Ever since Robert Gair discovered a location with access to shipping just north of the new Brooklyn Bridge in the 1880′s, the neighborhood saw a rise of factories, warehouses, and dock storehouses. Although the area has been known in the past as Rapailie, Olympia, Gairville, or Walentasville, it is now known as Dumbo (which stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and these old factories have been converted into luxury lofts and old warehouses into art galleries and theaters. The area’s industrial buildings were recognized by inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places in September of 2000. Dumbo is not quite Brooklyn brownstone and not quite Manhattan glass condo. With its exposed Belgian block streets anchored by massive bridge structures, Dumbo has a unique character all its own.
In 1978, the naming of Dumbo was conceived by resident artists as a way to make the area sound silly and unattractive to people looking to buy real estate here. To read more about the origin of Dumbo’s name, read the story written for the first time on DumboNYC.com by the person who named Dumbo.
On December 18, 2007, the Landmarks Preservation Commission granted landmark status to the Dumbo Historic District. (more here) The historic district is bound by John Street to the north, York Street to the south, Main Street to the west and Bridge Street to the east. (PDF map of Dumbo Historic District boundary and full LPC report). According to the LPC, the Dumbo area was “essential to Brooklyn’s rise as a major American industrial center and was the home of some of the most important industrial firms in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century America including Arbuckle Brothers (coffee and sugar), J. W. Masury & Son (paint), Robert Gair (paper boxes), E. W. Bliss (machinery), and Brillo (steel wool). The buildings in the district reflect the extraordinary diversity of Brooklyn’s industrial development, with manufactured and processed goods including coffee, tea, sugar, machinery, paint, varnish, paper boxes, shoes, soap, ale, and steel wool. By the early twentieth century, Brooklyn was the fourth largest manufacturing center in the entire country and a significant portion of this manufacturing was done in DUMBO.”
About DumboNYC
The website DumboNYC.com is for those who want to keep up with the many changes in the Dumbo neighborhood or real estate, for residents of Dumbo and its surrounding areas, and for those interested in learning more about the Dumbo neighborhood and community.
DumboNYC.com is run by a resident (not affiliated with real estate, the Dumbo BID or art galleries) who created the site to inform community of the many changes happening in the neighborhood. The site also focuses on entrepreneurs in the area who are running successful businesses. The site currently receives 40,000+ unique visitors per month and 80,000+ page views per month (as of August 2009). We are regularly featured in nymag.com, curbed.com, brownstoner.com, nytimes.com (City Room), Gowanus Lounge, and other well known NY-based blogs on a weekly basis. We have been featured in print editions of the New York Times, New York Magazine, WWD, Crain’s Business Daily, Brooklyn Paper, and Brooklyn Daily Eagle. The site has a specific target audience of people who live, work, or interested in Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights, Fulton Ferry, Vinegar Hill, and Bridge Plaza neighborhoods in Brooklyn. To inquire about advertising, please contact brad [at] blankslate.com.
Contact us if you have any tips, info or news about Dumbo. We’d love to hear from you. Thanks!
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:31 pm
Great to see a blog exclusively about Dumbo. You may be interested to know that the neighborhood’s heritage goes back much farther than Robert Gair, and is in fact much more historically significant than most people realize. The neighborhood now known as Dumbo was in fact the very first neighborhood in all of Brooklyn–preceding even Brooklyn Heights–due to its poximity to the ferry landing at Fulton street (then the Ferry Road). Today’s residential evolution is in fact a return to the neighborhood’s roots in the 18th and early 19th Century, when there was a mix of prominent and working class homes, shops, light manufacturing, shipping businesses, and taverns. Francis Guy’s famous paintings of Brooklyn in the 1820s were done looking south from the corner of Front and Main–right in the heart of today’s Dumbo. The neighborood went into decline during and after the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, when it was characterized in the press as being as bad as Five Points in Manhattan. Gair came in around the turn of the century and through the next 20 years replaced the old wood frame houses and many crumbling brick structures with what we see there today. Some earlier remnants remain, including the building that now houses Almondine Bakery, which has been dated to the 1840s.
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:44 pm
Rascal, I agree, most people don’t realize the area now known as Dumbo is the first neighborhood in Brooklyn. Many of the buildings were built by Gair, and there probably were buildings that were demolished to clear the way for the current pre-war Gair buildings. In today’s Dumbo, I think Walentas’ vision of Dumbo is to maintain its neighborhood culture. My hope is that Dumbo’s streetscape as it is now is not modified too much that the neighborhood roots aren’t evident (Empire buildings, Belgian block streets, the Gair railways on the streets, old company logos on the existing buildings, etc). I haven’t seen Francis Guy’s paintings, but would like to take a look at them.
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I read about you and your blog in the NYTimes and wanted to congratulate you on the publicity. I\’m in Billyburg now but would love to move to DUMBO so who knows maybe we\’ll be neighbors. Keep up the great work!
Best,
Jean
May 15th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
[...] Dumbo: Based on an actual warehouse in NYC’s D.U.M.B.O. neighborhood –get used to stairs and grinds cuz that is the only way you can win. [...]
July 19th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Hi i was wondering if you could tell me abt. vacant buildings in manhatten that would be great for condo conversions please email me @frum_ny@hotmail.com
July 19th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
moshe – 133 water street is just begging to be made into a nice condo
November 15th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
I hate having to write this (given how much I enjoy following your blog) but you’re really let the inmates run the asylum with all the off-topic, off-color, and just plain obsessive/obnoxious commentary that’s become standard fare on so many threads (is EVERYTHING about panhandlers or whether Adam is or is not condescending?). PLEASE, some degree of moderation is needed: the vitality and respectability of your blog depends on it. Thank you.
November 18th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
I just used Dumbo Moving to move me into the neighborhood, and had such a great experience, I had to spread the word. I had to move the end of October and everyone was booked. A friend of mine recomended Dumbo Moving, which I thought was cute because I was moving to Dumbo, after all. I called expecting them to be fully booked, but they were super accomodating and squeezed me in. AND the price was super affordable. I thought that it was all too good to be true and expected the move to be a disaster, but … I was SO pleasantly surprised. The crew was early! AND they were super careful with my stuff- nothing broke! AND they finished in record time. AND now I am living happuily in Dumb. SO … for all you Dumbo foks out there looking for a moving company, don’t look far, look near, to your own neighborhood to find an A-class mover: Dumbo Moving.
December 25th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I also used Dumbo Moving to move into the neighborhood- I read a lot of good feedback about them on the web. I can’t express my gratitude to these guys who moved me – they were so fast, and professional. It was really outstanding. And now that I am a Dumbo resident, I was very happy to support a local Dumbo business. Btw, Dumbo’s office is located on the corner of Jay and Front street, right next door to that delicious new Indian restuaurant, D Space.”" They have the best samosas in town.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:53 am
[...] FYI: Dumbo stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. The neighborhood was given that name by resident artists (think gentrification) as a way to make the area sound silly and unattractive to people looking to buy real estate in the neighborhood. Brilliant. To read more about the neighborhood, check it out here. [...]
August 11th, 2008 at 9:59 am
[...] About Dumbo [...]
September 8th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
[...] at the beautiful new Galapagos Arts Space in DUMBO, this party is our excuse to give away free drink tickets, raffle off fantastic prizes, hang out in [...]
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
[...] l’opera realizzata all’inizio di agosto per Nike SportsWear in cima ad un palazzo di Dumbo (celebre quartiere di NYC). Il lavoro rappresenta la nostra cara Sofia Boutella, che vediamo tutti [...]
February 9th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
[...] wanted to spend a bit of time in DUMBO so John could take photos of street scenes and graffiti and I had been under the impression that [...]
March 26th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I am new to the neighborhood and am loving every second of it..a few questions for all you dumbo experts
any advice on best restaurants?
any reason everything seems to be cash only?
what else should a new guy know?
thanks!
March 26th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
That the people on this blog are a bunch of ill behaved nasties – just give it time.
March 27th, 2009 at 11:13 am
John, for restaurants, try Superfine (their pork chops are great), Hecho en Dumbo, or Grimaldi’s (call for pickup and tell them you’re local). There are others, but those are good places to start. Also check out the art galleries around the area. Enjoy the waterfront!
March 30th, 2009 at 9:57 am
go to Miso’s for cheap chinese-style sushi. Not genuine, but good value and tasty.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:00 am
also, if you own a car and street park, don’t leave anything visible in it.
May 10th, 2009 at 7:50 am
[...] with, I was presented with my dream opportunity – opening our NYC operation. We set up shop in a DUMBO penthouse office (low rent, I swear) overlooking Manhattan. The Brooklyn Mob [...]
May 21st, 2009 at 1:26 pm
[...] Then I was presented with my dream opportunity – opening our NYC operation. We set up shop in a DUMBO penthouse office (low rent, I swear) overlooking Manhattan. The Brooklyn Mob [...]
October 11th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
[...] will form attracting more and more people to the city. This can be seen in the reformation of the DUMBO neighborhood in NYC from a burnt out, unattractive block, into a vibrant community of artists and professionals. [...]
November 20th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
[...] You can learn more about our new favourite neighbourhood on the DUMBO NYC website [...]
February 5th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
[...] to people looking to buy real estate here.” For a more complete history of DUMBO read on here and [...]
February 16th, 2010 at 12:43 am
[...] District is filled with older, industrial and former railroad buildings-reminiscent of Brooklyn’s Dumbo district. Home to new cutting edge studios, galleries, bars, and restaurants. You won’t want to [...]
February 16th, 2010 at 11:58 am
[...] District is filled with older, industrial and former railroad buildings-reminiscent of Brooklyn’s Dumbo district. Home to new cutting edge studios, galleries, bars, and restaurants. You won’t want to [...]
March 23rd, 2010 at 6:20 am
[...] out of DUMBO (Brooklyn, New York), and the shared studio space of creators Swiss-Miss and Fictive Kin, comes [...]
May 5th, 2010 at 9:26 am
i live in the 104 front street building. my family has been living here since the 40's. i lived in florida for year and it was a nightmare! “theres's no place like home.”
May 18th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
[...] Mother Daughter Chair by Michael Whitney. Available at TRUNK, (718) 522-6488 Store and artist’s studio are both located in DUMBO, Brooklyn [...]
June 8th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
The buildings in the district reflect the extraordinary diversity of Brooklyn’s industrial development, with manufactured and processed goods including coffee, tea, sugar, machinery, paint, varnish, paper boxes, shoes, soap, ale, and steel wool.
June 18th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
[...] 7, 2010 Considering the diversity of goods and tenants in DUMBO’s history, it’s fitting that a range of designers and design retailers are now thriving in this [...]
July 14th, 2010 at 11:21 am
John, now you're settled in, why not check out KLOMPCHING GALLERY for contemporary fine art photography, to hang on your walls?
July 31st, 2010 at 6:31 am
i think there good news!
July 31st, 2010 at 6:31 am
i think there good news!
August 1st, 2010 at 12:23 am
I want to move to Dumbo but my wife thinks it's good for Bachelor or Couples without Kids. Can anyone advise if this town is good for family with one Kid and how the schools are. Can you make friends in Dumbo or is it Pure City Lifestyl. We always come to Brooklyn Bridge and I get different vibration and positive energy where we can call Dumbo as home. I either want to Move to Dumbo or move to Colorado. Please share your thoughts…… Anil
August 1st, 2010 at 8:53 am
You should walk around the park any afternoon…this place is packed with families! On winter days, the kids often don't have to leave their building as there are so many kids to play with. I moved here 10 years ago as a single person and now that we have kids it is a great neighborhood.
September 28th, 2010 at 7:19 am
[...] to http://dumbonyc.com/about/, the area was renamed Dumbo in 1978 to make it sound silly and unattractive to people so they [...]
September 29th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
What is the subway line i need to get to go to Dumbo. I'll stay at midtown in Manhattan.
Thank you
September 30th, 2010 at 1:38 am
take the F to York St. or the A,C to High St.
November 21st, 2010 at 1:54 pm
[...] once in Brooklyn, you can really enjoy the resurgent DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) neighborhood. Here a coffee or cocktail in the many cafes [...]
November 27th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
[...] once in Brooklyn, you can really enjoy the resurgent DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) neighborhood. Here a coffee or cocktail in the many cafes [...]
December 28th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Which types of retail buisiness do you feel DUMBO is lacking?
January 1st, 2011 at 7:06 pm
More decent takeout food options..without having to go to the heights..chinese,indian, anything!
January 8th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Hi. I am in my late 30′s and single. I find Dumbo to be like a Tribeca except more laid back. You have residents that are older, creative, artists if you will. Then you have the young singles that want to party, naive to Brooklyn, then you have the young (early to late 30′s) couples with young kids. Being single and young or a couple with young kids is this place. The older singles like me are not too common, but I like the area for it’s views, access to the city and laidbackness. The supermarkets suck though, only 1 or 2 and expensive. But, comparable to Manhattan prices. Not sure about the schools.
January 11th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
What building(s) in DUMBO have a lot of families with small children?
January 12th, 2011 at 2:47 am
The ones with titty high browse lines.
January 24th, 2011 at 10:30 am
[...] Academy of Music, Bed Stuy Restoration Corp, St. Ann Warehouse, then finishing with a walk through DUMBO precinct … amazing examples of inspired partnerships making a difference in urban America. This [...]
February 24th, 2011 at 8:14 am
[...] DUMBO, NYC SOUTH LOOP, CHICAGO WASHINGTON AVE, STL Published: February 24, 2011 Filed Under: Uncategorized Leave a Comment Name: Required [...]
September 19th, 2011 at 7:35 am
Very enlightening appreciate it, It is my opinion your trusty readers may possibly want a lot more posts like that carry on the excellent hard work.
September 20th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Very useful bless you, I reckon your readers may want a whole lot more content of this nature keep up the great work.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:24 am
Really love our neighborhood. Has its flaws and good qualities but that’s what makes this place very dear to me. All this place lacks is a greenhouse/conservatory, but conservatories prices are quite expensive, hope city government can fund these type of projects :D
September 26th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
[...] or shine, this festival is always a good time. We had to remind Bubby: DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. We got to ride the brand new carousel, create [...]
November 18th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
[...] Dumbo NYC [...]
December 20th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
[...] http://dumbonyc.com/about/ [...]
March 13th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
[...] Dumbo NYC [...]
March 13th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Yes i agree with that Cleaning Water is essential to make our health more better . Definitely sure.,
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:17 pm
[...] Arakaki Fernando Aranda Takeishi Araoka Adrian Araujo Gilbert Argo Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this [...]
March 27th, 2012 at 2:25 am
[...] sweep Posted on March 23, 2012 by andreabunker2 Source: Jean Pierre Bayle Len Bayliss Troy Bayliss Bruce Beale Douglas Beasley This entry was posted in Uncategorized by andreabunker2. Bookmark [...]
March 29th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Not really sure why it is so desirable here. SO, SO LOUD! The Train is constant.. and Only good restaurant is VINEGAR HILL HOUSE.
1-2 OK bars . RICE/BUBBY’s are HORRIBLE
Miso is fine for lunch.. cheap and decent, rebar and superfine are OK.. food is v average BUT the NOISE IS UNBEARABLE…
does not even feel like NYC here either dead at night.
BORING…
March 30th, 2012 at 8:29 am
Today we got information about repo and reverse repo rates increased. So will it effect on gold rates. Now gold rates will come down or goes up? Is it right time to invest on gold. How you will Say if your answer is yes.
March 30th, 2012 at 9:19 am
Restaurants stink here. But its a great place for a yuppie like me to raise kids and dogs.
May 10th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
I have a long time friend that lives in Dumbo that I visit and I absolutely love the place. My wife and I are in our 50′s but we see a lot of family’s and I think it would be a great place to grow up.
May 22nd, 2012 at 10:20 pm
This is very fascinating, You are an excessively skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look ahead to in quest of extra of your wonderful post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks
June 14th, 2012 at 9:37 am
[...] cleared to reveal a stunning last day adventure walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, to D.U.M.B.O and Brooklyn Heights. Explored some cute shops although not a lot to do as a few shops were [...]
July 14th, 2012 at 7:24 am
[...] area who are running successful businesses. Ort: New York City/Dumbo, USA Web und Text-/Bildquelle: http://dumbonyc.com/about Share this:TwitterFacebookGefällt mir:Gefällt mirSei der Erste dem dies [...]
September 18th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
[...] little garbage picking in Dumbo last night. A welcome return after being in the country for a long time. I missed the random [...]
October 31st, 2012 at 10:18 am
Great article, but I’m here to tell you I love the pics! I love those old’looking buildings instead of modern all-glass office buildings. those are really cold
November 1st, 2012 at 9:27 am
Exactly! I’m all for the gothic architecture. It’s beautiful, elegant and warm. I don’t understand why they don’t make buildings like that anymore, especially that now they have the technology to do so.
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:15 am
Although I only visited Dumbo once, I really liked it there. I had a friend who lived in a tall building at the last story and the view was pretty great. It could use more trees but the architecture is wonderful!
November 6th, 2012 at 9:00 am
Great article!I would like to live there.The pictures are wonderful.I’m all in for the old building instead of the modern ones.Keep up the good work!
November 8th, 2012 at 4:02 am
That area is amazing!The mix between old buildings and modern ones is so wonderful and unique.So those who haven’t been there,you should really consider doing it.Great article!
January 10th, 2013 at 1:59 am
Yessssss! This property has earned the Burbed and Perturbed badge!
January 17th, 2013 at 1:16 pm
[...] Andy Roddick, Brooklyn talks about the little escapes that are in NYC. ” I just moved to DUMBO [Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass]! I think for the first time I’ve actually found my [...]
February 5th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
[...] buildings are now vibrant with parks, residential and commercial buildings. This area is known as DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and I suggest a visit to the Brooklyn Bridge Park to take in the view of the Freedom Tower rising [...]
February 10th, 2013 at 10:41 pm
[...] DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), with the Brooklyn and Manhattan [...]
February 25th, 2013 at 10:06 pm
I will actually try these tips and let you know how they work out! Thanks again mate.
March 23rd, 2013 at 8:12 am
Gary Shulman, MS. Ed.
shulman.gary@yahoo.com
gary.shulman@nyc.rr.com
646-596-5642
After more than 24 years as Program Director of Social Services and Training Coordinator of Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc., I have now transitioned to the next phase of my career-that of consultant and independent trainer. Please feel free to call upon me so you can utilize my years of expertise, training skills and passion for imparting valuable information, strategies and motivation to families and staff. It would be my pleasure to provide your families and staff with my services. Please contact me to arrange for a session at your site.
Workshops for Parents of Children with Disabilities and
Professionals who Provide them with Support
Topics
“Needs, Wants Wishes and Dreams: Programs and Services that Bring Relief to Parents of Children with Disabilities”
Parents of children with disabilities are confronted on a daily basis with many stresses that can lead to: abusive behaviors, emotional turmoil, family chaos and in some cases family dissolution. This workshop will take participants through a journey of realization that there are indeed programs, services, systems and strategies that can help parents of children with disabilities feel supported and empowered to bring up their child or children with disabilities in a safe and nurturing environment.
The workshop can be done in one session or broken up into sub topics covering specific social service needs such as: Respite, Recreation, Benefits and Entitlements, Child Care, Support Groups, Housing, Transportation, Financial Aid, Advocacy Strategies, Legal Help, Laws that Protect the Rights of Families, Future Planning, Guardianship. Participants will certainly be given the opportunity to raise their own issues and share so feedback can be provided.
The session (or sessions) is presented in an interactive manner respecting and welcoming participant’s involvement. Each participant leaves the session with a comprehensive packet of information that can hopefully provide future relief and hope for a bright, supportive future in which the child with disabilities can grow and develop reaching his/her potential. Every child with a label of disability, has strengths and abilities. That reality can be better realized when a family is linked with support services.
Come and share your own Needs, Wants, Wishes and Dreams!
Summertime and the Living is Easy: Summer Options for Children with Disabilities
School is out, now what! Parents of children with disabilities need to know about their options when it comes to summer programs that will provide an appropriate experience for their children. This session will cover such issues as:
What questions do I need to ask the summer program in order to determine if it meets the goals that I would want for my child during the summer?
How do I prepare my child with special needs for a summer program?
Day programs vs. Sleepaway programs
Mainstream programs vs. Special Needs programs
Financial Aid to pay for camp
Summer Remedial Programs
Specific quality summer programs serving NYC children with disabilities
How do I find those camps?
Where do I find Summer Camp Fairs so I can meet the staff?
We All Belong!
This workshop, designed for mainstream program providers, gives a multi-sensory experience taking participants on a journey of sensitivity and understanding so they are better prepared to include children with disabilities. It will cover issues such as:
How to sensitize all staff and children in your programs to the concept of inclusion: We all have differences and in many ways we are all the same. We all have skills, talents and strengths and we all have areas of need.
What are the various types of disabilities and how do they impact on the functioning of the child in our program?
Where to obtain greater skill competency in working with a wide variety of children.
Expanding the view of your program to be more holistic in its purpose: giving information out on a regular basis that supports all types of families.
Develop a better understanding of your own vulnerability so that compassion toward others must be nurtured.
April 3rd, 2013 at 7:11 am
[...] “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.” You can read more about this interesting neighborhood here. The Brooklyn Roasting Company is located on Jay Street, just a block from the East River and [...]