Arby's Space Is Now A Tacky Pink Store

The landmarked Gage & Tollner restaurant space - which was, briefly, a delicious Arby's - is now a hot-pink jewelry store called "Ladies and Gents" (above). Which, based on the picture, looks a lot like Claire's - only pinker and not nearly as classy.

Sigh...

Dear Arby's Publicist - What About ME?!?

Look what I saw on the Lost City Blog - a Publicist for the soon-to-open Arby's in Downtown Brooklyn contacted them...

Today, a press agent for the fast food franchise—which has taken possession of the beautiful, 19th-century, landmarked interior of the old Gage and Tollner space on Fulton Mall in downtown Brooklyn—reached out to Lost City.

Aside from offering an interview with an Arby's rep (yes!), the publicist wanted to communicate two things. Arby's will bring 110 new jobs to the borough, and—very exciting—the joint will offer free Wi-Fi.

What irks me about this is the fact that Lost City, which is otherwise a great blog, has NOT been supportive of my favorite Roast Beef Fine Dining Establishment moving into the historic Brooklyn space.  Meanwhile, who has been a bigger champion of Arby's than I have???

Dear Arby's Publicist: I am available for a VIP tour on Thursday in exchange for all THE  FREE  PUBLICITY I've been giving you.  And then I'd be happy to sit down and enjoy my complimentary meal of delicious roast beef and curly fries.  You can reach me at daviddust@gmail.com so we can work out the details.

With Love and Horsey Sauce,

David Dust

BREAKING: Brooklyn Arby's Just Weeks Away!

According to the Lost City blog, the Arby's in Downtown Brooklyn is only weeks away from opening in the historic Gage and Tollner restaurant space. Cue my fat ass doing the HAPPY DANCE...


I feel kind of bad, because Lost City is an awesome blog about how we are losing the fabric of New York City to greedy corporate interests (like Arby's). Normally I'd agree - but I'd vote to put an Arby's in the crown of the Statue of Liberty if I could. Sorry Lost City, but on this one issue I'll have to disagree with you.


As a matter of fact, when I read this joyous Arby's news, the angels sang, the fairies danced ...

Arby's Coming To Brooklyn

Arby's has announced its plans to move into the landmarked Gage and Tollner restaurant space in Downtown Brooklyn. This is excellent news - since I can get there in about 15 minutes on the subway from my job. I can almost TASTE the curly fries now...

The space is legendary. Gage and Tollner opened in the location in 1892 - and celebrities like Mae West and Jimmy Durante dined in the gas-lit dining room during its heyday. For years, Gage & Tollner was said to be the oldest restaurant in New York City, until it closed in 2004.


The interior of the restaurant space is landmarked, so Arby's will have to have all construction plans approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. I have no idea how they will turn this...


Into this?...


But I did some research, and Arby's has done it before. This is from an amusement park/"frontier village" in Utah...


Pretty! Raymond Chera - the franchiser who will open the Gage and Tollner location - plans on opening 41 more restaurants within the 5 boroughs of NYC over the next ten years. So for his efforts in the name of Roast Beef, I am awarding Mr. Raymond Chera a "Golden Bunny" award.



Dearest Mr. Chera - let's get moving on the construction! I'm HONGRAY!!