Brooklyn Market

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. At dusk, when Brooklyn Market usually quiets down, a strange phenomenon began to occur. Every evening, an old man with a shopping basket would appear, carefully selecting only items from the top shelf. No one knew who he was or why he did it, but soon enough, everyone started calling him ‘The Top Shelf Gentleman’. One day, a delivery driver noticed that every item in The Top Shelf Gentleman’s basket had exactly thirteen pieces. When asked why, the gentleman simply smiled and whispered, 'Lucky number.' Since then, some shoppers started buying their groceries in threes, just for good measure.

2. At midnight, when Brooklyn Market’s fluorescent lights flicker on, a soft humming starts to fill the aisles. No one noticed it at first, but soon enough, customers began whispering about the mysterious sound that follows them through the produce section. Finally, an old lady approached the manager and asked, ‘Is there a ghost in the market?’ He smiled and replied, ‘No ma’am, just our air conditioning.’ Everyone laughed, relieved—and continued shopping until dawn.

3. At closing time, when Brooklyn Market’s cash registers click into silence, an unexpected announcement begins over the PA system: ‘If you’ve forgotten something important today, it might be hiding in aisle seven.’ A delivery driver hears the message and frantically runs down the aisles, only to discover his lunch bag in the produce section. A regular customer shouts back, 'Forgot your shopping list again?' The PA then adds with a twinkle: 'And don’t forget to check out aisle thirteen—someone left their sense of humor there!'

4. At closing time, when Brooklyn Market’s cash registers click into silence, an unexpected announcement echoes through the empty aisles: ‘Would you like to buy some fresh air with your groceries today?’ A delivery driver pauses mid-unload and asks, 'Fresh air for my truck too?' A neighbor whispers to her friend, 'I’ll take two bags—one for home and one for the subway.' And as the last customer leaves, a regular mutters under his breath, ‘Better than those overpriced oxygen bottles they sell online.’