Checking in on Brooklyn Bean Roastery

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Brooklyn Bean Roastery opened on Feb. 21 — and roughly had one month of business before New York went on PAUSE.

However, owner Khaled Abdelhaleem decided to keep the shop open for takeout here at 23 Avenue A near Second Street.

"I'm trying to be here for the neighborhood, to maintain, even if we sell one cup of coffee, we’re happy to be here to feed emergency workers," he said. "NYC helped me to become who I am as a businessman and I want to give back. If you see a store with its lights on — and there aren’t many right now — it makes people happy."



Iced coffees, lattes, espresso, and the baked in-house croissants and danishes are the current best-sellers. Other dishes include a veggie and three-cheese fatir (a flakey Egyptian pastry that can be made sweet or savory).

"We are one of the only places in NYC that makes this," Khaled told me. "It takes about 15 or 20 minutes to make, so you order it and we make it for you right away."


[Khaled Abdelhaleem sans mask and gloves just for the photo]

Hot meals are available for free to first responders from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, and free coffee for first responders and law enforcement at any time. Current operating hours are from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., but hours are subject to change.