Coming Soon: Brooklyn Coffee Shop, 170 Marcy Avenue
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 11:18AM 
A new coffee shop is coming to South Williamsburg. At 170 Marcy, a few steps north of Broadway, the Brooklyn Coffee Shop will take the place of Al Ritmo, a Spanish style eatery by day and dancehall by night. According to EveryBlock New York, Al Ritmo had 52 health code violations as of January 2011. There's no telling if this is the reason for the closure, regardless, Brooklyn Coffee Shop is on its way. However, in lieu of Terry's Coffee Shop's closing around the corner at 291 Broadway, it's hard to tell whether or not Brooklyn Coffee will be tasty enough to last.
Prior to Al Ritmo, 170 Marcy Avenue was a DIY music venue known as La Nortena (aka El Bohemio). Popular underground bands like Jackie-O Motherfucker and the Golden Hotel have played there in the past. Maybe the Brooklyn Coffee Shop will keep the same mentality as La Nortena and Al Ritmo and have some shows or even an open mic night - God knows we don't need another Trivia Night. The area around Broadway can feel a little sketchy from time to time, this isn't to say it is, but perhaps a new coffee shop could shed some light on a cloudy neighborhood.
Reader Comments (3)
I live across the street. That sign has been up for about 3 months. I feel like it will never open, just like the "sign only" Arturo Donuts around the corner.
I know what you mean. At least it's not as haggard looking as the Arturo sign. Then again, the Kabob Shack was just sitting around for nearly a year and finally opened with vengeance. It's always difficult to tell what's going to happen, especially under the J/M. Thanks for the tip!
One of the bodega guys across the street from the Arturo sign said some jews bought a big portion of that side of the street and they were turning it into a condo. I laughed at him. But you never know I guess. He said they put up signs at arturo and the coffeeshop to make people think they were opening but they're just waiting for the other leases to run out before they tear it down. bahaha.