Urban Vintage on Grand

Urban Vintage, exterior. Photo cred: Yelp.com

'Hood  Hot Spot

Though I've quite enjoyed the exploration around the neighborhood shops for sips, I'm a creature of habit. Therefore, I'm often found here,  curled up in my favorite corner, complete with caffeine and my devices in tow. Urban Vintage, located on the border of BedStuy and Clinton Hill at 294 Grand Avenue, is a neighborhood hot spot, and opened in April, 2010.
 

Interior shot, photo cred: thejumping-offpoint.com

This vintage and antique shop, coffee house and eatery is a very popular destination, and on any given day, it is filled with college students from nearby Pratt Institute, neighborhood locals, and folks just looking to kick back, relax and enjoy the quaintness and quiet of this neighborhood gem. The shop is located in a residential area, surrounded by brownstones and several other small eateries and pubs. The area is a mix of new entrants by way of students and young professionals, neighborhood veterans who've owned brownstones for years, and a good mix of middle to upper class transplants who've settled in with their families. The shop fits in nicely, as it, from the outside, is unsuspecting and has an at-home feel.

The coffee and bites

Loaded oatmeal at Urban Vintage. Photo Cred: Plate & Pencil

Urban Vintage has an impressive and sophisticated menu of drinks, specialty sandwiches and salads in addition to their displayed pastry items; which always includes a healthy mix of vegan-friendly options. Some of my favorites are the hummus and pita platter, the grilled cheese sandwich of
smoked mozzarella and apple, and the best bowl of "loaded oatmeal" that I've ever had. The food is always fresh, prepared to order and is always nicely displayed. And, the quality is reflected in the pricing because my bowl of oatmeal once cost me $10! Their hot beverages are top notch, with unique flavoring offerings along with classic coffee house fare.

The Why and Wow Factors

I come to Urban Vintage because I'm more productive there than on my couch. The space is quiet and communal and with so much seating, it is a welcoming place for which to set up one's study shop. The food is amazing, the patrons are diverse and it feels like a nice place to spend several hours in a day. An added bonus for me, is know that I am supporting the business of two African American women, sisters Emily and Elizabeth Hazlewood, who grew up in the area. The sisters have created a desirable location with a style that is magnetic to the young and hip, but also to the mature and refined. The space is brilliantly decorated and filled with personality. It's definitely a place I get style cues from.

Urban Vintage is an easy favorite and definitely part of my inspiration for beginning this blog to begin with. It's the kind of place that defines what community looks like in BedStuy in 2014 -- mixed, stylized, unique and fast-moving. A place that I enjoy calling home.