Dekalb Market

This months cover design by Aleksandar Ares,
original photo by K.K.W.

It died too young: Urban change (In The Shadow Of The Young Ones). Article & photos by K.K.W

First scene of the last days.

Entrepreneurship, quality, community, sustainability, farming and education. These are the six aspects of Dekalb Market (God rest its soul), formerly at 138 Willouhby street on Flatbush ave Brooklyn.  

Housed in a collection of salvaged shipping containers that provided a performance venue, eateries, incubator farm, and work sell-spaces, it gave an operating space to many first time businesses, and added a strange and wonderful place that many grew found of. 

“I like escaping the office and coming down here,” said MetroTech worker Alicia Upchurch, 27. “Not having it in this neighborhood will be depressing.”(1)

The market is now closed in favor of commercial/residential development (City Point Development), which will feature posh housing and a Century 21 store. The market is the love-child of community developer Urban Space, and cultural mavens Jennifer Louise Lyon and Joann Kim-Nunez. As far as executives from Urban Space would say the market will reopen at another location, though its not yet finalized. Many who signed leases with the market are devastated and not sure about the future of their business. “We weren’t doing well at the beginning because nobody knew we were here,” said Jessica Chen, owner of Kooj, which sells handmade bathing suits for $60.

“We’re finally doing well and have returning customers and now we have to move,” said Chen, 25, who signed a three-year lease for her space. (2)

“I have to figure out how to save my business,” said Maxcine DeGouttes of Stitch Therapy, who probably won’t move her yarn shop to DeKalb’s new site. She worries the market can’t survive in a less-densely populated locale. “They think that if you build something people will come,” said DeGouttes, who relocated just six weeks ago from a Park Slope storefront. “This isn’t the movies. This isn’t ‘Field of Dreams.’ ” (3)    

The Toren Building in the distance. 

The demise of Dekalb Market is a clear example of the win-lose, drastic change scenario that comes with urban development. In many ways the area benefited from the market, and also will from the City Point Development project. However, something special has been lost, many of the small businesses from the market will not recover, and a unique small haven is no more. If you would like to know more, go to:http://dekalbmarket.com/. 1-3: from the daily-News article by Alex Robinson & Lore Groghan. "Art is the reason, art is the way."  Giordano Libero 1.6 Road Bike 50cm - Road & Touring Bikes (Google Affiliate Ad)Polaris Hardtail 26" Women's Mountain Bike - Mountain & Hybrid Bikes (Google Affiliate Ad)GUESS Kiely Jacket (Google Affiliate Ad)GUESS Carly Leather Jacket (Google Affiliate Ad)