Bedford Avenue is the longest street in Brooklyn, stretching from Greenpoint to Sheepshead Bay (Brooklyn Based). The street is filled with small, independently owned local boutique shops and restaurants (Brooklyn Based). This creates an interesting area to explore, as every shop has something unique to offer.
During the 1980s, artists and students moved into industrial spaces for work studios, due to being unable to find affordable housing in Manhattan (Nevius). Due to the increase of young, predominantly white people, resulted in a range of galleries, shops, restaurants, leading to the rise of property values (Nevius).
Some of the most popular stores on the street include Earwax Records, an independent record store specializing in vinyl (Earwax). The store was a part of Williamsburg’s cultural renaissance in the early 1990’s (Earwax). Another interesting place is the Videology Bar and Cinema, a bar that rents DVDs and holds screenings (Brooklyn Based). These places came to the neighborhood during late 90s and early 2000s, and a recent phenomenon is that these shops are closing. There will be an increase in corporate owned stores such as Whole Foods and Apple Stores instead (Brooklyn Based).
The rise of rent in Bedford Avenue will result in the loss of its creative personality, as individuals will not be able to afford to maintain their shops. As they go bankrupt, corporate businesses will take over. The streets which were able to offer a special experience is now being turned into an area like every other. Consumers would have to make decisions to choose these small, individually owned stores over the chain shops in order to support their businesses.
Works Cited
“About Us.” Earwax Records, www.earwaxrecords.net/home-1.
Blankslate. “A Guide to Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn: from Greenpoint to Broadway – Part 3.” Brooklyn Based, 7 May 2014, https://brooklynbased.com/2014/01/29/guide-to-bedford-avenue-brooklyn-from-greenpoint-to-broadway/3/.
Nevius, James. “Tracing Three Centuries of Williamsburg’s Bedford Avenue.” Curbed NY, Curbed NY, 6 Nov. 2014, https://ny.curbed.com/2014/11/6/10028506/tracing-three-centuries-of-williamsburgs-bedford-avenue.
