What do you know about Bay Ridge? Maybe it's where you grew up or where you still live to this day.
Sporting Club Gjøa is one of the only Norwegian businesses still standing in Bay Ridge. Founded in 1911, the soccer club is still a meeting place for Norwegian Americans, both young and old. Adorned with Norwegian flags and faded team photographs, Gjøa is a sacred space for a dwindling demographic.
Alpine Cinemas is one of the oldest movie theaters still open in New York City. Alpine shut down for 15 months during the pandemic and reopened to the public last year, equipped with improved sound systems and brand-new seating. But the owner is still dealing with the fallout from COVID. More people are streaming from home than ever before, and inflation is hurting his bottom line.
The Bay Ridge Dojo has been around since 1966, occupying two locations in Bay Ridge before getting priced out in 1988. Despite moving to neighboring Dyker Heights, the clientele and instructors remain loyal. Bay Ridge parents say it's important that their kids know how to protect themselves amid an uptick in crime citywide.
A church in Bay Ridge is helping migrants coming from Venezuela. It offers food, clothing, housing and free legal services. But this is not the first time the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has offered a helping hand to those in need. For more than a century, it’s assisted immigrants in getting back on their feet, from Norwegians to Syrians to Ukrainians. The pastor says Bay Ridge is a “mosaic of diversity” and has a long history of welcoming migrants from all walks of life.
NY1 wants to introduce you to New Yorkers taking great pride In the Neighborhood. Brooklyn borough reporter Rebecca Greenberg shines a spotlight on Bay Ridge and its diverse community. From the neighbors who make the neighborhood great to business owners who have kept the lights on for generations, there is no shortage of stories to tell.
