August 11, 2007 / Brooklyn Heights–Downtown / Perspective / Heights Lowdown

The Heights’ stroller derby

By Juliana Bunim

for The Brooklyn Paper

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Two of the newest stores on Montague Street are offering a service to the nabe’s burgeoning community of young families — a stroller valet — but in doing so, they just might be reinforcing some bad behavior on the part of our local mommies and daddies.

Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries opened in July near Henry St., in a space only accessible by walking up a flight of stairs. While its not a difficult climb, it is enough to put-off parents with a stroller load.

Wanting to maximize their clientele, a prominent sign in its window encourages would-be customers to call for “Stroller Service.” Dial the number, and a young employee in red uniform is dispatched to assist you.

Two blocks toward the Promenade, the boutique Blue Rose offers the same service. Shawn Lebold, who has worked there since it opened in November, recognizes a need for stroller valet. “We do actually get a lot of strollers in the store,” she said. “A lot of the mommies and nannies from the neighborhood come in.”

The gesture of extending assistance to people juggling offspring and life’s necessities is obviously a good thing. But with the new demand for “stroller valet,” it’s impossible to ignore the fact that strollers are bigger than ever. It’s not uncommon to see a toddler riding to Harry Chapin Park in something akin to a monster truck. Top it off with groceries, toys, umbrellas sand diaper bags , and it’s no wonder these parents need assistance.

Parents carting an army of supplies pose a problem when they commandeer a sidewalk, café or grocery aisle.

Jennifer Flynn, 31, said she has been “boxed in” at the Heights Café on several occasions. “No one ever thinks to fold up their stroller and put it aside. It’s way too common to see a stroller used as a receptacle for their stuff, blocking people in and causing a hazard without much thought,” she said.

Ryan Kulick, totes his son Henry, 2, to the Brooklyn Heights playgrounds in a “Bob Sport Utility Stroller,” and appreciates its off-roading capabilities, even if it is only used on the Promenade. “It’s an easy ride, is not as cumbersome as some of the others and is quite maneuverable.”

Living in the Heights, it’s no surprise to find a preponderance of fancy prams. But does that give parents cart blanche to compromise our public space?

Brooklyn Heights may be an idyllic neighborhood, but it is not the suburbs. Sidewalks are small, cafes are cozy and bookstores are packed to the brim. There is definitely a finite amount of space. Heights moms and dads should take that into account before investing $400 in one of these monstrosities.

Juliana Bunim is a writer who lives in Brooklyn Heights

Congratulations to Julian Ginos, Robert Hadad-Zlokower, Jae Lim and Howard Sider who made the Dean’s List of Binghamton University’s Harpur College of Arts and Sciences. …

Tyra Banks was spotted getting into her SUV on Montague and Henry streets. Word has it she’s dating local, Utendahl Capital Partners honcho, John Utendahl …

The Brooklyn Chapter of the American Red Cross is looking for volunteers to play evacuated residents in a mock emergency exercise on Aug. 25. Go to nyredcross.org. E-mail: Stoop@BrooklynPaper.com

©2007 Community Newspaper Group