A Hipster Adieu to Williamsburg

Now that concept of hipsters has been safely put to rest, it’s time to see what remains in the quickly urbanized, ever changing neighborhood just across the East River. The community has been violently opposed to another Duane Reade opening on Bedford Ave., and the plans for a CVS around the corner. Now, talks of a Starbucks are next. Yet how will this “chainstore invasion”  really affect the vibrant life of the neighborhood?

There are many that are afraid the small business, localized feel of the neighborhood everyone has come to love will be lost in the waves of commercialism. Coffee shops that pride themselves on fair trade, hand-ground beans and specialty espresso concoctions may not be able to compete with the Starbucks giant. Meanwhile, the financial implications of these chains settling into the landscape are huge. Rents are close to doubling thanks to their presence, a huge burden for small neighborhood stores nearby that has the city council up in arms.

However these signs haven’t completely changed the landscape. The first Duane Reade to open in the area hasn’t been able to put surrounding small pharmacies and convenience stores out of business quite yet, despite its wide breadth of products including food, beer, and entertainment.  And American Apparel, who settled in the ‘burg nearly five years ago, hasn’t stolen the scene from the small specialty vintage stores surrounding it, and, despite a few broken windows, is still holding on.

The mass opposition from the community showcases a strong unwillingness to change a near idyllic way of life, one that’s been sensationalized and gawked at from the media. The concept of hipsters has become a near farce, showcasing scruffy 20somethings with tattoos and piercings that waste away in bands and unsuccessful artistic endeavors while living on their parents’ dime. However, the commercialization of the neighborhood signifies a shift. Perhaps the majority of these “hipsters” have moved from the neighborhood to other artsy places in Brooklyn. Or perhaps these young folk have grown up, started families, and transitioned into professional careers, making a stronger financial and moral impact on the neighborhood than once before.

Whatever the reason, the concept of gentrification isn’t new. From the wealthy to the poor to the starving artists, every neighborhood in the city is subject to change and development. It’s inherent to the New York City culture, giving birth to the greatest and most influential people of our time.  So although parts of the Williamsburg culture may be lost to commercialization, let’s honor what was, and find another group of young people, with their new, quirky neighborhood, to rag on. Bushwick, anyone?

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Image courtesy of freewilliamsburg.com

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