In the wake of losing music venues Glasslands and Death by Audio, Vice continues paving its path of North Brooklyn destruction with plans to open additional offices in Bushwick. In true Vice fashion, they’ve decided upon prime real estate which includes the entire block of Moore Street framed by Bogart and White Streets. Yes friends, if that sounds familiar it’s because our beloved Roberta’s lives on that block. Perhaps Bushwick really is over.
Does it all make too much sense? It certainly seemed strange to us that Vice had yet to expand into Bushwick, and Roberta’s recent legal troubles had already begun to call the restaurant’s future into question. An unnamed source from Vice explains: “We needed an outpost in Bushwick anyway to regain the street cred we had before becoming a bastion of corporate hegemony.” Besides, Vice (literally) eating Roberta’s brings the greater narrative of both full circle when you consider their respective reputations for trailblazing neighborhoods, notorious parties of yesteryear, and eventually growing into veritable brands synonymous with Brooklyn itself. It’s rather poetic.
Neither Vice nor Roberta’s answered our requests for comments, but a real estate broker who also asked to remain unnamed explained: “Vice looked farther East and even into Ridgewood. Ultimately, they opted for this area, expressing concern for workers having to commute too far from their condos overlooking McCarren Park.” Perhaps the restaurant won’t entirely disappear, but will re-emerge into Vice’s cafeteria. Till then, we’ll consider their legal problems semi-sorted.
As of today, Shane Smith was not available for comment.