QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 16, 2023 Page 6 For the latest news EDITION visit qchron.com 45TH ANNIVERSARY • 2023
45th Anniversary Edition
Historic yet trendy is Ridgewood Hit 99-year-old Gottscheer Hall or brand-new Topos Too by Stephanie G. Meditz
Topos Bookstore likewise uses art, namely the written word, to encourage connections in the community. The cozy space on Woodward and Putnam avenues has brought coffee and used books to Ridgewood since 2014. With the influx of thrift stores and minimalist cafes, RidgeOwner Anny Oberlink saw an increased demand for new wood has followed in its trendy Brooklyn neighbor Bushwick’s books in the store. footsteps and become one of the most hip neighborhoods in At the end of October, Topos opened a second location dediQueens. cated to new books, Topos Too, at 59-22 Myrtle Ave. The larger The historic neighborhood strikes a balance between the old space, complete with tin ceilings characteristic of classic Ridgeand the new, as new businesses emerge amid the brownstones wood architecture, will host all of Topos’ future events. with hopes to join the ranks of landmarks like Gottscheer Hall. “We love Myrtle Avenue ... there’s a lot of great businesses, so Gottscheer Hall on Fairview Avenue has been a Ridgewood it feels like it’s a really nice commercial area to be a part of,” staple since its founding in 1924. Serving up beer, wine and traOberlink said. ditional German pub grub, it is a nod to the waves of Gottschee While the menu at Topos’ first location is limited to cafe fare, immigrants who came to cities like New York and Cleveland in the new location will add beer and wine to the list. the early 19th century. The county of Gottschee lies in south cenOberlink hopes the new space will host book clubs, communitral Slovenia, and the language spoken there is considered one of ty meetings to discuss literature, poetry readings and book the oldest German dialects. launches, ideally spotlighting local authors. Bartender Danny Kikel said Gottscheer Hall still hosts ethnic “I think literature really is a way to bring people together that German cultural clubs, dances, choir and more. “Forty years ago, [Gottscheer Hall’s clientele] was a bunch may not necessarily have an opportunity to meet each other,” she said. “I think a lot of people meet their friends in these spaces.” of people who came from Gottschee and Europe. This was Aware that Topos is one of many new developtheir place. Now, a lot of them passed away and ments in the neighborhood, she aims to include longtheir kids moved away, but the place is always time Ridgewood businesses and residents in her regenerated with the neighborhood. And once peoHIP AND vision of community. Topos’ first location formerly ple come here, they always come back,” manager HAPPENING hosted a reading club consisting entirely of Polish lanand president Joe Morscher said. guage books to connect with Ridgewood’s large PolNew businesses collaborate with the iconic tavish-speaking population. ern to foster a sense of community between old “We want to encourage ... highlighting businesses timers and newcomers, who Morscher said “love or working with people who have been here for a the German beer.” Gottscheer Hall hosts karaoke while. I know there’s a lot of new people coming into nights and DJ parties on weekends in partnership the neighborhood ... we’ve been here for 10 years, but we’re still a with Woodbine and Tiny Arts Supply. somewhat new business. But I feel like there’s ways to work in a “The hipsters, all different people come here. They love this community where you kind of [provide] a space for people to place,” Morscher said. “What’s happened in the last 10, 15 years is amazing,” explore a creative side,” Oberlink said. Over time, Ridgewood has come to be known for its many Kikel said. “I think people like this place because it’s old, coffee shops. obviously. It’s authentic.” Norma’s Bakery & Cafe has called the corner of Catalpa Described as a volunteer-run experimental hub, Woodbine on Woodward Avenue helps community members develop autono- and Forest avenues home since 2012. Along with a full menu of coffee, espresso and signature breakfast sandwiches, the my through workshops, classes and discussions, including readcozy cafe serves seasonal baked goods and flavor syrups, both ing groups and film screenings. It also hosts Sunday dinners, an made in-house. open gym twice a week and a community fridge. Lovers of Variety Coffee Roasters’ various Brooklyn and Tiny Arts Supply is an art supply store on Catalpa Avenue that Manhattan locations can now find their favorite coffee shop on hosts classes and workshops in the neighborhood to use art as a Grandview Avenue in Ridgewood. With a focus on freshness, unifying force. Variety offers a menu that aligns with the growing seasons of several coffee-growing parts of the world, including Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Ethiopia and Mexico. Bring your laptop to Milk & Pull on Seneca Avenue and Madison Street, where its ample space and free Wi-Fi allow you to get work done with a seasonal pastry and your favorite caffeinated beverage. Ridgewood also touts several thrift stores with offerings as eclectic as the community itself. Gotham Thrift on the corner of Fresh Pond Road and Myrtle Avenue is home to a vast collection of vintage comic books, vinyl records, glassware and more, with several racks of clothing toward the back of the store and a box of children’s clothing for just $2 a piece. One could spend an afternoon scouring the shelves or simply admiring antiques, Ridgewood’s historic Gottscheer Hall, left, is on the verge of its 100th anniversary, such as a vintage typewriter and turntable. while the much newer TV Eye’s mood lighting and eclectic decor set the stage for As a buy-sell-trade outpost, Other Peodancing, singing and admiring art with friends, all in one night. Chronicle Contributor
Topos Bookstore expanded onto Myrtle Avenue at the end of October with a second location, above, called Topos Too and PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE G. MEDITZ consisting entirely of new books. ple’s Clothes on Woodward Avenue combines style and sustainability. Its groovy interior invites shoppers to peruse its numerous racks of clothing and wall of accessories. Music gurus might check out Deep Cut Records on Catalpa Avenue, a buy-sell-trade for vinyl records heaping with hidden gems. Ridgewood’s nightlife lets you kick back and enjoy a drink, see a show, dance the night away — or possibly all three. The Windjammer first opened on the corner of Grandview Avenue and Bleecker Street in 1982, closed for a brief period in 2016 and reopened under new management that same year. The old-school space, complete with pool tables and arcade games, pairs well with an ice-cold beer. The back room serves as a community art and performance space. Footlight Presents hosts several open mics and workshops in addition to live music, dance and theater performances by local artists. Admission to most events is on a sliding scale and some are free, such as open mics at 9 p.m. on Mondays. TV Eye on Weirfield Street describes itself as a “funhaus,” or a bar, nightclub, concert venue, art gallery and restaurant. Its four bar rooms, art gallery and courtyard have an aesthetic reminiscent of punk and rock ’n’ roll. TV Eye’s extensive event calendar includes concerts by local musicians, comedy shows such as Tinder Live, themed dance parties in the ballroom and free karaoke on Tuesdays. Brooklyn’s beer and vinyl record hub BierWax came to Ridgewood on the corner of Madison Street and Cypress Avenue last year. In addition to music from owner Chris Maestro’s collection of over 3,000 records, BierWax Queens features vinyl-only DJ sets. “All these people coming in here are entrepreneurs opening up their own little thing to have their own little spot,” Morscher Q said. “That’s great. That’s the old European style.”
