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Photos: Livingston Manor Turns Downtown Brooklyn Bodega Into Craft Cocktail Bar
By
Nell Casey
Published Dec 23, 2014
Modified Dec 23, 2014
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Photo by Clay Williams/Gothamist
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By
Nell Casey
Published Dec 23, 2014
Modified Dec 23, 2014
Share
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Former Southpaw owner Matt Roff debuted his newest foray into Brooklyn's bar scene last weekend, opening Livingston Manor on a somewhat unlikely block in downtown Brooklyn. Located next to a check cashing place in the site of a former bodega, the bar offers something different in the packed commercial area, which has been slowly reinventing itself to align with ever-evolving Western Brooklyn. "We had been reading a great deal of news regarding the development in the 'hood, from apartments, to community spaces as well as possible hotels inking deals," Roff told us. "In the past we haven't been scared of being first or second on the block."
The Manor has a similar vibe to Roff's other venture The Crown Inn in Crown Heights, bringing in lots of weathered wood and exposed brick. There won't be the clutch backyard space at the new spot but a small alley with wall plants offers at least the illusion of the outdoors, with perhaps room for a small table or two in more seasonable weather.
Roff and his partners Zhenya Kampanets and Tony Dubinsky brought in seasoned bartending vet Erica Broad to help design the menu, which includes cocktails ($10-13), tap ($9) and glasses ($10-13) of wine and craft beers ($6-8), which were of special significance to Roff. "We have a great relationship with Catskill Brewery [who] are located in Livingston Manor in upstate NY," he explained. "The owner was a key factor in heading up the fight against fracking in NY. It certainly helps us rest easy knowing local breweries and distilleries will have safe water to work with for a long time in the state."
It'll be a nice addition to the local Happy Hour scene, with select $4 pints of beer, tap wine for $6 and $1 off glasses of wine from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. They're also doing a small food menu of haute bar munchies including a duck liver pate toast with spicy pickled carrot, red onion and cilantro on baguette and The Bondsman sandwich made with Jasper Hill harbison cheese and apple on Sullivans whole wheat pullman.
42 Hoyt Street in Downtown Brooklyn, website
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