Dumbo General Store New Signage
July 23rd, 2009
Photo by Jen Carlson/Gothamist
I don’t get it, but Brooklyn Paper says that a new Dumbo General Store sign “started a riveting neighborhood debate by simply hanging a sign with the eatery’s name on it outside of her store.” And Gothamist says that “this is absurd”, to ditch the old “Cafe Bar” sign. We spoke with several Dumbo General Store regulars and most liked it and no one disliked it.
More interesting is the fact that there are outdoor seating. However, no word on whether or not a permit was obtained for this, as Pedro’s discovered in June that they needed one to have outdoor seating.
So we ask you, do you like the new Dumbo General Store sign? Does anyone care? Please comment below.
Photo by innuendo
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
love both DGS and Pedros…hopefully pedros get’s their cafe license soon.
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
The new sign is lame, just like Dock St. All of the authenticity of this neighborhood is slowly being discarded for yuppie cookie cutter plastic appeal. How disappointing.
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Who cares about the sign, really? same (good) place for margaritas
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Nothing is more yuppie than getting worked up about commercial signage…
I think their previous signage was less explicit. Zeroing out ambiguity is understandable in this economy. They might want to add a guy in a kangaroo suit handing out coupons on the sidewalk.
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
1st world problems are terribly dramatic.
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
x, what exactly is so yuppie about that sign? Are you telling me before this sign, that the place wasn’t a pretensious yuppie coffee bar, and somehow a sign change turned it into such?
July 23rd, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I only know it as an evening bar/restaurant and I’ve always liked it. Dumbostreets makes a good point about zeroing out ambiguity in this economy and I enjoyed the kangaroo comment. :) I don’t however see it as pretentious or yuppie – just a nice bar/restaurant with good live music. Is that so wrong? The sign isn’t all that inspired but… come on, pick your battles.
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Seriously?
Are we really even reading this? Who cares?
We do care about the outdoor seating though… Kind of not cool as it’s already a zoo!!! Like the Water street bar and make me sick grill… Pretty sure they don’t have a permit to sit outside let alone serve alcohol outside… A serious eyesore…
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Who the hell cares about the sign?
July 24th, 2009 at 6:29 am
zoo?
July 24th, 2009 at 7:05 am
@rawr
Yah… Zoo… The sidewalks barley have enough room to walk let alone tables and who wants to eat at ass on a Brooklyn street level anyway?
July 24th, 2009 at 7:06 am
that was ass-level…
July 24th, 2009 at 9:09 am
I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve never understood the average New Yorker’s desire to eat food outside with the bugs, at ass level, people brushing up against your table, car exhaust, noise, etc. I guess this is that shittiness thing Jimmy was bitchin about.
I thought you were talking about dogs or something.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:14 am
In today’s world if a business changes a sign and that upset you. then in my opinion you must have a pretty good life. who cares about a sign that much! GET A LIFE !!!
July 24th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
the sign is not aesthetically pleasing. they could have done a better job – it stands out for some unpleasing reason (can’t pinpoint it). it derailed me for about 7 seconds. after recovering, i went in and enjoyed a couple of margaritas, guac and chips and tasty tacos.
July 24th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
The sign makes no difference at all. And enough with the Yuppie bullshit. What the hell does that even mean anymore?? Cause i would think that if you’re blogging about ANYTHING, then you would have to consider yourself a yuppie, right??
Back to the point, sign or no sign, great bar, great drinks period. the outside tables, have to admit are lame, how much more revenue can they possibly think they can bring in with a couple of 2 tops on the sidewalk?
July 24th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
oh yeah, and there’s nothing General about that store, does throw you off…
July 24th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I could care less about the sign but feel like I’m contradicting myself by even bothering to offer a non-opinion.
July 28th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
The problem with the sign is that Dumbo, in addition to being home to many of us, is a tourist attraction. People get off those double decker buses, go to the flea mark, Grimaldis, etc etc, and they usually walk up Front St. If I was in a neighborhood I didn’t know, I’d assume that the sign was leading me to…A GENERAL STORE. Which, it is not. It’s a bar. Cafe. Lovely place for margaritas. I’m not saying the sign isn’t nice – I like it – but it’s misleading.
July 29th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Agree with you PugsNPitts. I was on 23rd street the other day and was out of nightcrawlers. Luckily I saw a sign that said “Live Bait”. Figured they would have some. Damned if I didn’t’ get snookered drinking one of those “margarita” things and forgot what I was lookin’ for.
Thanks for the warning PnP.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
i bought a roll of tape and a sack of flour from the general store this afternoon. it wasn’t in plain sight so had to ask for it. the markup is too much however. i had to shell out $25 and whack off the counter person. not a bad place to have for 1 stop convenience anyway. my old photo album is now secure and i baked an awesome angel food cake.
July 29th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
The problem is not the sign, it’s the idea that Hecho En Dumbo is moving to Manhattan (Hecho en Manhattan?).
The restaurant’s dinner menu will have to be restaffed and new cusine will be in effect soon.
I heard it from the staff but they want it on the DL so don’t say anything!
July 29th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I read that on Brownstoner too last week. That would be unfortunate if true.
July 29th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Noooooooooo! That’s horrible news.
July 29th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
It’s a big loss for Dumbo. They’ve been searching for a bigger space in Dumbo but there aren’t many locations that can accommodate a restaurant. I hope they reconsider.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Thanks to those who have lobbied for Landmark status for Dumbo it is unlikely that there will be any restaurants soon in Dumbo. It’s all about duct work. Any serious kitchen requires welded fireproof duct work run to the roof and the cost to do so in these old factories is prohibitive if not impossible. The only option in many of these places would be to run the vent up the front, not cheap but doable except for the fact that LPC would never permit it. Small buildings like the Vinegar Hill rest. and the places by Fulton Landing usually have a backyard to run the duct which is not visible from the street, allowed under LPC rules.
The other problem is constructing store infill that invites you in. Under LPC rules any reconstruction of the storefront must be done in the “spirit” of the original building construction. LPC permits posted on the construction site usually consist of a history of the building and how the current construction will enhance that history thanks to them, the LPC. Does anybody see any ground floor vacancies in this neighborhood that screams RESTAURANT? I don’t think so.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
shut up loose stool shut up loose stool shut up shut up shut up
July 30th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
bored with this blog Says,
shut up loose stool shut up loose,
stool shut up shut up.
Look, you almost made a haiku, you stupid piece of shit.
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:18 am
Cafe Bar is Cafe Bar is Cafe Bar.
August 21st, 2009 at 2:12 pm
[...] the Dumbo General Store sign controversy (or non-controversy), the new 5 Front Bistro Bar & Garden sign is fabric and [...]
August 21st, 2009 at 8:22 pm
[...] the Dumbo General Store sign controversy (or non-controversy), the new 5 Front Bistro Bar & Garden sign is fabric and [...]
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I think it is too generic ….. should have showed some class and hired a disigner to plan a sign that fits the location . That sign looks like something in a shopping mall food court …
BTW: My family and myself were in the sign buisness for manny years ….
August 23rd, 2009 at 5:47 pm
With spelling like that, I can see why you are no longer in the sign business.
August 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 pm
nice finishing move Pete
August 24th, 2009 at 10:05 am
just finished on stool daughter’s face
August 24th, 2009 at 10:14 am
An impostor “pete” with a lower case p I see. Loose – appreciate the acknowledgment. I just couldn’t resist.
August 24th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Is this more better Pete ;-p
Iwas in a rush….
BTW:the sign still sux !
I think it is too generic ….. should have showed some class and hired a designer to plan a sign that fits the location . That sign looks like something in a shopping mall food court …
BTW: My family and myself were in the sign business for many years ….
September 24th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Who cares about the sign, really? same (good) place for margaritas