"Brooklyn SkyBox" Coming to Barclays Area

A new billboard has gone up on top of the building that will next be home to Shake Shack, on the south side of Flatbush Avenue directly across the street from the Barclays Center, advertising Brooklyn SkyBox, "The ultimate sports viewing experience," coming soon.

There's a Twitter handle set up, and the concept already seems to be pretty fleshed out. Looks like it'll be a "stadium inspired restaurant that features sports viewing, roof top lounge, fine dining, food concessions, event rentals, arcades and games," according to the description, and apparently they've already worked out a partnership with Pepsi. It also appears as if it's owned by Drummond & Drummond LLC, a management and holding company. 

This place looks like it's a massive undertaking, but neither the Twitter feed nor Facebook page gives away the exact address. I've called the number on the Twitter page and left a message; I'll update if I receive any more info. 

Pierre Loti Wine Bar Coming to Canaille Space

The North Slope certainly has no shortage of wine bars, but it looks like an outpost of Pierre Loti, which has three locations in Manhattan, will be opening up in the space last occupied by Canaille Bistro, on Fifth between St. Marks and Warren. Ironically, Canaille revamped itself as a wine bar shortly before closing earlier this year.

Pierre Loti's three existing locations are on 15th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, Irving Place between 17th and 18th Streets, and 52nd Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues.

The descriptions are full of superlatives ("The best wine bar in NYC," "The best cocktails in NYC," and "The best Mediterranean restaurants NYC has to offer"), but a look at the menu should let us know what we can actually expect for this small space. Salads, Greek-style tapas, moderately priced entrees, a fairly straightforward brunch, wines by the glass ranging from $7-13, and bottles ranging from $26-76.

Many thanks to a tipster for sending the above photo, of a sign in the window clearly revealing the next tenant's name and desire to secure a liquor license.

Tommy's Famous Cheesesteaks and Pizza Opening Soon

Padrino's Pizza came and went in the span of about three months, and in January a banner went up over the storefront saying that the next business that will open in the space, on Fifth between Ninth and Tenth Streets, would be called Tommy's Famous Cheesesteaks and Pizza. Signage has gone up, and the owner, Tommy, told me that it will be open by this time next week.

From what I can gather, the sign pretty much says it all. No frills, cheesesteaks, pizza. Come to think of it, I haven't been able to track down a high-quality cheesesteak in the neighborhood, so these guys might actually have a niche to fill.

Checking in on the Park Place Pharmacy

It's been 11 months since New Happy Taco, on Park Place between Seventh and Flatbush, was shuttered by the DOH, 10 months since it closed for good, and two months since a DOH permit revealed that a pharmacy was slated to go into the storefront, at 160 Park Place.

Construction has moved along at a moderate pace since then, but I had some doubts that it would end up an actual pharmacy, considering the fact that a 24-hour Duane Reade is right across the street, and Kings, a discount pharmacy, is a one-minute walk up Flatbush.

The old facade was removed and a new glass one was installed over the weekend, and when I passed by I had an opportunity to speak to a gentleman who appeared to be the owner. When I asked him what was slated for the space, he replied, "A pharmacy." When pressed for more details, he affirmed that it would just be a straight-ahead, by the book pharmacy, with no frills.

Flatbush Avenue Shake Shack Construction Paper Up

It's been a little over a month since the much-celebrated news broke that a Shake Shack would be opening at 170 Flatbush Avenue, directly across from the Barclays Center. And while no visible work permits have been issued yet (and I couldn't find any online), it appears as if the Shack folks are taking matters into their own hands, and have already gone ahead and taken the first step of papering up the windows.

The space was last home to a furniture store, and is far more expansive than the above photo would indicate. In fact, the space is the equivalent of about four traditional storefronts that line avenues like Fifth and Seventh, on par with Fornino.

These guys are obviously eager to begin their buildout, and most likely won't have any trouble affording whatever fines might be associated with starting construction before permits are issued, should that be the case here.