A new bar called Cain’s Tavern will open soon at the corner of Wilson Avenue and George Street. — Photo by Travis Dubreuil for BushwickBK
A short, sparse stretch of Wilson Avenue has seen a small reawakening in recent years, including new condominiums, an art gallery, a music venue, and a liquor store. If all goes according to plan, a new bar will join the mix after the new year.
Stevie Cain-Augenblick has tended bar in New York for 15 years, and for much of that time she dreamed of opening her own joint, lacking everything but the expertise. Now with funds and what she considers the perfect little spot at Wilson Avenue and George Street, she’s opening Cain’s Tavern with her husband, Aaron.
The former bodega is only 550 square feet, said Augenblick, so it suits the cozy kind of bar she’s looking to run. “I really wanted something small, homey, personal, and regulars-based,” she said.
Unlike the months-delayed Pine Box Rock Shop in a former casket factory, the use of the space won’t be too far from its previous use, so the owner doesn’t expect many tie-ups. Still, the hoped-for opening date of Jan. 2011 could prove optimistic, since construction has just begun and new businesses often take far longer to open than owners expect.
However long it takes, neighbors next door at 38 Wilson are excited for the new bar to open.
“When I first moved to the neighborhood a bar was opening up close by. Unfortunately, it let me down,” said Angela Hernandez, referring to the noisy V Ultra Lounge nearby. “I have high hopes this will be a great bar that we can all enjoy.”
Cain’s won’t have a “theme,” said Augenblick, whose father is also a bartender. “Just a classic tavern look with dark wood, low light, a juke box… this has been my dream for a long time.”
Look for Cain’s Tavern to open around January, 2011, at 36 Wilson Avenue.
Mastic November 4th, 2010 at 8:31 am
I had some hopes for this. Thats an ambitious opening date but I hope it works out for you. Good Luck!
sjp November 4th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Pretty excited about the smallness factor. This may be the second living room I’ve always wanted (oh god please let them help us shut down V ultra lounge oh god yes).
bushwick tenant power November 4th, 2010 at 10:28 am
How do new condos constitute a “reawakening”? The use of this neocolonialist language is insensitive and insulting. Wilson Avenue, like the rest of Bushwick, was alive long before gentrifiers starting moving in and displacing people.
Jeremy Sapienza November 4th, 2010 at 11:19 am
This is about a 3-block stretch of Wilson that was almost literally vacant. It is now not vacant because of new buildings and businesses. That is a reawakening.
Hope Forchange November 4th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Dear Owners & Future Patrons of Cain’s Tavern (myself included),
Please exercise respect for your neighbors and leave quietly after enjoying your time INside the new bar. Talk softly during your cig breaks. As the article mentioned, V Ultra Lounge has brought yelling, horn honking and loitering for hours on the sidewalk every night they are open. Nobody wants to sound like a grumpy old lady… until they haven’t slept in months. And it would reeeally suck to be bombarded from both sides.
So far, it seems like this new place knows what’s up. Here’s hopin’ they can set the BAR a little higher on this block.
Respectfully yours,
A 38 Wilson resident
sjp November 4th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
yes, 38-42 Wilson was literally an empty plot of land. there is still an empty plot at 46 wilson.
i think we’re all pretty self-aware here and understand gentrification just fine, thanks
Dresden November 4th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Yeah, truly, blow it out your ass bushwick tenant power.
Matt November 4th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Sounds great but they will be lucky to open before Summer 2011. There is a serious war of attrition against new businesses in this neighborhood. Considering that over half of new businesses in NYC don’t survive their first year, it is outrageous that the regulatory agencies in this city make entrepreneurs unnecessarily wait months and months before they can make their first dollar… all the while the business owners must pay rent and expenses pile up. All because they try to do things by the book.
My advice to Cain-Augenblick is to go introduce yourself to the owners of Pine Box Rock Shop, offer to buy them lunch and get a debrief on their story and what you can learn from it.
Speaking of “month’s delayed openings”… does anyone know what’s going on with the new Hana Grocery store on Wyckoff (next to Wyckoff Starr Coffee)? I saw food stocked on their shelves IN JULY and figured the opening was gonna happen any minute now… Have they been “Pine Boxed” too?
bry November 4th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
yes, i second matt’s query. what IS GOING on with Hana’s? dear god, back in June the owner said it was opening at the end of the month. any news? i think “reawakening” was not meant to be insensitive but i can understand bushwick tenant power’s discomfort. it might have been vacant of business but not completely of residents so if you but yourself in those who lived there’s shoes it could sound slightly pejorative. then again let’s not incite let’s find common ground eh? i welcome new business as long as it blends in and improves the neighborhood. i would love a pub/ comfortable watering hole rather than a “nightclub” but maybe i’m just getting old.
vertigo November 5th, 2010 at 12:04 am
I think it’s positively disgusting that someone can work hard, save up their money, try to put it into a venue or something that would benefit a community, and when it comes time to open, the city delays them. When most businesses fail because they don’t make enough income before their customer base grows, then taking away half a year from that small amount of income is totally ridiculous.
I would like to know EXACTLY which regulatory agency it is that is the cause of all these slowdowns? Pine Box, was it DHMH? DOB? What’s stopping Hana? The community board? They (rightfully)turned down a liquor license to 360 jefferson, but they seem to be pretty good about approving them at other places. So seriously, what’s the hold up?
I’m also worried about those 2 girls who were born and raised in bushwick who are trying to open a coffee shop (You wanna call them gentrifiers?) I’m worried that the work and money that they saved up will be wasted on a bureaucracy that won’t let them succeed.
vertigo November 5th, 2010 at 12:06 am
Also, keep crying wolf, bushwick tenant power.
Matt November 5th, 2010 at 10:58 am
just curious… (from a different Matt)…what’s the deal with V Ultra? Is that the place that was called ‘free wifi’ or some such nonsense? heh. What’s the vibe there? Sport bar? Clubby? sounds like…not my scene with the noisy patron descriptions.
Brandon November 5th, 2010 at 11:10 am
V Ultra Lounge is apparently also a band http://www.gprecs.com/2010/11/05/v-ultra-lounge/
Dresden November 5th, 2010 at 11:37 am
So is Bushwick Tenant Power.
Kha November 5th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
It will be great to have a nice place on the street but I hope you take precautions (soundproofing – double doors) to preserve the peace and quietness of this residential block; we don’t need another noisy place like V Ultra Lounge
Good luck – a neighbor
bushwick resident November 8th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
I for one am glad to get a new bar. I am too lazy to walk the 2 blocks over to tandem, or maybe it is the hipsters that make it daunting. For those of you who live at 38 wilson and feel the need to try to guilt us because you have buyers remorse, maybe this is something you should have considered before buying a street facing apartment on top of comercial space in a relatively busy block. Suck it up or sell your shit.
Respectfully,
Go fuck yourself.