Sadly, two North Brooklyn eateries are closing this month.
Williamsburg’s Ensenada (168 Borinquen Place) announced that it will close its doors on October 26.
The Mexican seafood spot from Bryce David, the owner of cocktail bar Black Flamingo, opened in early 2022 with a menu of sustainably-sourced seafood and rotating mezcals from David’s partner Executive Chef Luis Herrera and Beverage Director Jorsand Diaz, who both hail from Manhattan hotspot Cosme.
Ensenada told
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Ensenada was phenomenal, one of the few good seafood restaurants in the area. I think some serious questions need to be posed to the mayoral candidates about how they plan to keep small businesses afloat, this is getting ridiculous.
In NYC, t takes approximately 24 months for a bar/restaurant to turn a profit. Most close within 18 months because they don’t. Ensenada lasted just a little bit longer before succumbing to its inevitable demise.
“Ensenada is closing due to “a decrease in sales and an increase in operation costs.””
Yeah, that’s what usually happens when there is no business.
You can also chalk up these and other closings to the fact that the “quirky new take on the classic (fill in with whatever type of food establishment that comes to mind)” trope has worn out its welcome. People want to eat in places that serve normal, affordable fare, not artsy-fartsy, pretentiously designed pretty dishes which are more art project than something edible.
Landlords are demanding too much. Rents are too high, wages are not going up enough. At some point this comes to a head. Not everyone is a trust funder.