Goodbye mom and pop?

We don't think so, yet anyway. But its a slippery slope.

As our first post regarding our new neighborhood we wanted to take a moment and reflect on the nature of the local businesses in the area. Boerum Hill, and we would argue many of the other neighborhoods nearby, have been dominated almost exclusively by 'mom and pop' and similar establishments.

That changed dramatically recently. In our view at least. While the type of clothing they sell might be seen as fitting into the somewhat hipster-ish culture along Smith Street (its pretty yuppified if you ask me), the fact that LA-based American Apparel, a national (nay, international) chain has entered the neighborhood is significant. We sense that the dramatic and booming development the area has sustained recently with Atlantic Avenue complexes going up almost every block may be a connected phenomenon. We're not going to pass judgement too quickly, but we're not thrilled with national chains. On the other hand, perhaps they bring options to the neighborhood, and fill up some of those empty storefronts?