Dumbo NYC

Notes from the DUMBO, Brooklyn NY neighborhood


Fraud Shuts Down 4 Shops in Brooklyn Heights

August 5th, 2008


(Photo courtesy of The Brooklyn Paper)

Let’s say you start working at a new restaurant or a trendy new ice cream store, wouldn’t you want to know if your boss is doing what he can to make it profitable? If you knew that he has a shady past, would you work there? Would you patronize the business? Obviously, you would not go there if you knew the “business owner” was using your credit card number to steal at least $25,000, or that he was paying employees with bad checks. That’s what Daniel Kaufman, who managed Wine Bar, Busy Chef, Blue Pig ice cream, and Oven, all located on Henry Street at the corner of Cranberry Street in Brooklyn Heights is accused of, according to a NY Times story published yesterday. If you’ve been following our neighboring blog, the Brooklyn Heights Blog, they first broke the story of Kaufman’s shady past over a year ago. But not until back payments unpaid, bouncing paychecks, and credit card fraud did the story become much more public. Nearly 50 hard working employees are now out of work, and as BHB states, he “just couldn’t sit on the sidelines“. Neither can we. If any readers can help with a contact or job opportunity for any of the former employees, please contact webmaster @ brooklynheightsblog.com.

Filed in Brooklyn Heights at 8:54 am
Comments
  • Brohan
    Dude, this story broke weeks ago.
  • DOT
    Wow... I walked by the other day and was wondering why the stores were closed. Very sad. Hopefully the businesses can be sold and re-opened under new management. Each restaurant seemed to be doing very well. Going to miss the Blue Pig.
  • z
    OVEN... worst tasting "pizza" I have ever eaten. Tasted like canned tomato paste on a cracker warmed up in a toaster oven.
  • nabeguy 3
    the blue pig ice cream was the worse ever. the wine bar suck also. no lose here !
  • Anon
    Blue Pig ice cream tasted like they supplemented their recipe with lard & off brand Crisco and skimped on dairy milk and cream in their Ice Cream.

    What gets me is that for the 1st time in this cat's swindling escapade at these locations, all 4 businesses were doing well. Previous incarnations were always empty. I never stepped foot in any of them again after tasting some pork ice cream.
  • anon
    We ate one of the worst meals ever at Oven. Not only was the food awful, but we didn't get half of what we ordered and it took hours to get our food. The waiter couldn't even remember the beer my husband ordered. It blows my mind when wait staff cuts their own tip by preventing patrons from ordering more food or forgetting to bring them what they ordered. The linguini with clam sauce tasted like sugar and the pasta was mush. Hopefully someplace decent will take its place.
  • ag
    Oven was horrible. I hope that place stays closed! Plus why even bother to put a pizza place that close to Grimaldis, especially one so mediocre.
  • z
    ag, forget about Grimaldi's.. even the take out pizza just down the street is vastly superior to Oven.
  • kildare
    oh me thinks you are wrong dear sir, the worst tasting pizza is right under our own noses at ye olde front street pizza.
  • dumbostreets
    I suspect Kaufman had a drug problem since the manner in which he robbed the businesses and customers was so blatant; even desperate. It looks like he was thinking fix to fix rather scheming some kind of long term, and much more profitable, fraud.

    BTW, Blue Pig's ice cream did get a lot of good press... and I, personally, liked the cake batter flavor. Whoever built up all those venues obviously had some business skills. It's too bad things worked out this way. I hope the investors can figure out a way to stay in business.
  • mod squad
    I second that, kildare. It's like eating your own vomit!
  • pete
    whatever ended up happening to the pizza place that was going to in down on Water across the river cafe. I think it was Ignazio's. My wife swore she saw people back working in there the other day but it's been about ages since I've seen anything being done there.
  • WaterSt.
    Too bad, that guy was no worse than the hustlers at peas 'n pickles selling drugs. So what if ran some credit cards - they're all just trying to make a buck.
  • kguard
    oh you silly character. maybe you can give someone your credit info and they can "run 'em". that won't be worse, will it? not for me but maybe you?

    or those darn "hustlers", hope they don't scare you too much. their no jackie gleason.
  • Brohan
    Dude, this story broke weeks ago. Anybody else think that the dumbonyc guy needs some help staying current?
  • anon
    Brohan, the story of the credit card fraud broke weeks ago, but it was just a few days ago that the resturants were closed down, so this is pretty current news.

    As far as Ignacio's down by River Cafe goes, I think they got turned down for a liquor license. Nothing has happened to the space since then.
  • Yo Brohan, I can use your help staying current. You're welcome to submit a story anytime.
  • anonymous
    who cares, brohan. brownstoner and brooklyn eagle published their story of mikey's hook up today when dumbonyc 'broke' the story in mid-july. you can start your own blog.
  • Gregg
    The last thing anyone needs in this neighborhood is another friggin pizza joint. I don't care if its coal, no coal, gourmet, yadda, yadda, yadda - we don't need it. How about a men's store? There isn't one in the neighborhood at all. Why do I have to go into the city to buy a tie or socks or a shirt?
  • mod squad
    Yo, Gregg, Fulton Mall for tube socks and wife beaters. Buy them on the street, don't go in the stores. What's a tie?
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