By Ximena Del Cerro, Brooklyn Paper
Lattes and bagels from a good sport!
Foamy cups of coffee and smoothies decorated with slices of fresh fruit have made Lark Cafe a neighborhood favorite in Flatbush. So much so that when Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that sustains Brooklyn’s second-largest park, was looking for a local business that could expand to a second location in Brooklyn’s Backyard, one of Lark’s regulars took it immediately to the cafe’s owner, Eugene Perekrostov and Ellina Martsynenko.
Lark’s second location is set to open at the Parade Ground’s snack bar on July 28. The 40-acre green space with baseball, soccer, softball & football fields already has an all-set snack bar with a kitchen.
“The Parade Ground is one of the most widely used sports and recreation fields in Brooklyn, and we look forward to Lark by the Park serving the many families and park-goers who made this area such a beloved and bustling space for our community,” said Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance President in a statement.
The new café menu will feature burgers from Pat LaFrieda’s and pizza from Table 87. Photos via the Prospect Park Alliance
Lark’s menu is full of foods made with local produce, a principle that is important for the owners.
“The way we see it is, by extending our business with local businesses, we are keeping money in the community, in Brooklyn,” said Perekrostov, who has lived in Ditmas Park for many years. “Almost everyone in the neighborhood is a regular. Our cafe is a place where it’s easy to meet up and have a chat, discuss a project: it’s a community hub. We just want to be an extension of your home.”
At their primary location on Church Avenue, the ice cream comes from Jane’s Ice Cream and is made with dairy from upstate farms. Their bagels are from Terrace Bagels in Winsor Terrace, they have lox from a few blocks over at Acme Smoked Fish and their coffee is roasted in Brooklyn by Stumptown.
The perks of the new spot will allow Lark to incorporate new items into its menu. Smash burgers, from Pat LaFrieda’s, breakfast sandwiches, pizza from Third Avenue’s Table 87, and hot dogs and milkshakes made right on the spot will also be available for delivery in addition to their already popular smoothies and iced matcha.
Photo by Martin Seck via Prospect Park Alliance
“I love to make coffee,” said Perekrostov, who has experience as a barista.
He has been part of many forms of the hospitality industry for the last 15 years, from nightclubs to restaurants, and is a partner of Greenpoint’s Good Bar.
“I feel like the morning scene fits best to my lifestyle,” he said. “It allows me to spend time with my family.”
The snack bar is planned as a seasonal treat that will be open throughout the summer and fall months, but according to Perekrostov, the Prospect Park Alliance and his team are open to revising the idea of extending the schedule in the future. He will be at the new location once it opens.
“Oh man, it’s gonna be fun,” he said. “It’s gonna be very cool to hang out with all the sports families through the games.”
Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.
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