In the past few days, Brooklyn Taco shut down operations in the Essex Street Market. On the chalkboard usually used to write the daily menu, there’s a message that reads:
We thank our loyal customers for their support. We had a great run and met so many interesting and amazing people. You can always reach out to us at brooklyntacocompany@gmail.com. We will miss you all!
Brooklyn Taco came to the market in 2011 after a successful run at the Hester Street Fair. The business is co-owned by Jesse Kramer and Erica Molina. Last summer, Kramer told us they were seeing a slump in business and he expressed frustration with the management of the market by the city’s Economic Development Corp. We don’t know what led to the closure, but are attempting to contact the owners for more details.
UPDATE 3:47 p.m. We just heard back from Jesse Kramer, who told us that the management issues at the market did, in fact, cause the closure of Brooklyn Taco. While the market is staying open during the next three years as a new facility is built as part of the Essex Crossing project, Kramer felt that the current building had become intolerably run down. In order to survive, he said Brooklyn Taco needed a better communal seating area and later hours to accommodate dinner-time customers. We’ll be hearing more from Jesse later and we’re also reaching out to the EDC.
UPDATE Feb. 10, 8:07 a.m. We have a response from the Economic Development Corp. A spokesperson said:
We strive to cultivate a vibrant, inclusive and healthy market environment at Essex Street Market, and in addition to providing below market-rate space, we work closely with all our vendors to help address the unique challenges that face local market vendors in New York City.
EDC officials obviously disagree with the contention that the market in general and the relationship with Brooklyn Taco, specifically, have been mismanaged. During the three years that the vendor operated from the market, they said, repeated efforts were made to assist the business and to accommodate its needs. The spokesperson indicated that improvements were made in the market’s infrastructure to address Brooklyn Taco’s customized equipment and electrical requirements. The spokesperson added that a lot of factors are involved in a business making the decision to close its doors. The EDC called Brooklyn Taco’s closure unfortunate and management wished them well, while stating that it’s looking forward to welcoming a replacement vendor in the months to come.
Bummer.
They served very tasty quality product but there is so much more competition for tacos now, at least two more places just up the block on Essex.
boooo – I need those tacos!
Where is good?
The hours were an issue. I’d arrive from work at 6:30 and Brooklyn Taco would have been the perfect pit stop on my way home but were often closed by that time.
What a shame.I agree hours are a problem, but also It would help if the entrance to the market coud be more of a feature and more welcoming. They could open up the large entrance onto the street where the maintenace guys hang and deliveries are brought in and make it a dramatic focal point for entry for the public.
I opened the Bagel shop in the market. The EDC doesn’t help the businesses in the Market, they don’t comprehend how to run and or support a small business.
The real issue is NYCEDC has the most clueless staff and run by a political hack Kyle Kimble who have no clue how to promote small businesses in NYC. NYCEDC has a joke of a blog that nobody reads, but the person who writes it, there is no cross promotion of Essex Street vendors around the city. NYCEDC should just fire the person they have assigned to promote the market, or is this person hired by L&M Management to destroy the vendors so in 5 years there will be NO market tenants to put in the new Essex Street building built by this horrible developer. The other issue is the local BID does nothing to promote the vendor in this market and who’s to blame about this…nyc small business services.
Agreed. I have tried to get in touch with the NYCEDC a number of times to help with their social media presence and to help the market and community and responses were not answered or given any chance.
Unfortunately the tenants of the market have no say of the hours of the Essex Street Market. It’s NYCEDC who decides, and the political hacks really have no understanding of the neighborhoods needs or that Zeno Lee would like a taco on his way home from work.
Will the hours expand when the new market is open?
Brooklyn Taco was the best thing Essex Market had to offer, IMO. One of the best Taco shops around and certainly one of the best “dining” options in our neighborhood. It was frustrating to me, that they were only open until 7pm (at the latest) each night. A similar casual dining spot with such tasty and inventive food is well needed on the south of delancey side of the LES.
many taco options, yes. But I wouldn’t call them competition.