New Brooklyn Grocery Store Has A Speakeasy Art Gallery Underneath

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — A new grocery store in Brooklyn Heights is hoping to take local shopping a step further than just putting Brooklyn-based goods on its shelves.

Brooklyn Only Foods, which opened on Henry Street last week, is stocked only with products made in the borough, whether that be a local cheese producer in Williamsburg, a woman in Bed-stuy making "Dank Banana Bread" or its own signature blend from D'Amico Coffee Roasters.

But storeowner Karim Othman said he intentionally wanted to separate his shop from bigger businesses that might do the same. To do so, he decided to find products the old-fashioned way — by walking into each store and learning about the food makers.

"So many of these things can be found at local stores, but I don't think a global chain can give you the story," Othman said. "I wanted to know these stories and these people I can be able to relay those stories back to the customer. (That way) you have a reason in what you're buying."

This way, Othman said, he can tell a customer considering buying the "Dank Banana Bread" about the woman who runs the company, and how she donates to help underprivileged girls learn to rock climb. Or, he could let people know how a few food makers are pushing through even after a commercial kitchen Williamsburg where they made their products shut down.

"I want to help showcase these people and keep the message alive that there’s still really creative people in Brooklyn that are making an effort to stay here," he said.

Othman's new store is at the same address as his parent's popular restaurant, Heights Falafal, at 78 Henry Street. It includes both grocery-store goods and a small cafe and sandwich shop.

And the local bent isn't the only thing that makes it unique.

In the store's basement, a sort of speakeasy-style art gallery has been set up by Othman's long-time friend and artist Austin Siegert. The space, called As Of Now Gallery, will feature work brought together by local curators for store-goers to buy.

"To me, the same people who would want Brooklyn-based artists are the same kind of people who want Brooklyn-made hot sauce — that was the original idea," Siegert said.

Siegert said the gallery will likely hold events, too, including having local curators come give talks to those who want to stop by.

So far, Othman said, the feedback for the entire set-up has been positive.

"People are into the idea," he said. "They’re happy to see something in this neighborhood (that isn't like) a lot of things coming in that are more corporate owned or larger scale companies...a lot of mom and pop shops are getting taken out of business. I want to have that feel that it's a community space."

Photos provided by Austin Siegert.