Redge: this is GREAT news! I am also one of your first customers. We have been organizing a group to see what we can do to attract some more varied dining options to JH, which many of us believe definitely can support more restaurants that are not the ubiquitous formica tables, plastic trays, fluorescent lighting, Coke machine and wall-mounted TV places. Those are great to have, too, but there are lots of people in JH who would love to have a nice place for drinks, more sit-down dining options including American/European/Italian, a nice bistro, even a good burger place or pub that was not a sports bar. I and others have pointed out that some of the South American restaurants already here seem to be always packed and are NOT cheap at all. Why wouldn't some of those customers also support other options? There is stereotype that this is a neighborhood for poor immigrants and yes, maybe there are a few more affluent people here, but basically this is a cheap food only neighborhood because that's all the neighborhood can support. I disagree. I think (as many have also pointed out) that the main issue preventing JH from having more/better retail and dining options is very high commercial rents, higher than in Bed-Stuy or wherever. Not sure why that is the case. The people who seem to want the neighborhood to remain frozen in time and think everyone should shut up and just leave the neighborhood if they want a good gym or a bistro meal--well, I just totally disagree with that notion.
