos, I guess FD will continue to ignore me.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I didn’t realize that FD refused to deliver to so many neighborhoods! What an eye-opener…
October 31st, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Just business…
Most folks of average means do their own shopping so that they can take advantage of sales, especially if they have a family to feed.
When there are enough requests for their services in the current “no delivery” zone,
you folks living there will get the thrill of having Fresh Direct’s noisy, fumy, refrigerated trucks and surly drivers parked under your windows at all hours of the day and early evening!
Be careful what you wish for…
Posted by: bren at October 31, 2007 4:54 PM
From the Brownstoner.
October 31st, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Required, are you trying to say that Bushwick has even less of a chance than Bed Stuy of FD deliveries one day?
If enough people supported it, we could have a co op like park slope does. From what I gather, this co op start because the residents want something not offered, and people wanted good food at a fair price.
Lots of newbies are moving to Bed-Stuy and they want better. How many bodegas can one cook a gourmet meal from?
November 1st, 2007 at 12:44 pm
we live in western bedstuy and fresh direct delivers to nostrand ave as the cutoff point, we were told. i saw a driver a week ago on greene & bedford and he told me that. in my experience with fresh direct, if you get enough people together from an area then they will deliver. it is based on demand. i don’t think that there’s a conspiracy against certain neighborhoods. they go where the money is-pretty simple.
November 1st, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Fresh Direct can be more expensive but it’s nice when you don’t have time to goto Pathmark to haul home a $300 load of planned groceries in a cab.
November 1st, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Hey everyone, this might be a bit off the FD topic, but thought I’d share:
“For years, Manhattan has been the place to live in New York. But now it has an up-and-coming rival: Brooklyn. - And it is not only the prices that are drawing them, but a cultural vibrancy that the city’s central borough has lost.”
Check it out in this article from UK > http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?xml=/property/2007/10/27/pbrooklyn127.xml
November 1st, 2007 at 9:18 pm
hey, my mother in law sent me that link too! I was going to post it here even though it’s not specifically about Bed-Stuy, just because it’s so interesting to read about Brooklyn from a non-NY, non-US perspective.
And to be reminded of how EXPENSIVE London is. Plus it’s true, you have to travel forever to get anywhere. NYC, even though it seems big, is really quite compact in comparison.
Thanks!
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:16 am
Yes, UK is very expensive. (or rather, my cash just means very little there.) Had to go there for work, since half of my team is there.
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:24 am
A co-op is a good idea. Obviously we have people interested in options, how do we go about starting one does anyone know? FD is not exactly fresher or better. Newbie2, you want to replace racism with elitism? Being against apathy or wanting more and varied options for food and shopping does not equate to you or anyone having the right to decide who is wanted or who should live in a neighborhood. Do your part to positively contribute to the area, but get it out of your head that you should or could decide who belongs where. Or that things would be better by default if certain people left. Hitler thought that way just to keep things in perspective. And bulletproof glass says more about the people who own the shop than the people who shop there. Its an indicator of distrust and contempt for the customer, and the majority of those shops were owned and operated by folks with no ties to the neighborhood. For the record I grew up in bed stuy and there were plenty of shops that didnt find it necessary to errect bulletproof glass and were not robbed by those who “couldnt control their need”. There are a lot of factors that go into creating a criminal mentality as well as the degradation of an entire area, and your pat assesment and subsequent ignorant conclusion(ie,”they” should leave)leaves a lot of room for improvement to put it lightly.
Glad to know that Brooklyn is the new place of choice for those coming from UK. They can afford it, seeing as the 1 pound = 2 dollars and 1 dollar = .88euros. So US and brooklyn is basically on sale. So we get the spillage of those unwilling/unable to pay for manhattan and who long for culture/excitement sounds exciting but i wonder; where will the current brooklynites spill over to?..
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:47 am
The current brooklynites ( at least us) are staying RIGHT HERE. I don’t mind having new neighbors to swap a cup of sugar for a power drill with.
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:32 am
Thanks for the link Nina. Great article.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:10 pm
There is a Food-Coop in Bed Stuy. It’s called Kalabash Food-Coop and it’s off of Tompkins. I’ve seen flyers for it in PLG at K-Dog and I know some folks who come up to Bed Stuy from PLG rather than go to the Park Slope Food Coop. I think if you google it, you can find out more.
November 4th, 2007 at 8:46 am
I called when they first opened and was told “we don’t deliver to Bed-Stuy yet, but will be constantly expanding.” They don’t service the hood, but like the rest of us, tries to figure out where their class demographic lives in Bed-Stuy.
I think there are good reasons not to use this service:
1. Truck traffic increases smog; not helpful for all the kids and adults with Asthma
2. The business is a plantation model, whites run the biz and blacks and latinos staff the trucks (You know the brothers who drive their trucks would never be able to enter some of the posh building on Park Avenue if they did not have a Fresh Direct uniform).
3. Grocery shopping is a great way to burn some calories.
4. For those who need to get their high priced groceries on, Fariways in Red Hook is accessible by the A train to Jay Street; 61 to Red Hook.
The best message to send F
November 4th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Hey folks,
News 12 Brooklyn is investigating the FD issue. A reporter came to my house on Saturday and interviewed a few of us from our block association about the lack of good grocery in our own neighborhood. The next session for Kalabash Food Co-Op box sales is Nov 10th. A few of us will check it out.
Will share any new news I get. - Oh yea, Fairway has great prices! But still, your traveling outside of your neighborhood to support someone else’s. We shouldn’t have to do it. I think that was the point. Have a great Sunday!
Nina
November 4th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Streetfaerie, since you failed to follow the string here, let me get you up to speed.
Race baiters on this site were telling others to leave because they don’t like the changes that the new people (read non-African Americans) were trying to make and I refuse to put up with that. I think it is beneath all of us.
Perhaps you are not complaining about their insults as you - on some level - agree with them. I hope for your sake you don’t, but your comments about how expensive the neighborhood is getting and worrying about how some will get by makes me think you have issue with the changes as well. That is a perfectly legitimate perspective, but you attempts to equate me with Hitler are tired, misplaced and show how little you really have to say about the issue at hand. You want to debate the issues, great. Trying to call names is an obvious sign of deflection and makes you no better than the race baiters in my mind.
And as of the “contempt” of the non-resident business owners towards their customers, anyone who puts up partitions in their store does so from experience(s)with crime. Perhaps if you openned a business in the area - as a native you should have had ample opportunity over the years to do so - you would have a better perspective as to what, on a day-to-day basis, these business owners have to deal with.
Now don’t tell me that you couldn’t open a store in the neighborhood. (Is this where all the excuses of the old-timers kicks in?)
What, streetfaerie, have you done all your life to make the neighborhood better?
No need to answer, since the answer is absolutely nothing.
Why don’t you just sit back, like you have done all you life, and reap the benefits that others are bringing to your neighborhood. A least until the neighborhood gets too expensive for you and you are forced to move on to another neighborhood where you will not contribute to the improvement of the area.
November 4th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Well said
November 5th, 2007 at 1:09 am
As a homebound person, I have been getting my food from FD for about 3 years. The past two years have been all downhill. I was very happy with FD at first and recommended them to my friends - now I find much of their food is not that fresh, their prices are ridiculous, and customer service can be a real joke. Even in Manhattan, none of the supermarkets take food orders on the phone anymore so if you can’t physically go to the store and pick out the items, you’re out of luck. If I could walk to the supermarkets in my area, I would never give FD my business. Be careful what you wish for.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Excuse you. I made my stance clear on the issue of FD. Options are always good, and new businesses are always good. Because I dont agree that you can decide who lives in an area does not give you cause to attack me, but it did a good job of ripping the lid right off your ignorance, showing clearly all the stereotypes that you hold near and dear.Who is to say that because im a long time resident that Im black? Actually, Im mixed. So shove your opinion that I agree with racism. Who told you that I dont come from a long line of entrepreneurs, and home owners? Because actually,I do. And we did not have a partition, and did not get robbed. NONE of our stores, and there were several. Because I grew up here does not mean Im poor, uneducated, uninvolved, or dont own my own home. Just because I can see all sides of an equation shouldnt upset you. Just because I dont agree that this is a zero sum game where when new people come old ones have to leave; or when improvements are made, lower income residents should be priced out, shouldnt set me up to be your scapegoat where you pin all your frustrations on me. I dont have to be in a good position in your mind - I dont owe you anything. I dont appreciate the things you assume, nor do i appreciate you thinking this community needs you or others to improve it. I volunteer, Im a mentor, I get involved with community issues and efforts. I support local businesses and am in training to become a foster parent. You have no idea what i’ve done with my life nor should you comment on it. Shame on you for deciding you know anything about me because i wont let you make random generalized statemtents. I know what Im talking about, thats why I comment. You comment because you want to be heard and you think you sound good. Next time you think youre being clever realize you dont know a single thing about the people on this blog. And Nina, dont cosign foolishness. It wasnt well said. It was nonsense.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Nina you are a great person to have in the bed stuy area. Although you could have afforded a place in fort green, clinton hill, or even pricey park slope you choose, here, and it’s great you are part of the block association, and are even on the news addressing this FD issue. I bet your old neighbors were sad to see you leave!
November 5th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
streetfaerie ,
I guess if you were making a valid argument, you didnt need to get so flustered. There is nothing said in anyone’s comment about your race, background etc. Everyone is welcome to voice their opinion but if you feel its ok to compare someone to Hitler and then not expect a comment, you are foolish. People like you spew a lot of venom and get defensive when they have lost a valid argument. You have a point to make - make it based on facts not on emotion.
November 5th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
That was a lot of excuses and side stepping, Streetfaerie. You know nothing of me, yet you fling insults at me.
I made no assumptions about your race, sex, income, education, marital status, home ownership, etc. So why do you feel you need to explain it? Because it is easier to deflect that accept?
You have yet to grasp that I don’t want race baiters on this site or, for that matter, in my neighborhood. I never said poor people should leave. That is obviously your issue, not mine. I said race baiters should leave. Perhaps that is what bothered you so much. Perhaps you too are a race baiter. Deny it if you like, but you have yet to denounce race baiters on this string.
You have also failed to admit that you have ever run a business in the neighborhood and that your opinion of business owners in the neighborhood is something you know anything about. Yet you are ready with an opinion about them and why they behave the way they do.
You are eager to assumes things of others, aren’t you? Shame there is no basis in facts for your assumptions.
As for your involvement in the neighborhood, you weren’t even aware of a food co-op in your midst. How invloved can you possibly be if you don’t know that about your own neighborhood? (More excuses coming?)
You are painfully clueless and psychologically transparent. Stick to the facts and save your personal life drama for another blog.
November 5th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
has everyone ignored comment #60 from floydcat??? today, i was sitting on my front stoop and saw a fresh direct truck deliver to the house directly across the street. i was very surprised considering all of the controversy over fresh direct. they do deliver to bed-stuy. i live on greene avenue between bedford and franklin, which is definitely bed-stuy. i agree with floydcat. fresh direct will deliver where the demand is. it is simply good business sense-not descrimination. some of you have too much time on your hands. please stop misdirecting folks and slamming businesses.
November 6th, 2007 at 7:03 am
In the main post I state that FD delivers to the Mynt, which is in Bed-Stuy. The question remains why would they select some blocks (or buildings) over others. We have a right to know why this is the case. As for their delivering where there is a demand, I would like to know how many hungry people constitutes “a demand?” If 2 people on a block are willing to order from them, is that enough, or does it have to be 5 people or 10?
November 6th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
good point changeling, maybe if the collectively FD was direct and said we have X number of people willing to place and order for this much. I know it’s a pain to group order, but if this is what will bring them to the area then some bounding is necessary.
but it is odd that you are close to the mynt and your order could be grouped with them.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Streetfaerie and Newbie2, find a street corner and duke it out & leave the rest of us out of it. Sally, send Nina a bouquet of flowers and be done with it already. Jeez. Nina, thanks for the nov. 10 co-op meeting info.