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Bierkraft Eyeing an Expansion?
Monday, June 25, 2012 at 3:05PM 
Is Bierkraft, the renowned Fifth Avenue mecca of all things beer and sandwich-related, planning on opening up a second outpost elsewhere in the city? A note that co-owner Ben Granger just posted on their Facebook page certainly makes it appear so. Here it is:
ATTENTION!
Bierkraft wants to possibly come to your neighborhood! You love us and we certainly love you! I have entered us in a contest that could reward us with as much as 250,000 in grants to expand and maybe be your new neighbor. All we need to be eligible to win is 250 of your votes. So if you are interested go to www.missionsmallbusiness.com. Once you are at the website use the login and support button to do just that and look us up and vote! The big catch is that we only have 5 days left to get our votes! The more votes the better! So tell your friends! You will need to use your Facebook account to log in.
Thank You
Ben
Want to see them build a Bierkraft empire? Get your vote in!
Food, Storefronts
Reader Comments (14)
they should use some of that $250k to lower their prices. A lot of their beers are $4-5 more per bottle (!) than at New Beer or the Whole Foods on Houston. They have raised prices like crazy over the past couple of years.
They're not the only local business applying for that grant either. I know of a few restaurant owners applying for the same grant and have supported their cause in doing so.
@CubanSlope Which other local businesses are you aware of that are participating?
@p. Seriously--I've found the beer I drink for $3 less at DNY Natural Land, that insanely expensive grocery right by the 7th Avenue station.
Bogota, for one.
https://www.facebook.com/BogotaBistro?ref=ts
Also, and now I'm just reading off the Chase site....
La Bagel Delight
Blue Marble
Bump (knew that one)
Chocolate Room
Beast
That was 25 of 74 pages worth. Probably missed a few really small businesses that aren't storefronts. I'll let people scroll through the rest. Just visit the Mission Small Business site.
Obviously, every single one of these businesses deserves your support. You may think the beer at Bierkraft is expensive and whatnot, but they are a very successful LOCAL business loved by many.
Bierkraft isn't worth it if you are buying beer to take home. If you treat it like a bar that has a greater selection and a better space, then the $4 beer is worth it because it's not going to be that cheap at a real bar. Getting a growler is really the most economical way to go. But I agree, it's too expensive for take out. The Coop has a great selection and it's way way way cheaper.
The coop is not an option for people who have lives that prevent them from working at a grocery store. You know, people with jobs, families and friends.
I'm fine with the prices at Bierkraft. It is a bit expensive, but you get an incomperable selection and a staff that knows their stuff. At the coop, and most corner bodegas, the staff tend to be dimwits who don't know an ale from a lager.
Prices have gone way up and their selection has gone way down, basically when they realigned the business to focus more on eat-in customers.
I agree with President Resident, the beer prices make sense if you are eating in. The only take out folks they still support are people who have growlers filled.
Best beer selection is at the Key Foods on Flatbush across from Crunch.
Wait, if you don't shop at the coop, how do you know that the beer lady there is a dimwit? Just saying... I don't love working at the coop, but to say that you can't hold down a job or have friends if you belong to it? LOL
Comparing Bierkraft and the Coop is apples vs oranges, one is pretty much a dedicated beer store, and the other is a grocery store with a beer section. I buy form both places, Bierkraft brings in a lot of rare beers that the Coop does not get, and their growler system and selection is always on point. The Coop has a really great beer selection too, and the prices are good because its a coop and we all work there. Still Bierkraft brings in a lot of rarities that are somewhat difficult to find elsewhere, and are retail priced.
I'd pay double for anything to not have to shop at the co-op.
For the small selection the Coop has, it's actually very well curated. I always stop and see what's on the shelves, whether I came in shopping for beer or not.
I agree Bierkraft's bottle selection has gotten smaller. Still, you simply cannot beat the experience. There's also merit to what they're doing with the casks and taps.
The only drawback, honestly, is that New York is almost too hip to beer. The real limited stuff flies off shelves in this town while it sits on shelves in others. I would have done anything for a Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Ale.
I can buy Brooklyn Local 1 at that latin grocer on fifth near 8th street. That makes me happy. That is all.