South Slope News

Everyday there are South Slope, Brooklyn residents who walk to the subway for their commute. While walking down 5th Ave. to the local Prospect Avenue R train station on 4th Ave., they are likely to pass by the newly opened deli as of last February.

Sam Sarsour, 48, owner of Subs “n” Stuff deli, located in South Slope at 624 5th Ave. moved to the neighborhood from Palestine at 10 months old with his family. He’s witnessed the rapid changes in South Slope, a neighborhood within the outskirts of 15th St. and 24th St. and Fourth Ave. through Prospect Park West.

At first, Sarsour lived on 24^th St. between Third and Fourth Ave. with his parents and four brothers. “It’s the block where lady liberty looks right at you, my Mom still lives there until this day,” said Sarsour.

As a child, Sarsour remembers South Slope being called Gowanus. He described Gowanus as a grim place with stray pit bulls in packs roaming the streets freely. Neighbors were terrified of leaving their homes because of the large number of stray dogs.

“Back in the day. There was no animal control,” Sarsour said.

“Do we have more Times?” asks Sam’s brother and co-owner of Subs “n” Stuff, Mike Sarsour, 38.

“Yeah, you do.” The man noticed another person being handed their iced coffee and said, “You have coffee too! You guys have everything I need!”

“Yeap. That’s why we’re called Subs and Stuff.”

The man was middle aged. His glasses were circular with gold frames a long beard and long silver hair pulled back into a low ponytail.

“Just making sure my favorite section is in here. Yeap, it’s here,” he said while shuffling through the Times in an Australian accent.

“There’s too much honking here, after four days, I can’t handle it anymore,” said the man while grabbing his iced coffee and heading out. He had what appeared to be a stamp on his right hand. The kinds you get when you go out clubbing the night before. It seemed like he was on a business trip.

In fact the average customer according to Sam and Mike are in their mid 20’s, Caucasian, single, male or female.

Sarsour’s dad, David, was the first to purchase property in Park Slope and started his own local business as a grocery store owner of General Market and Deli, on 201 Eighth Ave. David retired after being diagnosed with lung cancer and heart disease.

Many neighbors loved David and threw him a block party the day he closed down his store. Sarsour’s father told him and his brothers that everyone has two legs and can walk to any grocery store they wanted to. He assured them that people would walk to the store where they are treated best. “They made my dad a certificate of appreciation,” said Sarsour while his eyes gleamed.

The Sarsour brothers live by their father’s business and moral principles and are appreciative of his choice of location when investing in residential and small business properties.

The neighborhood has been referred to as Sunset Park and Greenwood, and was rezoned in 2005 as South Park Slope according to the New York Department of City Planning.

South Slope continues to have a large population of senior citizens, however, young single professionals and students are making their way in and they are here to stay. Local businesses are making the necessary changes to accommodate the younger crowd. Now there are macaroon shops, wineries, sports bars, thrift stores, bike shops and plenty of restaurants.

Sarsour believes that the neighborhood flipped and real estate rose in prices because of public schools. He went to Public School 172, the Beacon School of Excellence. P.S 172 was given a Blue Ribbon Award by the U.S Educational Department, according to the Daily News and has been considered one of the leading schools in the neighborhood for years. He also remembers the influx of people moving to South Slope after 9/11. In 2000 District 7, where South Slope is located had a total population of 120,063. In 2012 the total population was 148,990.

In 2007, Sarsour and his brothers purchased their first store on 23^rd Street and 4^th Avenue. Sarsour gave up his career as a chef and split the costs with his brothers for Subs “n” Stuff and their other supermarket down the street called Earths Basket.

“We wanted to be our own bosses,” said Sarsour.

They wanted to be their own bosses and make their own money. Sarsour and his siblings regret not having purchased more storefronts before 2001, when South Slope property was much lower in price.

Suki Sushi, a retail storefront at 631 5^th Ave., across the street from Subs “n” Stuff was vacant for about a year and was recently purchased. The storefront is being advertised on showcase.com and leased for an asking price of five thousand dollars a month.

Sarsour, is currently renting his storefront for over 3,500 a month, according to Mike.