It's hard to imagine how a small business can survive on 7th Avenue when the commercial rents are so high. You have to sell an awful lot of frozen yogurt to make any money.

I don't think it's that, Mloubrad. I think it's that many business owners who open in Park Slope are stupid and have a mediocre product. Yogo Monster is the perfect example. You walk one block down to Bagel Market and they are packed every minute of the day. 95% of businesses on 7th Avenue are "small business" Eric Shoes, Butter Lane, Beer Table, Fonda, Roma Pizza, Talde, Olive Vine, Oshima, Mr. Wonton, 7th Ave liquor, Neergaard Pharmacy, Dvine Taste, Back to the Land, Lion in the Sun, Banyo, Steinhoff, the list goes on and on.

People on this blog have a difficult time being rational when a store closes. Yogo Monster sucked, it sucked from the day it opened and it shouldn't be shocking that a place called Yogo Monster has closed after an amazing 3 year run. There are 5 other places in the neighborhood with better yogurt and a less idiotic name.

But what does our friend froyo think?

In all seriousness, it wasn't very good, and even Yogurtberry seems to do better business with a similar "by the pound" concept.

Would love to see something of note move both into here and the Chiles and Chocolate space. 7th could still use a bit more sprucing up on the food end.

A really nice restaurant/cocktail bar would do so exceedingly well there in that space, Cuban. Something like Lupa in Manhattan or a nice sit down Vietnamese restaurant or even a place like Prime Meats over in Carroll Gardens.

fifth avenue has sucked the energy out of seventh avenue.
it is no longer the destination and only serves those for whom it is very convenient.
And now even Flatbush Ave is attracting business away from Seventh.

Most popular restaurant in Park Slope right now is Talde.

On 7th Avenue.

Friends from Manhattan also come out to Beer Table and Fonda. Both on 7th Avenue.

The only GREAT place on 5th is Al Di La.

7th Avenue is much more beautiful than 5th Avenue...more trees, more cute storefronts. It might not be as hip or trendy as 5th, but I spend most of my time on 7th. The Turkish place is one of my favorites, so is Zito's and that cheese shop called Valley Shepherd Creamery has delightful things. Went to Talde for our anniversary and it's the best meal I've had in a while. Olive Vine is fun too (as someone suggested) especially since it's byob and they have a nice big garden area.

Al Di la is far from the only excellent restaurant on 5th avenue. Typical blog commenter hyperbole there.

The southern end of 7th has definitely attracted some very good business but, with less business density (if that's even a term), it was certainly more ripe for it than the northern end. While the vibe is decidedly different on the north end for sure, it's time to turn that around.

I agree that Flatbush is even doing better in this regard than the northern end of 7th. Somehow, Woodland actually is the real deal, and Franny's new digs should be great. Don't forget Vanderbilt. I probably spend as much time there than I do on 5th at this point.

Rents on the northern end of 7th are absolutely part of the issue. How great would Kimchi Grill have looked on 7th rather than way up on Washington? Glad they deliver.

I didnt mean to imply that there was nothing worthwhile on 7th Ave.
But having lived here for almost 25 years, I have seen how Seventh, especially the Northern part, has become somewhat uninteresting. Fifth seems to be more dynamic and lively with a nice variety of shops.
Twenty years ago people who lived near fifth usually walked up to seventh for shopping or dining. Now, people often walk down past seventh to Fifth or over to Flatbush or Vanderbilt.
Having a subway franchise coming to seventh wont help that vibe either.
Its interesting to see how the dynamic changes over time.

I enjoy the block of 7th between Berkeley and Lincoln with Cousin Johns still hanging in there, Mr. Wonton also there many years and Oshima for great sushi. Then there's the pottery place next to Cousin John's, the accessories place, GLOW and Noella Brew Bar. Across is the bridal shop with the lesbians in the window and then Mandela Tibet store. Venelle salon, Santa Fe grill and Spice and Cafe Dada where Ozzie's was for 18 years. Leaf n Bean moved to Lincoln/7th and a new Bahn Mi place is opening there too. It's all mom and pops, many which have been there quite a while.

also between lincoln and st. john's is leelawdee thai food, amin idian and olive vine. some more nice little mom and pops. plus my neighbors kids love peoples pops, a new place at union/7th. do all my shopping at back to the land, dvine taste, blue apron. 7th has everything i need, but i'm not into the froyo craze or tapas or dive bars so i don't go to 5th avenue very much. i spend most time near prospect park walking, biking, taking in the beautiful brownstones, that's why i love park slope most, not because of some trendy new places on 5th avenue. but i do like convivium osteria for special occasions.

ok you win

On topic, does anyone know where to buy those little mochi topping things they had.

(In before you say, 'at a Japanese food store, duh').

that is one thing the neighborhood could use. a big, asian supermarket! good idea, fluffleflicker!

Ever have a Green Tea Kit Kat?

Fresh white Mochi that puffs in the oven?

never! but i want to!

Talde. It's been at least four days since it was last mentioned on these pages.

Talde has too much pork.

Park Slope has become more sophisticated in recent years and poorly run places just can't cut it anymore. The food scene has become more like Manhattan. Independent places can still succeed well here, few good restaurants are chains, but they generally do have to be well designed, run and financed. Talde does so well because it offers an experience that most people have to go into Manhattan to get. It has serious investors.

Neither seventh or fifth avenue can compare to Smith or Court St. The only remarkable restaurants on Fifth are Convivium Osteria, Al Di La, Canaille, and Stone Park Cafe. After Fifth St. much of Fifth Avenue is an eyesore. The intersection of Fifth and Ninth St. has to be one of the most unpleasant views in this neighborhood.

I think Smith street is ugly and I don't find any of the restaurants there very good at all. Court street is nice, but lots and lots of chains.

Don't you mean Yogo Monster to shutter its doors in October?

Am I the only one who is dying for a salad place to open up in one of these new vacant locations? Something like a Chop'd or Tossed. We need a real go to salad place on 7th Ave!

takes a lot of salad to pay for 15K a month rent.

and they do make your own salad a block away at bagel market.