Brooklyn’s spring opening lineup hit a high point this past week, with a beloved Carroll Gardens institution coming back from the dead, a long-needed supermarket landing in Fort Greene, and a literal decommissioned fireboat starting service at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Here’s what just opened across the borough and why each one matters for the neighborhoods around it.
Bar Ferdinando — Carroll Gardens
Bar Ferdinando opened on Wednesday, April 15 in Carroll Gardens, reviving the 121-year-old home of Ferdinando’s Focacceria. The new concept, an Italian bar and cafe, leans into Sicilian arancini, octopus salad, sandwiches built on house-made focaccia, and amari-based drinks. It’s the kind of opening that matters beyond the food — Ferdinando’s was one of the oldest continuously operating Italian spots in the borough, and bringing the building back into rotation as a working restaurant rather than letting it convert to retail is a real win for Carroll Gardens’ character.
Met Fresh — Fort Greene
On April 10, Met Fresh on Myrtle Avenue celebrated its grand opening in Fort Greene. The store, owned by Danny Hamdan, brings a modern supermarket — fresh produce, everyday essentials, and a contemporary shopping experience — to a stretch of the neighborhood that hadn’t seen a new supermarket in years. For residents who’ve been making longer trips for groceries, this is a meaningful daily-life upgrade.
Fireboat — Brooklyn Bridge Park
Fireboat, from the team behind Grand Banks, opened this spring at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, on the spot where Pilot used to dock. The hook is that it’s an actual decommissioned FDNY fireboat, now serving Caribbean-inspired bites and frozen cocktails. As Pier 6 continues to grow into one of the borough’s best summer hangouts, having a destination food-and-drink boat there is going to make the walk down from Atlantic Avenue feel a lot more rewarding.
Arthur — Greenpoint
A bit further north, Arthur opened in Greenpoint on Friday, April 10. It’s been catching attention for $36 steak and brioche martinis — a deliberate signal that Greenpoint’s restaurant scene is moving up the price ladder, following years of more casual openings. Worth a visit if you’re tracking how the neighborhood’s dining identity is evolving.
Candor Candy — Fort Greene
Fort Greene also picked up Candor Candy, the first gummy candy shop in this part of Brooklyn. It’s a small thing, but it’s the kind of niche retail opening that signals the neighborhood is continuing to attract small operators experimenting with single-product concepts.
What You Need to Know
- Bar Ferdinando: Carroll Gardens, opened April 15 in the historic Ferdinando’s Focacceria building. Sicilian small plates and amari cocktails.
- Met Fresh: Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene. New full-service supermarket.
- Fireboat: Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park. Caribbean food and frozen drinks on a real decommissioned FDNY boat.
- Arthur: Greenpoint, opened April 10. Higher-end menu and cocktail program.
- Candor Candy: Fort Greene’s first gummy-focused candy shop.
Why This Week Matters
The mix is what stands out. A historic Italian spot is being revived rather than replaced. A real supermarket — not a boutique grocer — is filling a long-standing daily-life gap. A boat is becoming a cocktail bar. And Greenpoint is adding a restaurant priced like a Manhattan opening. Taken together, this week’s Brooklyn lineup shows a neighborhood-by-neighborhood evolution rather than any single trend, which is usually a healthy sign for a borough’s restaurant economy.
For more on what’s happening in Brooklyn this season, see our Brooklyn Earth Week guide and our Bed-Stuy neighborhood spotlight.
