Above, K&Y Produce Market at 291 Court Street
and the newly opened
Big Apple Produce Market on the same block at 303 Court Street
Both are across the Union Market store on Court Street
For a few years, it seemed as though Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill were losing all their family-run produce stores, leaving many longing for a simple fruit and vegetable stand in the neighborhood.
In recent years, a few gourmet places like Union Market and Gourmet Fresh opened up. We now also have the Greenmarket on Carroll Street, which takes place every Sunday. And, of course, there is Park Natural, the organic food store. However, the produce prices at some of these places is just a bit too expensive for many in the neighborhood.
Luckily, K&Y Fruit And Vegetable opened just a few years ago at 291 Court Street near Douglass Street. This no-frills store, which is apparently owned by the same people who run Atlantic Fruit and Vegetables on Atlantic Avenue, consistently offers great in-season produce at reasonable prices.
It's been wonderful having them in the neighborhood.
But K&Y is now facing some very stiff competition from newcomer Big Apple Gourmet, a produce store/ deli which opened in the former Mastellone's storefront on the same block just two weeks ago.. Big Apple Gourmet is owned by Billy Solmaz, who also runs Pacific Green, a popular Cobble Hill store at 151 Court Street. Solmaz will be forced to close Pacific Green because a J. Crew is taking over the space.
It's great that Pacific Green/ Big Apple Gourmet has found a new home. The new corner location certainly offers a lot of sidewalk area to display and stock produce.
The question is only: can two produce stores exist just a few doors apart from each other, on the same block (and across the street from Union Market?).
Have you shopped in both? Have you compared pricing and quality?
Will all these stores be negatively affected once Whole Foods opens in Gowanus? What do you think?
