In my continuing quest to discover what’s new on Seventh Avenue since my trip to California, here’s more.

–The Mojo Cafe is being sold. The new owner, whose been behind the counter now for more than a month (I thought he was a new manager of something), owns a cheesecake company. The shop should stay the same for the most part, but it will not be a Carvel franchise anymore. They will still serve soft ice cream, cones, shakes, etc. It just won’t be Carvel brand. It remains to be seen what other changes are afoot. It is possible that he will change the name. My biggest concern is about the staff. I happen to be very fond of most of the staff and I am hoping there won’t be any changes in that department.

I spoke with Michael, who has owned the shop for six years. He says that he’s had enough of the grind of owning a ice cream shop/cafe. It’s a 24/7 job (especially because he lives in the neighborhood). Michael is ready to move on and is considering a few options, including a corporate job with health and other benefits. OTBKB will keep you posted on all the latest Mojo news.

–In other cafe news, The Chocolate Bar, located on Seventh Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets, is a WINNER and they’ve got ALL the Slope bases covered.

First off, it’s a beautiful looking shop. Tasteful, elegant, moderne, lovely. It’s decidedly NOT tattered Boho style a la Tea Lounge, or comfy faux living room a la Starbucks. No, no, no. It was designed with a capital D. And it may even have the best garden in the Slope.

The Chocolate Bar serves all kinds of coffee and chocolate drinks, as well as, chocolate truffles, cookies, homemade marshmallows, gloppy deslicious Magnolia Bakery-style cakes, and tarts. In the evening, they lower the lights and VOILA, The Chocolate Bar becomes a wine bar (with a drop dead by-the-glass wine list). Not only that, they sell special Brooklyn-made truffles that are "designed" to go with wine.

How cool is that?

And perhaps the biggest news. The place has WiFi AND an absolutely splendid backroom with tables and comfortable chairs, ideal for use as a cafe/office spot.

–Blue Apron’s south slope shop is NOW OPEN. It is located on Seventh Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets, conveniently close to some of the Slope’s best wine shops. I haven’t been there yet, but it promises to be the best cheese shop in Brooklyn, if not all of New York

–Community Bookstore had a power glitch, which caused them to lose their computer inventory list. Owner Catherine Bohne says it was a "blessing in disguise", because the inventory had never been properly done anyway. So she and her staffers are in the process of doing a massive inventory of everything in the shop. 

They have also kept up some of the decorations from July’s Harry Potter party. The backroom, which is now the children’s book department, has a lovely yellow/orange canopy on the ceiling.

That’s it for now, but more to be added. See the continuation for more of What’s New on Seventh Avenue.

Coming back from vacation, I always enjoy that first walk down
Seventh Avenue:  Who will I run into?  Is anything different? Have
housing prices gone up again? Whose back from vacation?

It feels like we’ve been gone for ages. Ages. Twenty days away from Brooklyn and it’s all brand new. Again.

Another table was added to the  "summer cafe" in our front stoop. My
downstair’s neighbor found an attractive tile table at the PS 321 Flea
Market. Now we have two tables. All we need now is a couple of Cinzano
umbrellas and we’ll be in business.

So what else is new?

Key Food created an outdoor flower market on the side of their
building on Carroll Street. It used to be an eyesore with dumpsters and
worse. I didn’t get a close look at the flowers, but there is a red
awning. Maybe they think there’s a buck or two in it now that the
Korean Market on the north side of Garfield closed.

So what else is new?

Seventh Avenue Books, which is now fully moved into it sister store,
Seventh Avenue Kids, between 3rd and 2nd Streets, got a new awning that
says SEVENTH AVENUE BOOKS. There’s also new lettering on the front
window.

So what else is new?

The Chocolate Cafe, on Seventh Avenue between 3rd and 4th Street is
now open. Hopefully its chocolate delights will firmly replace all
memory of Funky Monkey.

So what else is new?

And this is a big one. Brooklyn Industries is going IN where
Uprising used to be on Seventh Avenue near 9th Street. (I have my son
to thank for that BIG TIP).

So what else is new?

Fratelli ice cream and fried ravioli finally went out of business. I
knew it was coming, it was just a matter of when. Maggie Moo seems to
be hanging in there. Somehow.

So what else is new?

There’s sccaffolding surrounding the former John Jay High School
building (now home to the Schools for Law, Journalism and Research).

So what else is new?

There seem to be even more teenagers hanging out on Seventh and in
Pinos. GIrls in low cut jeans and bellybutton piercings. Boys with long
hair looking very grunge.

So what else is new?

Loom has lots of fall clothing in their front window. Lolli, the
kids shop that replaced Fidgits, seems to be really hitting its stride
and Community Books is having a 40% off sale, says a sign on the window.

So what else is new?

Hanging out at Connecticutt Muffin with my sister and her daughter
Ducky. Now that’s something completely different. Definitely the best
new thing of all.