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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

New Fort Greene Restaurant Built With Part of Coney Island Boardwalk

By Janet Upadhye | August 10, 2012 7:00am

FORT GREENE — Wood from the historic Coney Island Boardwalk has found a new home in Fort Greene.

Prospect, a modern new-American restaurant and bar, is set to open at 773 Fulton St. this fall, and its walls are made from reclaimed pieces of the world-renowned walkway.

"We wanted our decor to have a uniquley Brooklyn character," said co-founder Alan Cooper. "We were excited to be able to use this famous wood."

The New York City Parks Department began to replace sections of the Coney Island boardwalk with synthetic wood and concrete three years ago, according to the New York Times.

The old wood was discarded into dumpsters, reclaimed and is now found in restaurants from Queens to Venice.

But it's not the only thing that makes Prospect's decor special.

The restaurant also displays photographs from Peter J. Cohen’s rare collection of 20th century photography.

And then there's the food, from local farms including the Navy Yard’s rooftop garden, Brooklyn Range.

“In Brooklyn, there have been major developments in the culinary scene, particularly with rooftop farming and growth of the Fort Greene Park Greenmarket,” said Executive Chef Kyle McClelland in a press release. 

“Our menu will support farmers and artisans who focus on quality and sustainability.”


Culinary creations from the new restaurant include “consommé enhanced with pheasant broth and garnished with liquid black truffle tortellini; pork jowl balanced with black garlic, baby leeks and golden carrots, then finished with a mustard seed glaze; and smoked Hamachi paired with cucumber, four citrus trout roe, spicy pepper emulsion and micro basil," according to the press release.

Cooper is from Cobble Hill and both he and his busines partner, Stephen Cohen went to Brooklyn schools growing up.

Cooper currently lives in Fort Greene. After noticing a gap in the food scene, he decided it was important to bring a truly modern American restaurant to the neighborhood. He also thought a location near the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the incoming Barclays Center arena was promising.

But he said, "Our choice of location is not about being hip.

"We are Brooklyn people, this is where we're from."