Midwood, Brooklyn - Shopping

Shopping

The main shopping streets in the area are Kings Highway, Avenue J, Avenue M, Flatbush Avenue, Nostrand Avenue, and Coney Island Avenue.

In the 1960s and the early 1970s, Nostrand Avenue between Avenues M and N was considered one of New York's best streets for shopping by New York magazine. The street was known for fashionable boutiques such as "Edna Nelkin's Jewelry," America's finest children's wear boutique, "Greenstone's" (now located on both Columbus and Madison Avenues in Manhattan), "Burton's", "Shirtland", and "The Shoe Box". As retailers retired, the street changed and became known for its automobile showrooms, including Plaza Honda. A U.S. Postal Service Facility (Zip Code 11210) can be found on Nostrand Ave. between Ave. I-J.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Kings Highway had Dubrow's Cafeteria, a classic cafeteria where holes would be punched in patrons' printed tickets, which would total the cost of the meal. It was a popular place to eat and schmooze. Also "Levine's" was the king of the bar mitzvah suit trade, and "Jimmy's" catered to high fashion customers. Kings Hwy. was home to the now famed Crazy Eddie Electronics Empire. The first Original Crazy Eddie store was located on Kings Hwy., then moved to larger quarters just South Of Kings Hwy. On Coney Island Ave. A branch of the Brooklyn Public Library can be found on the east side of Ocean Avenue just south of Kings Highway. There were two movie theaters on Kings Highway. the "Kingsway", and the "Avalon" (it closed in 1982). Visitors to Kings Highway. are amused by the pro-colored holiday-style lights that are strung across above the street and feature a lighted gold "Kings Crown" at a few intersections. In the fall of 2008, NYC DOT planned to implement an experimental Congestion Parking Plan along the Kings Hwy. Biz District, which was thought to raise parking meter rates from 75 cents, to as much as $2.50 an hour. Specific streets were not then designated. Currently Kings Highway is anchored by several chain stores, such as Rite-Aid, and Petland Discount, TJ Max and multiple ethnic food stores. Eateries include the ornimate Amazon Caffe (Kosher Dairy), Kings Games (the largest gaming center in New York City), and several high fashion outlets, jewelry stores, sushi restaurants, and more.

Avenue M, the heart of Midwood, is the central location for kosher food and butchers. While in the past is was home to Cookie's, one of Brooklyn's best known restaurants and hang-outs (also popular with the NBC studio crowd), today there are nothing less that 9 Kosher restaurants and 3 kosher bakeries. Back in the 1920s through the 1940s, the "Dorman Square Restaurant" was popular with the Vitagraph studios crowd, as well as played a role in a vitagraph film or two. And one of Brooklyn's most legendary Italian restaurants, "Restaurant Bonaparte," and it as well catered to the actors and actresses working on Avenue M in the NBC studio at that time. Restaurant Bonaparte was known for its "Three Musketeers." It also had a wishing well fountain in its lobby entrance, filled with customers coins. The Avenue has an elevated subway station. Up until the 1970s, Avenue M had its own movie theater, The Century "Elm" (now the "Emigrant Savings Bank"). Nearest the end of each June, the Midwood Development Corporation hosts the popular Midwood Mardi Gras Street Fair Along The Avenue, from East 12th St. to Ocean Avenue. Shoppers can find a municipal muni-meter parking lot on East 17th Street at Chestnut Ave. just north of Avenue M. Many of the retail businesses are closed due to the Jewish Sabbath and Higher Holy Days. Notable exceptions are 7–11, Pete's Pizza, Dunkin' Donuts, Chock Full O' Nuts, as well as some other non- Jewish owned establishments like Chinese restaurants, Russian bakeries, grocers, fruit markets and newsstands.

Avenue J is a low-key commercial strip, with many kosher restaurants, deli, pizzerias, and butchers. DiFara's Pizza (at E. 15th St.) is cited by the recently released 2008 Zagat Survey as "The Best Pizza in NYC." At $5.00 for a regurlar slice, DiFara's Pizza is the only non-Kosher pizzeria on Ave J, likely only thriving due to its high quality pizza, and there is usually a waiting line outside to get in. Others specialize more narrowly, such as one bakery concentrating on Russian bread. Ostrovitsky's Bakery sells gourmet cookies and cakes. A number of large fruit grocers such as Fruit Palace and Blue Ribbon offer high quality produce at competitive prices. A large selection of exotic dried fruits and nuts can be found at "Oh Nuts!" There was also once a Cookie's restaurant on the corner of East 16th St. & Ave. J (and even Ave. U as well). A branch of the Brooklyn Public Library can be found on E. 16th. St. just North Of The Avenue. The Avenue had its own movie theater simply named the "Midwood" Theater (closed in the early 1980s). But Avenue J can also be hectic during weekdays. Much foot and vehicle traffic, and finding a parking spot is a big problem. A branch of the Brooklyn Public Library is located on E. 16th St. just north Of Ave. J. Many of the retail businesses are closed due to the Jewish Sabbath and Higher Holy Days. Notable exceptions are Duane Reade, Walgreens, Associated Supermarkets and grocers or newsstands serving the Muslim community.

On Coney Island Avenue in Midwood, primarily between Avenue H and Avenue P, are the U.S. Postal Service Midwood station (Zip Code 11230), The "Kent Triplex Movie Theater," and other assorted retailers. Between Avenue O and Quentin Road are Turkish restaurants and a hookah bar. Near Avenue L what was believed to be the largest all-kosher supermarket in the United States opened in August 2008. The 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) Pomegranate was "also hoping to lure customers who don't keep kosher with its array of organic meats and chemical-free produce."

In the 1980s and 1990s, a wave of Orthodox Jews moved into the area from Borough Park, attracted by Midwood's large homes and tree-lined streets. Today, in addition to European Orthodox Jews, the area is home to a burgeoning Sephardic population. Along Kings Highway from Coney Island to McDonald Avenues you will find Middle Eastern restaurants and take-out food shops.

East Of Ocean Avenue the community is also known as "East Midwood" and/or "Nottingham". The area between Ocean Parkway and McDonald Avenue is referred to as "West Midwood".Volunteer ambulance service that serve Midwood, is Flatbush Hatzoloh. The nearest hospital's are New York Presbyterian Community Hospital, and 'Beth Israel King Highway.' Both are certified "9-1-1 FDNY-EMS" Receiving emergency facilities. Presently many residential homes within the community are valued at about $500,000.00 to a million plus. One of Brooklyn's last remaining (then intact) old Farms was located on the site of a present day apartment complex at 1279 East 17th St. (just north of Ave. M) up until it was torn down in the mid 1960s. The ELM is the community's official tree (one local street is named Elm Avenue as a result).

In his run for the White House, Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy held a massive campaign rally just outside Dubrow's Cafeteria. A massive crowd of people turned out to hear this popular political icon speak. The crowd he drew stretched for blocks in all directions. Years later his brother Senator Robert F. Kennedy ("Bobby") held a similar campaign rally there for his run for President, with a similarly large audience. The community has long been known for being a Democratic stronghold.