Sheepshead Bay: Live the quiet life in southern Brooklyn

Roll-N-Roaster

2901 Emmons Ave.

For 45 years, this famed family spot has been serving its roast beef piled high on freshly-baked buns, cooked either rare, medium, or well done.

Rollnroaster.com

Randazzo’s Clam Bar

2017 Emmons Ave.

A neighborhood staple that combines the waterfront setting and multi-ethnic community’s flavor with Italian seafood.

Randazzosclambar.nyc

Masal Cafe

1901 Emmons Ave.

This cafe has outdoor seating near the waterfront when it’s warm out. Its Turkish coffee, tea and desserts are a great treat.

Masalcafe.com
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Photo Credit: Linda Rosier

Buckley’s

2926 Ave. S

A family-owned local hangout for the last 30 years. Locals head here for home-style cooking and a variety of beers.

Buckleyscaterers.com

Draft Barn

317 Ave. X

An Eastern European-style beer hall with more than 250 types of brews from around the world.

Draftbarnny.com

Wheeler’s Restaurant

1707 Sheepshead Bay Road

This family-style bar and grill prides itself in serving classic American dishes and a range of beers.

Facebook.com/wheelerspub
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Photo Credit: Linda Rosier

Trends Clothing

1314 Kings Highway

A mom-and-pop shop selling men’s clothing and shoes.

718-376-8755

LeMonti

3101 Emmons Ave.

Visit this unisex clothing store for Russian furs, which tap into Sheepshead Bay’s sizeable Russian and Eastern European community.

Lemontiusa.com

Life Made A Little Easier

1702 Sheepshead Bay Road

This trendy vaping shop opened its doors in 2014 and helps local vapers get their fix.

Lifemadealittleeasier.com
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Photo Credit: Linda Rosier

Romanoff

2670 Coney Island Ave.

A Russian-French fusion eatery with live cabaret shows.

Romanoffny.com

Art Station

1303 Ave. U

Head to this family-friendly art studio for art classes geared toward both kids and adults, allowing parents to join in the artistic fun with their children.

Nyartstation.com

Nirvana Restaurant and Hookah Lounge

2340 Coney Island Ave.

Another neighborhood mainstay that underscores the cultural diversity in southern Brooklyn. It serves Middle Eastern food and features a DJ, belly dancers and a hookah lounge.

Thenirvanalounge.com
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Photo Credit: Linda Rosier

Transportation

Trains:

B to Kings Highway, Sheepshead Bay

Q to Kings Highway, Avenue U, Neck Road, Sheepshead Bay

Buses:

B2, B3, B4, B7, B31, B36, B44, B44-SBS, B49, B68, B82, B100, BM3, BM4

Crime

Sheepshead Bay is covered by the 61st Precinct at 2575 Coney Island Ave., along with several other area neighborhoods. The precinct reported six robberies in its CompStat report for the week of Feb. 29-March 6. It reported no murders and two rapes in the year to date as of Feb. 29.

Notable people who have lived in Sheepshead Bay:

— Larry David

— Judith “Judge Judy” Sheindlin

— Andrew Dice Clay

— Terry Gross

— Vince Lombardi

— Jerry Butler

— Martin “Pharma Bro” Shkreli

— Former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz
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Photo Credit: Linda Rosier

Median sales price: $270,000

Number of units on market: 970

Median rental price: $1,650

Number of rentals on market: 745

(Source: StreetEasy)
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Photo Credit: Linda Rosier

A controversial proposal from the Federal Bureau of Prisons to place a halfway house on Bragg Street in Sheepshead Bay near schools and apartments has riled up long-time residents and officials who say the location is inappropriate for the neighborhood.

The proposed project would be at 2261 Bragg St., the location of a former synagogue, across from P.S. 194 Raoul Wallenberg and near a number of parks and apartment buildings. The plan is to put a 100-bed facility in the building for male and female ex-convicts.

A number of community leaders, residents and local officials have come out against the idea.

“It’s a disaster,” said Luba Miki, 69, who lives in the co-op adjacent to the proposed site of the halfway house. “Our government needs to think [about] who lives here, a lot of working families live here.”

Miki said her children, who are older and live overseas, are urging her to sell her apartment if the project is approved.

State Sen. Martin Golden’s office started an online petition urging residents to oppose the measure, writing, “The building is inappropriate for the location, due to it being within blocks of several schools and community parks within the neighborhood.” State Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein and City Councilman Alan Maisel have also posted online petitions to reject the proposed halfway house.

Theresa Scavo, chair of Community Board 15, which includes Sheepshead Bay, said the board sent a letter to the Federal Bureau of Prisons opposing the project, but the bureau reportedly has not reconsidered the project.

A representative from the bureau could not be reached for comment.
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Photo Credit: Linda Rosier

Long identified as a place where immigrants carved a quiet life out of the bustling city, Sheepshead Bay is now where priced-out young professionals look for spacious rentals and foodies satisfy their appetites for diverse cuisines.

So far, the area has been spared the explosion in popularity that most of Brooklyn experienced in the last decade, according to local residents.

“It’s continued to stay mom-and-pop my whole life,” said lifelong resident Samantha Treiber, 31, who lives in a co-op on Brigham Street. “It’s still old Brooklyn.”

But the southern Brooklyn neighborhood is starting to get noticed. While there is still a prevalent Eastern European — mainly Russian — presence, Sheepshead Bay is becoming more diverse as young people move in.

“Because of the fact that they’re being priced out of other neighborhoods in the city and within the borough, [clients] are looking further south,” said Erin Keane, a realtor with Kings and Queens Leasing, which has an office on Sheepshead Bay Road.

“Clients are moving here for a better quality of life,” she added, though the trade-off is a 45-minute to an hour commute to midtown on the B or Q train.

According to real estate data from the listings site StreetEasy, the median rental price in 2015 in Sheepshead Bay was $1,650, and the median sales price was $270,000.

Housing stock in the area varies from low-rise apartment buildings to brick row houses and large, private homes.

New residential and commercial spaces are also under construction, such as a 30-story mixed-use tower slated for 1501 Voorhies Ave., which will reportedly be the tallest building constructed in southern Brooklyn since before World War II. More new developments are on the way, Keane predicted.

For now, though, the area is quiet, even along its main shopping strip on Avenue U, where residents casually browse locally-owned retail stores and markets.

It’s also peaceful at the neighborhood’s famous waterfront along Emmons Avenue, where there are several seafood and ethnic cuisine restaurants. Locals enjoy Greek food at Yiasou, Italian seafood at Randazzo’s Clam Bar and Turkish dishes at Liman, all on Emmons Avenue.

However, Theresa Scavo, chair of the local Community Board 15, said the bay area has more potential. The city could make it an attraction similar to Coney Island or Rockaway Beach, with paddle boats and canoe rentals, she said. Currently, the watercraft recreation there consists of fishing boats and party cruise yachts.

“Locals love being part of the waterfront community,” Scavo said. “The bay is a magnet.”

FIND IT:

Sheepshead Bay is bordered by Kings Highway to the north, Ocean Parkway to the west, Gerritsen Avenue to the east and Emmons Avenue to the south, according to StreetEasy.