Sheepshead Bay nightlife lures stars

Has New York City found its answer to South Beach in the Sheapshead Bay section of south Brooklyn? Yes, some observers say. The three-year-old waterfront club OPM, on Emmons Avenue and Bragg Street, packs 500 people on a typical weekend night, and celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and Drake have reportedly made multiple appearances, according to an article in Crain’s

But the scene isn’t only hip-hop. The club plays Russian house music in a nod to the recent settlers of southern Brooklyn, wealthy businessmen who trace their roots to the country. Other hot spots include Tzar, a Russian steakhouse, and Baku Palace, which offers more than 100 different vodkas.

Sheepshead Bay’s up-and-coming nightlife is centered on a mile-long stretch of Emmons Avenue along the north side of the bay. Once known for fishing and old-school seafood restaurants, the stretch is seeing new sushi eateries, hookah bars and lounges, in addition to the Russian nightlife establishments. And during the day, the docks once filled exclusively with small fishing boats are being accompanied by large, lavish yachts.

“The people who come here are living large,” Ron Raykin, a longtime promoter in Manhattan who co-founded OPM, told Crain’s.

However, sales of new condominiums are only now beginning to pick up, and prices are still chea: $750,000 for condominiums in a gated waterfront community, and $450,000 for two-bedroom units in the Bay Breeze condo. [Crain’s] — Adam Fusfeld