Halx

If you're ever in the market for a refrigerator, you should definitely check out a 2-mile stretch of Broadway that cuts through Bushwick here in Brooklyn, NY. While you're at it, stop by my place - I live right in the middle! There are so many refrigerator stores in my neighborhood, you'd expect there to be colorful lighted banners draped across the street declaring it the "Refrigerator District" kinda like they do with Little Italy. They don't. In fact, you get the idea that despite their abundance, these stores would rather not be visited.

When I think "brand new refrigerator," I usually think of Best Buy or Circuit City with their high-end name brand appliances. I think of shiny aluminum doors with built-in LCD screens. These local refrigerator stores don't carry those refrigerators. No, actually, if you're in the market for an icebox that looks like it was taken from some recently renovated apartment (or perhaps a single mother of 3 who couldn't afford to pay off a loan) then the Refrigerator District of Bushwick is the right place for you.

Every block has at least one refrigerator store, and just so you don't get confused, they are usually the ONLY stores that aren't boarded up and out of business. In this thriving center of home appliance commerce, don't expect to have your credit checked; anything of value will be taken as collateral. You heard correctly: NO CREDIT CHECKS!

~~~~~~~~~

Ok, seriously, what the fuck is up with all the appliance stores? I could swear they're all mob fronts. I wonder how the audit goes:

IRS: Hmm, it seems you've been pulling in some good business with this appliance store.
Mob: Yes, business is good.
IRS: I'm impressed considering your competition. You've got a lot of neighbors who pull the same numbers.
Mob: You know how it is; everyone knows that this is the place to get refrigerators.
IRC: You know, we've been watching and you don't really get a lot of food traffic. And your product isn't very high end.
Mob: Its all these new apartments going up. Everyone needs a refrigerator, even if it ain't the best.
IRS: Actually, 6 businesses have closed down in the past year while only one new convenience store has opened up.
Mob: Hey, its the new Williamsburg. Its getting funky around here.

Thank you. I'll be here until my lease is up.

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ngdawg

Remember the walk around Manhattan and all those beads stores? What are they fronts for? No one needs that many beads.

blahblah454

Wow, sounds like a good place to visit! A bit far away for me to go for a fridge though.

mrklixx

I think some pictures might help us with perspective.

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I hate animated avatars.

Shauk

yeah, the vision in my head has my giggling madly.

Lasereth

Wow my sister moved to Bushwick in Brooklyn a couple of weeks ago. Is Bushwick the same as Bushwick Avenue?

Halx

Bushwick Ave runs parallel to Broadway, which is the street I mentioned. I live between Bushwick Ave and Broadway.

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Derwood

Hank: Uh, hi, Homer. What can I do for you?
Homer: Sir, I need to know where I can get some business hammocks.
Hank: Hammocks? My goodness, what an idea. Why didn't I think of that?
Hammocks! Homer, there's four places. There's the Hammock Hut,
that's on third.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Hank: There's Hammocks-R-Us, that's on third too. You got
Put-Your-Butt-There?
Homer: Mm-Hmm.
Hank: That's on third. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot... Matter of fact,
they're all in the same complex; it's the hammock complex on
third.
Homer: Oh, the hammock district.
Hank: That's right.

allaboutmusic

What I never got is how a row of shops (half a block) on a London street can have three fried chicken shops. On each side.

ring

It's a made guy's...subtle analogy of bein' iced....

Halx

Now, let me explain something to you all about New York. There are other cities like it, but I'm from Los Angeles originally and New York confused the hell out of me. The city has many "districts" in which you can find tons of stores that all sell the same exact thing all lined up next to each other. In Los Angeles, for example, you hardly ever see that because most businesses are placed away from competition because the population density is lower. So, ordinarily, it isn't such a big deal to see a ton of shops that all sell the same thing all lined up with each other on the same street. My little "refrigerator district" is different though because there is nothing resembling a bustling commercial culture around here. This is not where people go to get their fridge. This is where people go to get their crack.

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Cynthetiq

well then we can expect that you'll be paying her a visit one of these days...

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tisonlyi

No matter what type of business it is, if it deals only or 90% in cash, it's a front for naughty people.

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Cynthetiq

almost every business in Chinatown deals in cash only. Why? Because the Chinese don't see any reason to pay an extra 3% to the credit card companies. This is one of the reasons why things in Chinatown are so cheap.

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