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Bibimbap Bar Opens in New Ft. Greene Grocery Store Mr. Mango

 Mr. Mango opened July 15 at 59 Lafayette Ave. in Fort Greene.
Mr. Mango opened July 15 at 59 Lafayette Ave. in Fort Greene.
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DNAinfo/Alexandra Leon

FORT GREENE — The latest outpost of a Korean greengrocer that sells affordable organic produce arrived on Lafayette Avenue, complete with a bibimbap bar. 

Mr. Mango opened July 15 at 59 Lafayette Ave., between Fort Greene Place and South Elliott Place, replacing the Gourmet Food Market.

The 24-hour grocery store, part of a local chain of supermarkets, offers a range of $1 produce specials at its outdoor stands — including deals like four squash, 10 limes, a large bag of iceberg lettuce, or three peaches.

Inside, patrons will find everything from berries, apples, chayote, coconuts, and aloe leaves to organic granolas and cereal, as well as a range of craft beers.

The produce arrive fresh every day from a market in College Point, Queens, according to Lucky Peach.

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Credit: DNAinfo/Alexandra Leon 

The store also includes a bibimbap bar, which offers customizable bowls of the signature Korean rice dish. Bowls are priced by the pound, with a large bowl ranging from $6 and $8, an employee said.

Mr. Mango is the first of the chain's locations to get its own bibimbap bar, according to Fort Greene Focus

It also has a fresh sushi bar, where prices run from $3.75 for an avocado roll to $10.50 for a sashimi and sushi combo. Prices at the juice bar run from $4 for 9-ounce cup to $5 for a 16 ounces and $6 for 20 ounces.

The bakery section features Korean pastries like donuts and honey bread, as well as a dedicated ice cream section with two abundantly stocked freezers.

“This is a godsend,” said 37-year-old Tess Lam, who lives in the neighborhood. “The prices are actually reasonable.”

Lam said she and her fiancée have already been to the store several times since it opened, calling it an affordable alternative to the high-end goods offered at the nearby Greene Grape Provisions.

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Credit: DNAinfo/Alexandra Leon

While Mr. Mango offers several vegetarian options, one of the biggest draws for Lam is the meat.

“They have meat here, which other bodegas don’t have,” she said.

Local mom Emilce Mariano said the store is a convenient place to shop with her baby, noting the previous market was much smaller inside.

“It’s great that there’s more room for me to bring in my stroller,” she said.

Mr. Mango is run by the same family behind six other fruit-themed shops in Brooklyn. 

The first shop, Mr. Kiwi, opened in Bushwick in 2006 by the eldest of three South Korean brothers who moved to Brooklyn in 2002. After a few years of working in grocery stores, June Yoon opened Mr. Kiwi on Broadway.

Next came Mr. Coco’s in Fort Greene, Mr. Piña in Williamsburg, Mr. Melon in Clinton Hill, Mr. Lime in Park Slope and Mr. Berry in Greenpoint.

Mr. Mango’s owner was not immediately available for comment.