brooklyn

In 2010 when David Alperin opened Goose Barnacle, his upscale menswear boutique, steps from the western terminus of Atlantic Avenue, those closest to him thought he was crazy. Brooklyn Heights wasn’t exactly a retail destination, and prior to Barneys and the development of Brooklyn Bridge Park, most of the traffic in the area came from people queuing to get on the BQE. But when Alperin, a lifelong Brooklyn Heights resident, decided in 2009 that he wanted to open a store, he knew his neighborhood was the only place he wanted to do it.

On an unseasonably warm November afternoon, we sat down with David at Goose Barnacle to discuss his store, philosophy, and future plans.

Life:Curated proprietors Sarah Meyer and Ryan Thomann both grew up in the Midwest and even attended the same college together in Georgia, but didn’t actually meet until they both found themselves living in Brooklyn. After quickly realizing they had similar taste in just about everything, the two decided to open a boutique in Williamsburg, and in 2010 Life:Curated opened on Grand Street, in an area that was decidedly not a shopping district.
Five years in and the neighborhood and its demographic have changed drastically, bringing new challenges as well as some unexpected surprises. We sat down with Sarah and Ryan to discuss their store, philosophy, and journey so far.