Nostrand Avenue Restaurant Row - Updates

Businesses for Books and the Brower Park Library

Having helped to enlist three restaurants to support the Book Ball held by Friends of Brower Park Library on July 19 of this year, it occurred to me that it might be possible to do more to create connections between the library and businesses in Crown Heights.  The three restaurants that served food and drink at the Book Ball were Akara House, Pando's Creperie and Cafe and SoulBK.  Unfortunately SoulBK closed shortly afterwards.  However, the other two places are thriving, and I thought, starting with them, it would be  possible to enlist more businesses in support of the library.  The Friends of Brower Park Library agreed to start a program called Businesses for Books.  The idea was to get businesses to agree to put up posters that would announce their membership and encourage their customers to attend a book sale on October 26.  These  posters would be laminated so it would be possible to paste on new events after the the 26th, thus it would be possible to have a permanent sign in prominent places advertising events at the library all year round.  Lorraine Leddy, head of communications at the Friends group, advised me to get in touch with Maddie Partner who does design work for a publishing company.

Photo of Maddie Partner

She came up with a great design, and this I started to take around to various businesses.  My goal had been to enlist ten businesses before the October 26 book sale.  Once we had agreement from the businesses, Maddie would take their logos and integrate their name and logo into a poster, which would then be laminated.  We did manage to get the ten businesses.  We thank them for their community spirit and we encourage members of the community to reward them by patronizing them whenever possible.  They are:

Akara House, 642 Nostrand Avenue

Pando's Creperie and Cafe, 227 Kingston Avenue

Love Lane, 674 Nostrand Avenue

Rehab Haven Occupational Therapy, 237 Brooklyn Avenue

777 Nostrand Deli, 777 Nostrand Avenue

Meme's Healthy Nibbles, 707 Nostrand Avenue

Merritt Cleaners, 687 Nostrand Avenue

Naye African Braiding, 736 Nostrand Avenue

Canela Cafe and Bar, 800 Franklin Avenue

Crown Hill Theater, 750 Nostrand Avenue

With these enterprises Businesses for Books is launched, helping to strengthen the bonds of community in Crown Heights.

Photo of Feler Dureus with the poster at Rehab Haven

Photo of the poster at Pando's Creperie and Cafe

– John DeWind