Thereโs a small, rambling dog-run at Bed-Stuyโs Herbert Von King Park, but few dogs know of itโunless they live off the G train. Little Roy Coffee Co. opened recently across from this park, and the owners, borrowing the name from their late Pomeranian, Roy, want to give unknowing folks more reason to visit the park, one of the oldest in Brooklyn.
โItโs such a friendly, great place that itโs just nice to have a space here to participate,โ explained Jannah Greenblatt, who opened Little Roy with her husband, Moe Gabr, after having lived in Bed-Stuy nearly a full decade. While it has less green space than fellow neighborhoods, itโs also where brownstones and block parties reign. The thrumming neighborhood swelled with restaurants and bars over the past decade, but the streets surrounding Herbert Von King Park remained mostly residentialโuntil Little Roy opened its doors.
Von King Park is romantic in this way. Groomed but not manicured, itโs replete with tree-lined paths, basketball courts, playgrounds, and a baseball field; a generous amphitheater vibes with live performances, and shaded lawns host birthday parties and Sunday sunbathers. Here, community thrives.
Greenblatt and Gabrย opened Little Roy in order to extend this experienceโto offer space for the community to linger, and to enjoy the parkโperhaps in a more caffeinated manner.
โWe designed the space to connect to the park and atmosphere,โ explains Gabr. โThe standard approach would have a bigger operations side, which means you have the bar on one side of the interior,โ explains Gabr. โBut you would really diminish the space for a seating area, and for people to enjoy the parkโso our focus was to really give the people the space.โ
Gabrย has made the most out of 500 square feet. The glass storefront opens into a stylish seating area; its walnut banquette seats plenty along one side, and a handful of tables with black Windsor-style chairs seat more on the other. A cosmic, brass light fixture of interconnecting globes adds contemporary spirit to the already sunlit interiors, and white, geometric wainscoting stretches across the walls and counter to give the cafe its subtle, Brooklyn edge (can you guess that he owns an interior design boutique?).
Itโs crisp and minimal, so as not to distract from the bigger picture: the parkside view.
Perfect for a hot Brooklyn summer, Little Roy is pouring necessary cold brews, which theyโre making with Caffรฉ Vitaโs chocolatey Theo Blend. For espresso, drinks are made with selections from Counter Culture Coffee.
โWeโre planning other refreshing non-caffeinated drinks that have an Egyptian, or Middle-Eastern influence, sort of melding it with something thatโs accessible or interesting to people here,โ says Jannah, paying homage to Moeโs Egyptian roots.
On the menu now, Moeโs Helba Latte is a popular curiosity. Traditionally served with warm milk, Moe crafts his own version in latte form with fenugreek, ginger, turmeric, and honey. In coming months, they plan to add items like iced licorice teaโitโs dark, naturally sweet, and popular in Egypt.
Pastries by local bakers, like Ovenly and Bed-Stuyโs Saraghina, line the counter with croissants and slices of pistachio-cardamom loaves. On the menu, Moeโs heritage embellishes classic cafe fare; an essential avocado toast is front and center, while fig and goat cheese toast gets a sprinkle of za’atar. The house-made hummus was one of the first dishes to land, while an egg-in-a-hole recently made an appearance, along with a grilled cheese thatโs brightened with preserved lemon and oregano.
And thereโs one appearance you can all but guarantee: Youโll spot the neighborhoodโs best friends, from terriers to retrievers, awaiting their owners alongside the cafeโs outdoor benchesโhere, the water bowl is always on the house.
Keith Flanagan is a freelance writer and photographer based in Brooklyn, contributing to Condรฉ Nast Traveler, Tasting Table, USA Today, Paste Magazine, The Robb Report, and more.ย Read more Keith Flanagan on Sprudge.