New Brooklyn Bars: Sharlene’s and High Dive

Where some see a recession, others see an opportunity: At Sample last night, D. and I heard about the opening of not one but two – count ‘em, two – new bars by the owners of Commonwealth. Soft-opening tonight is Sharlene’s in Prospect Heights, in the old Mooney‘s spot on Flatbush. Sharlene, a bartender at Commonwealth, is opening her own spot with the Commonwealth owners as partners.  They spent six months renovating the place and waiting for a liquor license. Mooney’s was once known as the neighborhood dive bar that served underage Brooklyn kids – now some of the same people (grown up, of course) will be working here as bartenders. Should be interesting to see what the face lift brings about.

Opening in two weeks in the old Lighthouse spot on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope is High Dive, also backed by the owners of Commonwealth. They blew out the kitchen and redid the whole interior to make room for a bigger bar – yee haw.

So – is it the ominous creep of gentrification or just another cycle of change? Either way, now that you’re of age, you’d probably much rather be drinking in Sharlene’s than the old “Mooney’s Pub 2.”

Sharlene’s
353 Flatbush Avenue, between Sterling and Park Place
Prospect Heights
Brooklyn, NY 11238

High Dive
243 Fifth Avenue at Carroll Street
Park Slope
Brooklyn, NY 11215