Smith Street in Brooklyn needs another over-priced, pretentious retail store like George Steinbrenner needs another World Series ring, right? That was my thought as I walked through the doors of the newly opened Smith & Butler on Smith Street (surprise) at Butler Street (bigger surprise!) in Boerum Hill/Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
I’d read about the shop the other day thanks to the always helpful links from Michael Williams A Continuous Lean who linked the review from Kempt, and also from Refinery 29 which I also linked above. Yeah, it’s hard for me to be cutting edge when I’m just so not…I guess that’s part of what makes me so Crabby.
Anyway, the space, which used to be a number of restaurants (until last year when the last of them went belly up) is decorated simply and in a rustic fashion. The front of the store holds women’s clothing and accessories mixed with home goods including decorative pillows for around $40 and up. I moved towards the back where they held more home goods including candles and colognes by A.P.C., and aviator sunglasses by Randolph Engineering. The rear section of the store features their men’s items favored by the rugged hipster crowd including motocross jackets by Belstaff, canvas bags by Filson, wool shirts by Pendleton, small leather goods, motorcycle helmets, coveralls, and ties. They also carry a collection of consignment bikes including a vintage scooter by Stella (not a Vespa), Triumph motorcycles, and a 1971 Suzuki – a favorite by staff member and Selectism columnist Kyle Hackett, a Portland, ME native and former employee of the Rogues Gallery store in Portland who was nice enough to give me a little background on the bikes, on the store, and on the store pup Abe, and English Bulldog.
The prices on the items are not out of control. The staff is friendly. The atmosphere is inviting. I will admit when I’m wrong about a first impression, and this is one of those times. This store is pretty damn cool.
Smith & Butler
225 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
~Sam
3 responses so far ↓
uM // November 24, 2008 at 11:17 pm
i thought the store was overpriced and boring. it would make a nice restaurant, though
Sam Jacobs // November 25, 2008 at 9:09 am
The restaurant that was there prior was very nice…but always empty. Compared to some of the other more pretentious spaces on Smith Street, this place is pretty cool.
Kam Rickey // December 6, 2008 at 4:07 am
I had heard they carried the fashion doll Sofa Joe but only found an oversized Mr. Fister…Heck, great price- so I picked up one of those buggers.