Le Pain Quotidien Construction Underway in Moutarde Space

In December of last year, Moutarde closed "for renovations," never to re-open. The deathwatch had been on for some time by that point, as the owners of the French restaurant, on Fifth and Carroll, had changed up the menu, oddly decided to only be open during the weekends, and last March put the space up for rent.

Last month word got around that an outpost of Le Pain Quotidien would be moving into the space, and sure enough, the rumor was confirmed and constrution has begun.

The storefront's exterior has gotten a coat of white paint, and as expected it looks like the company has decided to keep the facade's other details intact (which would make sense, considering how French it already looks). On the inside, it's still in the process of being gutted.

As is usually the case with successful chains, the buildout shouldn't take much time at all.

Signage Up at Park Place Starbucks

It's been a little over a month since Starbucks announced, via construction permit, that they'd be taing over the cavernous space recently vacated by Five Guys, on Park Place between Seventh and Flatbush Avenues. Construction began in earnest shortly afterward, and has been chugging along at a rapid clip ever since. Yesterday morning, signage went up.

It's not too obtrusive; the only element of it that's visible when you're not looking at it head-on is a small medallion next to the doorway. Still, there's no way to miss that this is a Starbucks.

I'm interested in seeing what the final layout for the space will be; there's potential for plenty of natural light and lots of seating, and I'm sure the company has its finest architects on the case. I have a feeling that it'll be open by June.

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.

Pediatric Dentist/ Orthodontist Coming to 131 Sixth Avenue

I've been keeping tabs on construction at 131 Sixth Avenue, between Sterling and Park Places, for about as long as this site has been in existence, and the end game is finally in sight. The building topped off last summer, and since then, while the exterior hasn't changed much, the exterior certainly has. The ground floor construction is nearing completion, and, as promised since before construction even started, a dentist will be moving in.

A pediatric dentist and orthodontist, to be exact, under the auspices of Drs. Alan Azrak and Daren King, according to temporary signage that's gone up in the front windows.

The website is already up and running, and a look at it reveals that the doctors expected to have moved in quite some time ago. Looks like they've been operating out of temporary offices on Eighth and Union in the meanwhile.