This consumption-first dynamic is amplified by the fact that increasingly only those with generational wealth can live there. It exists not to house workers and generate value, but to entice consumers and extract value.
In trendy parts of Brooklyn, there are always young and not-so-young people drinking wine midday on weekdays at expensive restaurants. Some are presumably working some kind of bullshit remote or freelance job. But many appear to not be working at all, probably supported by their parents to consume full time or mind after the assets (real estate). And that's who the city increasingly caters to, in addition to tourists. My neighborhood has seen nearly all the mid-range local spots edged out in favor of high pretense, high-design small plates. Everyone at these places is well-heeled and hyper on-trend, it's very much like Instagram live.
At my office in Tribeca, there's a well regarded bakery/cafe in the ground level where the only relationship with the office workers is that we share a bathroom. The patrons are all fancy people with little dogs and seemingly with nothing to do at 2pm on a Tuesday, and apparently numerous celebrities. They advertised a $60 pie for Thanksgiving that was sold out in pre-orders.
This consumption-first dynamic is amplified by the fact that increasingly only those with generational wealth can live there. It exists not to house workers and generate value, but to entice consumers and extract value.
In trendy parts of Brooklyn, there are always young and not-so-young people drinking wine midday on weekdays at expensive restaurants. Some are presumably working some kind of bullshit remote or freelance job. But many appear to not be working at all, probably supported by their parents to consume full time or mind after the assets (real estate). And that's who the city increasingly caters to, in addition to tourists. My neighborhood has seen nearly all the mid-range local spots edged out in favor of high pretense, high-design small plates. Everyone at these places is well-heeled and hyper on-trend, it's very much like Instagram live.
At my office in Tribeca, there's a well regarded bakery/cafe in the ground level where the only relationship with the office workers is that we share a bathroom. The patrons are all fancy people with little dogs and seemingly with nothing to do at 2pm on a Tuesday, and apparently numerous celebrities. They advertised a $60 pie for Thanksgiving that was sold out in pre-orders.