As the year comes to a close, let's take a look back at the top 10 original stories that readers enjoyed the most. Topics ranged from a labor strike at a movie theater chain, a photo essay from a summer Hip-Hop concert, to the closing of the Downtown Brooklyn Macy's.
10. This Former Brooklyn Detective is Now a Bailiff on TV
Gina Findley, Brooklyn native and former Second Grade Detective with the New York Police Department, made her debut as a bailiff on HOT BENCH on CBS in September.
9. Brooklyn Restaurateur Shocked He's Targeted for Providing Meals to NYC Teachers, Students
Andrew Walcott, owner of Fusion East, said he was surprised his work with over 100 city public schools for food services was singled out by the city Comptroller, who reprimanded the Department of Education for approving catering orders totaling $750,0000 in 2024.
8. District 35 Race Heats up With Four Contenders
The City Council race in Brooklyn's District 35, which covers parts of Crown Heights, Prospect Heights and Fort Greene, in the June Democratic primary election was a hot topic.
7. Brooklyn Bar Celebrates Serving Cold, Cheap Beers For 50 Years
Denny’s, a beloved Kensington dive bar, marked its 50th anniversary with three days of music, free bites and throwback drink prices.
6. Historic Macy’s Closure Sparks Nostalgia in Brooklyn
Macy’s closed over 60 department stores in 2025, including the beloved store in Downtown Brooklyn.
5. Caribbean Vendors Say Revamped Flatbush Central Market Lacks The Buzz
Vendors selling Caribbean goods lament slow business at the new Flatbush Central Caribbean Marketplace, saying it pales in comparison to the bustling market they lost to a new residential development.
4. Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy Mourns The Closing of a Community Hotspot
Bed-Vyne Brew, a beloved Bed-Stuy bar, closed in June after 12 years in business. Long-time patrons lamented the disappearance of a Black-owned business and community hub.
3. Hip-Hop Royalty Shuts Down Brooklyn
Fat Beats, the iconic Hip-Hop commerce brand, partnered up with SummerStage to bring some of the best artists to Herbert Von King Park in Bedford-Stuyvesant in July.
2. Alamo Drafthouse Lays Off 40 Workers at Downtown Brooklyn Location
Employees from the Downtown Brooklyn location of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema were fired in February, shocking current and ex-workers who were in the midst of contract negotiations.
1. A Healing Cafe Emerges in South Brooklyn
Readers loved the profile on the Lighthouse Café Lounge, a hub for mindfulness and connection in Bensonhurst.
