The corner of Hoyt and Schermerhorn Streets in Downtown Brooklyn isn’t exactly known for its food, but that will change with the addition of Brooklyn Fare, an independent market that opened this week.
Tucked between office buildings and construction sites on booming Schermerhorn, the new gourmet shop had a soft opening on Monday, enticing passersby with gleaming tomatoes and freshly-baked muffins from the window. Brooklyn Fare is part regular grocery store, offering fresh produce, packaged foods, and household and convenience items, but its coffee bar, café, and long menu of prepared meals from chef Cesar Ramirez lend a gourmet market feel.
Ramirez whips up his prepared foods in an open kitchen where passers-by can watch through a large window. The store will soon host cooking classes there, led by Ramirez, a former executive chef at Bar Blanc in Manhattan.
“There’s nothing like it in the neighborhood,” said owner Moneer Issa, who could be forgiven for ignoring competitors like the new Trader Joe’s at the corner of Court Street and Atlantic Avenue and the venerable Sahadi’s, on Atlantic Avenue between Court and Clinton streets, neither of which has a cafe.
The residential community hasn’t fully bloomed yet, but hundreds of units will come online soon. In the meantime, Issa is encouraged already.
“I’ve gotten really great feedback so far,” he said.
“We are reaching out to residents of Boerum Hill and the neighborhoods beyond that. We are doing good lunch business and have gotten several catering orders already.”
The grand opening is set for Friday, May 8.
Brooklyn Fare [200 Schermerhorn St. at Hoyt Street in Downtown, (718) 243-0050] is open seven days a week, 7 am–9 pm.
