Abe’s Pagoda Bar on Wyckoff used to be a Crown Fried Chicken. Before that it was a movie theater. But the previous tenants didn’t quite realize how big the space was. Even the new team didn’t notice the back area on their initial visits. The team at Abe’s spent over three and a half years renovating the space, with months lost to delays from the City Department of Buildings. Now there are new sewage systems, electric, HVAC, all new furniture, and a new neighborhood destination.

The payoff is a 2100-square-foot bar that focuses on the details: from vintage photographs to tiny lamps dotting the shelves. Construction took a year and a half, decoration another few months with the help of WadeCo Designs, a Los Angeles-based firm that helped find tiny ships, neon lighting, and more. Even the speakers were specially sourced to not detract from the cohesive decor—they’re vintage radio cabinets. Martell grew up in Detroit and was inspired by the now closed Chin Tiki.

Partners William Martel, Anne Lee, Greg Curley, and Matt Stevenson, all bring different skill sets to the bar. Curley owns Double Windsor in Windsor Terrace and Cake Shop in Manhattan. Stevenson is a longtime bartender (he’s worked at more than 30 spots in three boroughs) and Bushwick resident with a knack for attracting off duty industry people to his bars. If you’re into rare spirits, chat with him about the bottles of mezcal he’s saving behind the bar for a special occasion. He’s planning late night Sunday and Monday happy hours for hospitality industry folks. They’re also seeing lots of business from the hospital staff across the street. Martel is excited to be open, especially after outstanding work orders from 1991 delayed them for so long, “we’d submit our paperwork and they’d see this existing work order.” It was completely done 18 months ago, aside the red tape.