As several people noticed this past Friday, there was some activity at the former Vox Pop space on Cortelyou and Stratford, making us hopeful that this means it may be rented out soon. A clean up crew with the hilarious name “Junk in My Trunk” was captured by neighbor Michael Milch, who saw they’d removed “lots and lots of papers, it looked like, a stool and some other odds and ends” from the shop.
Still unable to reach the owners on the phone, though.
The former Vox Pop space has stood as a vacant mess for over a year. A prime location on a corner of Cortelyou Road, the awning hangs broken, the bench torn and filthy, but all of that is easily fixed.
Any business able to look past the surface would see that the location is ideal–just ask the owner of the Fishing Shrimp food truck, who commented recently that he has “been trying to get in touch with them for over 5 months so I can really expand my menu.”
And that reveals the true problem: The owners of the space don’t seem to want to fill it. None of my calls to the phone number on the sign have been answered, no messages returned. How many people ready to set up shop have called, gotten no response, and looked at some other commercial strip?
The phone number is assigned to two company names, Unicomm and United Properties Of Florida, as well as to Aron and Rachel Wasserlauf of 58th Street in Brooklyn. If you’re interested in the space, you can try calling 718-837-7987.
But since that doesn’t seem to work, if anyone has any information about how prospective businesses can contact the owners to fill this storefront, please let us know.
Debi Ryan, formerly of Vox Pop Cafe, sends this note looking back on the year since Vox Pop closed for good. Though it’s gone, its staff is on to other endeavors in the community, including a potential new space on Church:
It has been a year since Vox Pop Cafe closed its gates for the last time in beautiful Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. An anchor in this rapidly changing neighborhood, Vox Pop was a wonderful place for neighbors to meet, freelancers to connect, local artists and musicians to share their art, and local vendors to offer their goods. It helped to build strong bonds in this diverse neighborhood and many of those bonds continue today.
One year later, that corner stands empty and dark. What remains of the once thriving community space is the beautiful art work on the gates, the falling awning that was Vox Pop’s first of many public art projects, and the ghosts of the wide variety of adult and children’s music.
My wish would be to see this space utilized again in some fashion that would breath life and light back into this corner. It is the only space on the block that has outdoor front space, and I am confident that in such a creative community, someone can find a needed and profitable use for it.
So, looking back, was it all worth it?
Vox Pop found a way to pull a community together by being affordable, welcoming and all inclusive. It found that magical space that can exist when it is founded on the belief that all opinions matter and we treat each other with respect. It taught us that working together, we can achieve great things. It provided a safe haven for individuals to explore their dreams.
I, for one, will never regret my time at Vox Pop. In spite of the myriad demands, mental, physical and financial, I believe that it made a difference and helped build a community. My hope is that community continues to grow and support each other. Let us not forget we are here for each other, and that we each in our own way, make a difference every day.
You will see many of the former employees of Vox Pop in various spots around the community. You can find Jessi at the 773 Lounge where she curates live music nights and a community open mic. Christian is at Sycamore. Matt Fortune is back from Amsterdam and actively pursuing creating a space similar to Vox Pop on Church Ave. Please support him any way you can in this endeavor.
I am working just down the road at Coney Island USA, the not for profit cultural arts center in Coney Island dedicated to the preservation of Coney Island, the revitalization of the community, and the preservation of the unique art forms that have made Coney Island the people’s playground. We run the Coney Island Sideshow, the Coney Island Museum, The Coney Island Mermaid Parade, The Coney Island Film Festival and Burlesque at the Beach to name but a few of the programs.
I have been personally paying off the tax debt that was assessed against Vox Pop during my predecessor’s tenure. New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has never relented and has continued to hold me personally responsible.
In spite of the fact that I will probably be paying this off for the rest of my life (interest continues to accrue at an alarming rate in spite of the payments) I believe Vox Pop impacted my life in a positive way and I will treasure those memories and friendships forever.
It saddens me to announce on Tuesday, September 8, 2010, Vox Pop shareholders voted to allow Vox Pop Café to close permanently.
There will be a state run sale of the assets auction held at Vox Pop Café, 1022 Cortelyou Road, on September 15th at 11:00 am with a preview and registration starting at 10:00 am. There will be no preview list prior to the allotted preview time set for 10:00 am on premises. Anyone can register to bid at the auction but you must present identification. All sales are final and on a cash only basis.
There will first be a call for a bulk bid, meaning that people can bid one price for the entire contents. That will then be followed by a lot by lot auction, where you can bid on individual items (or groups of items that have been put together by the auctioneer). After the auction, they will add up the lot by lot bids and if they are higher than the bulk bid, the individuals will get the items they won. If, however, the bulk bid is higher than the lot by lot bids in total, the bulk bidder will receive all.
If anyone has personal property in Vox Pop, you must contact Mr. Furlow (718-722-4562) and Mr. Hicks (718-722-2114) and provide them with proof that the item belongs to you personally. Original bills of sale, photos of the item or a consignment agreement will all be very helpful. They will arrange with you a time to pick up your personal property. This must be accomplished any time before the start of the auction on September 15 at 11:00 or your property will be auctioned off.
On behalf of Vox Pop, and from me personally, thank you to this community for the overwhelming support over the past year and one half since it became a community owned space. I do believe that we were successful in helping to build a community and I hope that the work we started finds a way to continue.
ALSO: There’s an open discussion underway on the creation of some kind of community center in the vicinity of Cortelyou Road, possibly the location of the former Vox Pop, which you can join by sending an email to cortelyou-community-center+subscribe [at] googlegroups.com.
The Brooklyn Paper writes up the fall of Vox Pop, where some of the thoughtful comments posted on this blog now decorate the locked grate.
And Debi Ryan says they haven’t totally given up hope:
“The fate of Vox Pop has not yet been determined,” wrote Ryan in an e-mail to The Brooklyn Paper. “The Board and shareholders are currently looking at various options to make a final determination as to what is best.” Ryan did not respond to further questioning about the café.
Ryan has battled endless troubles at the iconic Cortelyou Road café, bookstore and jam space since taking the reigns from its anarchist founder Sander Hicks last year and transforming the space into a “for-profit collective” with shares owned by various community members.
…Ryan made strides toward getting the café back on financial track, but apparently not enough. state Taxation spokesman Gregg Semanick declined to comment due to privacy restrictions.
For now, the café is shuttered, and neighbors have their fingers crossed.
“It’s a very quirky and interesting and place — I always liked it because it’s so weird and unusual,” said Marion Weiner, an area resident. “I don’t even go there that often, but I would definitely be sad if it closed for good.”
Liena Zagare of Ditmas Park Blog thinks Vox Pop’s salvation is in a clean slate. “Vox Pop should go bankrupt, and start fresh — the mess that Sander Hicks left is just too much money,” said Zagare. “There is no place like it in the neighborhood, and the hole it leaves is huge. What they were offering was a really wonderful community center, and each community needs one. Hanging out at Connecticut Muffin is not quite the same.”
For his part, Hicks, ever the conspiracy theorist and publisher of many books and treatises contending, among other things, that the Bush Administration was involved in the 9-11 attacks, blamed government thugs, not his failure to pay his taxes, for the closure.
“The state and federal governments will not tolerate a business that stands up to the lies of the War on Terror,” he said.
First of all, i just want to say thank you for all of your kind words. For years, my mother has poured her heart and soul into Vox Pop. She has spent more nights sleeping on the window seat or the one-upon-a-time bench inside, or even on the floor in the loft than she has in her own bed. She spent Christmas in a storefront, and in order to be with her (since she refused to leave till we raised the money to re-open) I had to bring Christmas dinner to her. If anyone in the neighborhood needed some advice, or someone to talk to, or just a hug from a mom, she was always there, arms open wide.
We’ve been shut down by DOH (for fines, not cleanliness problems), had the power shut off twice, and this is the third seizure by the Department of Taxation. All for past dues that accrued BEFORE she even set foot inside of vox. Anyone else would have walked-no, run away at the first demand of a lump sum of $65,000.00, but she stayed strong, and brought a community together, and raised the money in 11 days. She did it, not for money (considering she’s never been paid in the 2 years she’s been working for vox), but because she knew what she was doing was needed. She did it because of you guys. She did it because she believes in vox pop, and family, and the good of a community she doesn’t even live in (many of you might not know, but she lives in Coney Island, not Ditmas Park).
It really warms my heart to hear these comments (save a few). I have known for years what an outstanding woman my mother is, and its amazing to hear it come from so many people as well. People i’ve never met, or who have never met her, saying beautiful words of encouragement and thanks.
It’s true. She’s tired. She’s been tired for a long time now, and it scares me a little that she’s letting it show. But I don’t blame her. She’s spent the last 3 weeks ‘sleeping’ at vox pop to make sure the generator is still running, and that nothing else is going to go wrong. But it’s not completely over. Vox Pop will never die, because Vox Pop means “the voice of the people”. It’s up to you to keep that voice strong. Vox Pop is wherever we are, and lets make our voices heard. There will be a gathering in front of Vox Pop, Cortelyou Road at 7pm Sunday night (Aug.29th). I wish everyone to come show their support with acoustic instruments and kind words. Lets come together and show how much Vox Pop means to so many people.
Hope to see you all there
<3 Your favorite barista
~Jessi
P.S. if anyone has camping chairs or folding chairs. please bring them along. As you probably know, the only seating remaining outside is the bench.
After the latest seizure by the marshalls this morning, Debi Ryan says she has had enough. And before any of you snarky commenters put fingers to the keyboard, I just wanted to say that I have never seen anyone work harder at making Vox Pop work for our community – to be the space to meet, talk, learn, listen – over coffee or not. The neighborhood simply is not the same without it. What will become of it, time will show. Right now though – leave a kind note for them.
Join us for this biweekly Dance Party event. Hosted by DJ BooshWheelz, come celebrate the middle of the week with great drink specials, and beats made to get you through the night and the rest of the week.
DJ BooshWheelZ is an anomaly in today’s NYC music circuit. There are so few DJs left in NY who pride themselves on spinning classic Disco music. BooshWheelz hasn’t forgotten the roots of today’s dance music scene. There is still a multitude of people who still love the groove of Disco: the genre that gave birth to House Music, Drum & Bass and the like.
DJ BooshWheelz is currently the resident emcee for the NYC chapter of Baby Loves Disco and can be found getting folks grooving at venues all over the globe.
The New York Observer profiles Vox Pop co-founder Sander Hicks [who no longer has any association with the coffee shop], who used to be a controversial local figure.
The general theme:
After tumultuous stints in, and bitter divorces from, the city’s Socialist and Green parties (under the latter’s banner, he twice ran for the Senate), Mr. Hicks now finds himself where he was always destined to be: more or less alone, in charge of his own political fiefdom on the fringe.
This Sunday, July 18th, all day, in front of Vox Pop!
We have joined forces with Sustainable Flatbush and Vox Pop to make sure that the corner of Cortelyou and Stratford gets the attention from the DoT that it requires. If you have ever tried crossing Cortelyou at that intersection, you know why. In addition to the usual block party fun stuff we’ll be:
* conducting pedestrian safety surveys
* decorating bicycles
* handing out Biking Rules pamphlets
* demo’ing Sustainable Flatbush mobile solar panel
To do all of this, we need help. We need YOU! This month’s Sustainable Flatbush Volunteer Gathering takes place tomorrow night (Tuesday) and will focus on the party and figuring out who can do what – we have less than a week left. Photographers and videographers needed! Just stop by Vox Pop tomorrow night between 6:30 and 8:30, and see what you can do to help, or email Anne Pope at anne@sustainableflatbush.org.
A very warm welcome to another neighborhood blog – Vox Pop’s Literati - a space dedicated to profiling and interviewing at length the various neighborhood folk who sooner or later find themselves at the Vox, and mostly written by neighbor Bruce Zaines.
When this idea came to me, to interview the literati that hangs out at Vox Pop, certain names came immediately to mind. Rennie represented the start as he is a stalwart. For me that was a good foundation to rest on. If I were to try and find the heart of Vox Pop, I would have to talk about Ric Minello. A man so central to the life at Vox, he has a sandwich named after him. “I am all about the deserts and tea,” he proclaims.
Want to know more about Ric? For the full story, click here. A snapshot by Bruce:
His best friend, Mel Neuhaus, lives nearby. Mel and Ric have been working on a very funny series of film history/critiques called “That Menello Show.”
He also oversees Vox Pop’s movie night once a week.
These are additional events in the neighborhood this weekend, on top of music and such at Vox Pop, Sycamore and Solo that are listed in the calendar.
Friday, 6/11:
Ditmas Ride (bike rides for all). We will meet in front of the VoxPop @ the corner of Cortelyou and Stratford at 7:00pm. This time we will be riding on the bike lane on Bedford to the ocean.
Creative Women’s Networking Salon @ Art & Words gallery on Marlborough just off Newkirk. 7-9:30pm
Saturday, 6/12:
ArtHouseChildern’s Art Workshop at Art & Words gallery, Free admission, 12-2pm. “You bring the kids. We supply the art supplies. Expect the paint to flow. For kids of all ages. Drop in anytime between noon and 2.”
From Lori Citron Knipel, District Leader/State Committeewoman 44th AD:
Please consider helping me help others . As most of you know, I was elected in 1992 as the District Leader/State Committeewoman from the 44th Assembly District. This is a non paying job which I have worked hard at for the past 18 years and it has truly enabled me to help many in the community at so many different levels and on so many different issues.
Every 2 years I run for reelection and must collect enough signatures from registered Democrats that reside in the 44th Assembly District. If you can spare a day or two or even a few hours walking around our beautiful neighborhoods gathering signatures, it would be more than appreciated!
Please join Assemblyman Jim Brennan and myself at our Petitioning Kick Off /Pick Up Event, this Sunday June 13th at 10 am at Vox Pop.
If you would like to attend, Please confirm by leaving your name and phone number @ 718 434 7896. Thanks so much and hope to see you there!
Lori Citron Knipel, District Leader/State Committeewoman 44th AD
The Brooklyn Eagle prints an interview with neighbor Alexander Nixon (far right in the photo) about his work in Guatemala as a Peace Corps volunteer and we will probably be hearing at Vox Pop when he comes back:
“I was (am) the singer/song-writer of a band called The Violets (http://www.theviolets.com) which I formed in Brooklyn — we played at Freddy’s and Vox Pop, both in Brooklyn — I hope to pick that up again when I get back, since I have been writing lots of new songs,” Nixon wrote in an e-mail to the Eagle.
Sycamoremakes Village Voice’s top ten best backyard drinking spots, but if you are like us, some days it is just way too crowded, so here are a few other options we checked out the other night, in a rough order of a potential pub-crawl, once you get out of Cortelyou Q:
Solodoes not have a yard, and Vox Pop has a neat front yard drinking space. Both are chill, easy going, and you’ll probably end up talking to somebody you vaguely recognize. Both have music all through the week.
Lounge 773 is where everyone goes to escape everyone else. It has a small back yard hideaway, with 4 plastic Adirondack-style chairs, the spit they roast a pig on every now and then, and a BBQ. It is leafy (look up), shaded, and very private. Inside, it is the only place around with wooden booths. Run by Billy Cane (not to confuse with Bally Kana who runs Solo). BTW – Tomorrow they will be roasting 2 pigs, so make sure to stop by, say hi, and have some. Starting around 1pm.
Shenanigans about a 5-7 minute walk up Coney towards the park, take a left at Caton and it is across the street from the large empty lot (formerly a fork factory, we’re told). It has a large back yard, strung with large colored bulbs, cheerful attitude, and projects a general feeling of happiness (it’s been in the same family for over 20 years, and they work there). Definitely a new favorite of ours, and it is positively dog friendly. Saturday night Karaoke (10pm-3am, except this Saturday), and they also have BBQ in the back. The space is large enough to have a party.
Then, once you make your way back to Cortelyou, stop by the Castello Plan. Yes, the wine bar has an amazingly good selection of beers and decadent bites to go with it. And you can sit outside in the back.
State sales-tax officials are turning up the heat on restaurateurs, auditing 60% more of the city’s eateries in the fiscal year that just ended than the year before and leaving the industry with a case of agita.
The cash-strapped state conducted 1,077 sales-tax audits of New York City restaurants in fiscal year 2010, which ended March 31, compared with 646 the previous year. Those reviews found the restaurants owed the state $71.9 million in sales tax, compared with $40.6 million the year before, a 77% increase. About a quarter of that has been collected so far.
What better way to raise funds for a Community Coffee Shop than having a Community Bake Sale. Vox Pop will be holding a Bake Sale on Saturday, May 1st from noon till 4 pm to help raise funds to pay off the tax debt.
We are accepting baked goods starting at 8 am Saturday morning, if anyone wants to contribute.
So come on down, buy a sweet, visit with your neighbors and let’s get Vox Pop up and running again.
Debi Ryan Vox Pop Cafe 1022 Cortelyou Road Brooklyn, NY 11218 718-940-2084 www.voxpopcafe.com
Vox Pop has once again been seized by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for back taxes accrued in 2006 and 2007 while under the stewardship of Sander Hicks.
As I am sure you all remember, Vox Pop was seized just a few days before Christmas for the same reason. At that time, we raised and made a payment of $10,000 towards the 2006 and 2007 unpaid taxes in the amount of $56,000 as a down payment and were in the process of negotiating a repayment plan that Vox Pop could realistically pay. Unfortunately, the Supervisor we were working with has left the State agency, and his replacement will not be available until tomorrow. We have paid, and continue to pay our current taxes.
At this point in time we are waiting to speak with the State to determine what the appropriate next steps are. The midlevel representative from the State who chose to seize our assets today stated we must pay the complete newly assessed tax debt of $66,000 prior to reopening, but we are hoping to renegotiate with the new Supervisor.
On a more positive note, Vox Pop is proud to say that it has almost completely paid off the legacy debt to vendors, former employees and the landlord over the past year and we are optimistic that the warming weather will increse our revenue and allow us to accelerate our payments even further. Ironically, we were poised to launch our new outdoor patio cafe with table service and anticipate being able to do so as soon as we are reopened.
Thanks so much for your continued interest and support and I will fill you in on further details as soon as they are available.
The next Magic and Mayhem show to benefit Vox Pop Cafe is scheduled for Thursday, February 18 at the world famous Coney Island Side Show Theater located at 1208 Surf Ave at 8 pm.
This wonderful event, hosted by Adam (the First Real Man) Rinn will include sideshow arts by the Coney Island Girlie Freakshow featuring Serpentina, Angelica and Krissy Kocktail, old school burlesque acts including Miss Cherry Delight and Celia Next Time and great music for your dancing pleasure by the Young Dads and Arrowsmith.
Tickets are $20 suggested donation (sliding scale) and available in person at Vox Pop Cafe, on line at:
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The Brooklyn Eagle prints an 
The next Magic and Mayhem show to benefit Vox Pop Cafe is scheduled for Thursday, February 18 at the world famous 
