Bay Ridge store gets dressing-down from neighborhood

BY MATTHEW LYSIAK
Tuesday, November 6th 2007, 4:00 AM

It's no Century 21!

Bay Ridge residents are tossing their hangers at American Place, a bargain clothing store that opened last month that they say has become an eyesore - while local officials are questioning its legality.

"Residents don't like messes, and this place is an absolute disaster," said Community Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann.

"The sidewalks are blocked, clothes are thrown all over the place and last week when it rained, we got complaints that there was wet underwear all over the sidewalk.

"This just isn't Bay Ridge," Beckmann said.

The store, at Senator St. and Fourth Ave., originally was rumored to become a Waldbaum's after a Duane Reade pharmacy there closed in August.

Talks of a long-overdue quality supermarket sparked excitement from residents.

But when the store's doors reopened on Oct. 16, instead of fresh meats and produce, shoppers were greeted by large cardboard cartons overflowing with last season's clothing, bedding and footwear bursting onto the sidewalk.

"It looks like a tacky eyesore that makes the whole neighborhood look shabby," said Tony Innocete.

"It's like a giant 99-cent store that has clothing piled everywhere."

The new storefront quickly became a hot topic for local blogs, where residents vented their fears of a broader community trend of mom-and-pop shops disappearing into an abyss of discount stores.

"It's a disgrace to the neighborhood, and I've never seen such an abomination in my whole life," said Diane Hunt, 62, who lives down the street from the new store.

"It is disgusting that officials tell us they are trying to clean our neighborhood up and then they let this place open up."

The Sanitation Department has fined the bargain outlet several times for violating the 3-foot limit stores are allowed for sidewalk displays.

The business also is violating the building code by operating on the second floor without a permit, said Beckmann, who is planning to ask American Place to rein itself in.

That effort may be futile.

"Come back in two weeks when I am finished adding my new men's department in the basement," said a man who identified himself as the store's manager but wouldn't give his name. "Unless you are here for my green card I have nothing further to say."